Locomotion and Support Systems

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the locomotion and support systems in biology, focusing on skeletal and muscular systems.

Hydrostatic Skeleton

A support system that uses fluid-filled cavities for body form and movement, as seen in organisms like hydra and annelids.

Endoskeleton

A rigid internal skeleton, composed of bone or cartilage, providing support and protection for vital internal organs.

Osteoblasts

Bone-forming cells that synthesize new matrix and contribute to bone growth.

Osteoclasts

Bone-absorbing cells that break down bone and regulate blood calcium levels.

Skeletal Muscle

Muscle tissue attached to bones, composed of contractile tissue that facilitates movement by contracting and relaxing.

Antagonistic Muscles

Muscles that work in pairs, where one muscle contracts while the other relaxes to allow movement.

Synovial Joints

Freely movable joints characterized by the presence of a synovial cavity, ligaments, and cartilage.

Pivot Joint

A type of synovial joint that allows rotational movement, example includes joint between the first two cervical vertebrae.

Sliding Filament Model

A model explaining muscle contraction, wherein actin filaments slide past myosin filaments, causing sarcomeres to shorten.

Tropomyosin

A protein that winds around actin filaments, and shifts position to expose myosin-binding sites during muscle contraction.