Muscular System Vocabulary

Flashcards covering vocabulary related to the muscular system.

Muscular System

A system in the body responsible for movement, heat production, posture, circulation, respiration, digestion, birth, vision, and homeostasis.

Gross Motor Movement

Large muscular movements used in activities like walking, running, and swimming.

Fine Motor Movement

Small, precise movements used in activities like writing, talking, and facial expressions.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain and regain balance.

Skeletal Muscle

Muscle type that is mostly voluntary and attaches to/moves bone, responsible for movement, muscle tone/posture, and heat production.

Smooth Muscle

Muscle type responsible for maintaining blood pressure and digestion, found in blood vessels and hollow organs; includes contraction and relaxation.

Cardiac Muscle

Specific involuntary muscles of the heart responsible for circulation of blood to the whole body.

Voluntary

In control of

Involuntary

Occurs automatically, may also be called autonomic

Myo-

Muscle

Vaso-

Blood vessel

Adduction

Limbs moving toward the axis

Abduction

Limbs moving away from the axis

Flexion

Decreases the angle between two body part (aka bending)

Extension

Increases the angle between two body parts (aka straightening)

-pathy

Disease

-algia

Suffix meaning pain

-trophy

Suffix meaning growth/structure

Striated

Skeletal muscles are Striated meaning its fibers are parallel to one another

Sarcolemma

Each bundle of muscle fibers is wrapped in connective tissue called

Actin and Myosin proteins

Proteins are responsible for converting chemical energy into mechanical energy!

Intercalated discs

Connecting structures between cardiac muscle fibers that allows for the synchronized beat of the heart

Origin and insertion

Refers to where the muscle attaches/starts and where it inserts/ends

Frontalis

Muscle of the forehead

Sternocleidomastoid

Neck muscle involved in head movement

Trapezius

Upper back muscle involved in shoulder movement

Deltoid

Shoulder muscle

Pectoralis

Chest muscle

Triceps brachii

Muscle on the back of the upper arm

Serratus anterior

Muscle on the side of the chest

Biceps brachii

Muscle on the front of the upper arm

Latissimus dorsi

Large back muscle

Rectus abdominis

Abdominal muscle

External oblique

Abdominal muscle

Sartorius

Longest muscle in the body, runs from hip to knee (s-shape)

Rectus femoris

Quadriceps muscle in the thigh

Vastus lateralis

Quadriceps muscle on the outer thigh

Vastus medialis

Quadriceps muscle in the thigh

Gastrocnemius

Calf muscle

Tibialis anterior

Muscle on the front of the lower leg

Gluteus maximus

Buttock muscle

Biceps femoris

Muscle on the back of the thigh