Back to FlashcardsMedicine / Medical Terminology: Muscular System Part 1
Define: Muscle
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Key Terms
Term
Definition
Define: Muscle
A soft tissue in the body that can contract to produce movement or maintain the position of parts of the body. The muscle tissue is essential for all ...
Define: Voluntary
Muscle movements that are under conscious control, such as those performed by skeletal muscles. Walking is a voluntary action that requires coordinati...
Define: Involuntary
Muscle movements that occur without conscious control, typically involving smooth and cardiac muscles. Breathing is an involuntary process controlled ...
Define: Skeletal
Referring to the type of muscle that is attached to bones and is responsible for voluntary movements. The skeletal muscles allow us to walk, run, and ...
Define: Smooth
Involuntary muscle found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels, responsible for automatic movements. The smooth muscles in the digestive t...
Define: Cardiac
The type of involuntary muscle that makes up the heart, enabling it to pump blood throughout the body. The cardiac muscle contracts rhythmically to ma...
Related Flashcard Decks
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Define: Muscle | A soft tissue in the body that can contract to produce movement or maintain the position of parts of the body. The muscle tissue is essential for all voluntary movements. |
Define: Voluntary | Muscle movements that are under conscious control, such as those performed by skeletal muscles. Walking is a voluntary action that requires coordination of multiple muscles. |
Define: Involuntary | Muscle movements that occur without conscious control, typically involving smooth and cardiac muscles. Breathing is an involuntary process controlled by the diaphragm and other muscles. |
Define: Skeletal | Referring to the type of muscle that is attached to bones and is responsible for voluntary movements. The skeletal muscles allow us to walk, run, and perform other physical activities. |
Define: Smooth | Involuntary muscle found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels, responsible for automatic movements. The smooth muscles in the digestive tract help move food along the system. |
Define: Cardiac | The type of involuntary muscle that makes up the heart, enabling it to pump blood throughout the body. The cardiac muscle contracts rhythmically to maintain a steady heartbeat. |
Define: Contraction | The process of a muscle shortening and generating tension, which results in movement or stabilization of body parts. During exercise, the contraction of muscles is essential for lifting weights. |
Define: Relaxation | The process where a muscle returns to its resting length after contraction, allowing for movement and recovery. After a workout, muscle relaxation helps prevent stiffness and soreness. |
Define: Tendon | A fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone, facilitating movement by transferring force from muscle contractions. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. |
Define: Ligament | A tough band of connective tissue that connects bones to other bones at joints, providing stability and support. The ACL is a ligament that helps stabilize the knee joint. |
Define: Fiber | A single muscle cell, which can be classified into different types based on its contraction characteristics and metabolic properties. Each muscle fiber can either be slow-twitch or fast-twitch, affecting endurance and strength. |
Define: Myofibril | A long, thread-like structure within a muscle fiber that contains the contractile proteins, actin and myosin. Muscle myofibrils are responsible for the striated appearance of skeletal muscle. |
Define: Sarcomere | The basic functional unit of a muscle fiber, defined by the segment between two Z discs, responsible for muscle contraction. Each sarcomere contracts in unison to produce overall muscle shortening. |
Define: Actin | A protein that forms thin filaments in muscle fibers and plays a crucial role in muscle contraction. Actin filaments interact with myosin to facilitate muscle contractions. |
Define: Myosin | A protein that forms thick filaments in muscle fibers and is essential for muscle contraction through its interaction with actin. Myosin heads bind to actin to generate force during muscle contraction. |
Define: Striated | Referring to muscle tissue that has a banded appearance due to the arrangement of actin and myosin filaments, typical of skeletal and cardiac muscles. Skeletal muscle is striated, which can be observed under a microscope. |
Define: Fascia | A sheet of connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, providing support and structure. The fascia helps compartmentalize the muscles in the leg. |
Define: Origin | The fixed attachment point of a muscle that does not move during contraction. The origin of the biceps brachii is located on the shoulder blade. |
Define: Insertion | The movable attachment point of a muscle that is pulled towards the origin during contraction. The insertion of the biceps brachii is on the radius in the forearm. |
Define: Flexion | The act of bending a joint to decrease the angle between two body parts. Flexion of the elbow brings the forearm closer to the upper arm. |
Define: Extension | The act of straightening a joint to increase the angle between two body parts. Extension of the knee straightens the leg after a bend. |
Define: Abduction | The movement of a limb away from the midline of the body. Abduction of the arm occurs when you raise it sideways. |
Define: Adduction | The movement of a limb toward the midline of the body. Adduction of the thigh brings the leg closer to the body’s center. |
Define: Rotation | The circular movement around an axis, allowing a limb to turn inward or outward. Rotation of the head allows you to look over your shoulder. |
Define: Isometric | A type of muscle contraction where the muscle length does not change while generating force. Holding a plank position involves isometric contractions of the core muscles. |