Chapter 5 Flashcards
The collective components and structures that work together to move the body: muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems.
human movement system (HMS)
A concept that describes the human body as a chain of interdependent links that work together to perform movement.
kinetic chain
A network of specialized cells called neurons that transmit and coordinate signals, providing a communication network within the human body.
nervous system
Specialized cell that is the functional unit of the nervous system.
neuron
Cellular structure or organelle that contains the majority of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes.
nucleus
Tiny cellular structures that perform specific functions within a cell. Examples include nuclei, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum.
organelles
The parts of the cell that use nutrients to create energy for the cell; commonly known as the powerhouses of the cell.
mitochondria
A part of the body, such as a muscle or organ, that receives a signal from a neuron to produce a physiological response.
effector sites
Minerals that have an electrical charge to help transmit nerve impulses throughout the body, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
electrolytes
A division of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.
central nervous system (CNS)
Nerves that connect the rest of the body to the central nervous system.
peripheral nervous system
Sensory pathway that relays information to the central nervous system.
afferent pathway
A motor pathway that relays information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
efferent pathway
Neurons located within the spinal cord and brain that transmit impulses between afferent and efferent neurons.
interneurons
Specialized structures that respond to mechanical forces (touch and pressure) within tissues and then transmit signals through sensory nerves.
mechanoreceptors
Nerves that serve the outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle and are largely responsible for the voluntary control of movement.
somatic nervous system
A division of the peripheral nervous system that supplies neural input to organs that run the involuntary processes of the body (e.g., circulating blood, digesting food, producing hormones).
autonomic nervous system
Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that works to increase neural activity and put the body in a heightened state.
sympathetic nervous system
Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that works to decrease neural activity and put the body in a more relaxed state.
parasympathetic nervous system
Ability of the nervous system to sense changes in either the internal or external environment.
sensory function
The body’s ability to naturally sense its general orientation and relative position of its parts.
proprioception
The ability of the nervous system to analyze and interpret the sensory information to allow for proper decision-making, which produces an appropriate response.
integrative function
The neuromuscular (or nervous and muscular systems) response to the integrated sensory information.
motor function
Sensory receptors sensitive to change in length of the muscle and the rate of that change.
muscle spindles
Neurological signal from the muscle spindle that causes a muscle to contract to prevent excessive lengthening.
stretch reflex
A specialized sensory receptor located at the point where skeletal muscle fibers insert into the tendons of skeletal muscle; sensitive to changes in muscular tension and rate of tension change.
golgi tendon organ
Receptors located in and around the joint capsule that respond to pressure, acceleration, and deceleration of the joint.
joint receptors
The concept that the brain will continually change or grow, reforming neural pathways throughout an individual’s entire life span.
Neuroplasticity
The interconnection of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
Neurocircuitry
Specific movements through the coordinated effort of the sensory and motor subsystems.
motor skills
A description of the bones of the body.
skeletal system
A condition of reduced bone mineral density, which increases risk of bone fracture.
osteoporosis
The sites where two bones meet and movement occurs as a result of muscle contraction.
joints
A division of the skeletal system consisting of the skull, the rib cage, and the vertebral column.
axial skeleton
A division of the skeletal system consisting of the arms, legs, and pelvic girdle.
appendicular skeleton
Rigid rods where muscles attach.
levers
The process by which bone is constantly renewed by the resorption and formation of the bone structure.
remodeling
Special cells that break down and remove old bone tissue.
osteoclasts
Special cells that form and lay down new bone tissue.
osteoblasts
Scientific explanation of how remodeling (new bone growth) occurs along the lines of stress placed on the bone.
Wolff’s law
Flattened or indented portions of bone.
depressions (fossa)
Projections protruding from the bone where tendons and ligaments can attach.
processes
Bones that house the spinal cord; consists of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral regions.
vertebral column
Bundle of nerves housed within the vertebrae.
spinal cord
Fibrous cartilage structures between vertebrae that act as shock absorbers and assist with movement.
intervertebral discs
Represents a position in which the vertebrae and associated structures are under the least amount of load and can most optimally support functional movement.
neutral spine
Movement of a limb that is visible.
osteokinematics
The description of joint surface movement; consists of three major types: roll, slide, and spin.
arthrokinematics
A joint with a fluid-filled joint capsule.
synovial joints
A gliding joint that moves in only one plane, either back and forth or side to side.
nonaxial
Joints that have no joint capsule, fibrous connective tissue, or cartilage in the uniting structure.
nonsynovial joints
A fibrous connective tissue that connects bone to bone.
ligament
A protein found in connective tissue, muscles, and skin that provides strength and structure. It is the most abundant protein in the human body.
collagen
A protein that provides elasticity to skin, tendons, ligaments, and other structures.
elastin
A specialized cartilage disc located in the epiphysis that is responsible for longitudinal bone growth.
growth plate
The type of muscle tissue that connects to bones and generates the forces that create movement.
skeletal muscle
Connective tissue that surrounds muscles and bones.
fascia
Inner layer of fascia that directly surrounds an entire muscle, commonly referred to as the “deep fascia.”
epimysium
Largest bundles of fibers within a muscle and are surrounded by perimysium.
fascicles
Connective tissue surrounding a muscle fascicle.
perimysium
Connective tissue that wraps around individual muscle fibers within a fascicle.
endomysium
Glucose that is deposited and stored in bodily tissues, such as the liver and muscle cells; the storage form of carbohydrate.
glycogen
Protein-based molecule that carries oxygen molecules into the muscles.
myoglobin
The contractile components of a muscle cell; the myofilaments (actin and myosin) are contained within what?
myofibrils
The filaments of a myofibril; include actin and myosin.
myofilaments
The thin, stringlike, myofilament that acts along with myosin to produce muscular contraction.
actin
The thick myofilament that acts along with actin to produce muscular contraction.
myosin
The structural unit of a myofibril composed of actin and myosin filaments between two Z-lines.
sarcomere
The meeting point of each sarcomere.
z-line
The nervous system’s signal that tells a muscle to contract.
neural activation
The specialized site where the nervous system communicates directly with muscle fibers.
neuromuscular junction
A junction or small gap between the motor neuron and muscle cells.
synapse
A motor neuron and all of the muscle fibers that it innervates.
motor unit
Nerve impulse that is relayed from the central nervous system, through the peripheral nervous system, and into the muscle across the neuromuscular junction.
action potential
Chemical messengers that cross the synapse between neuron and muscle and assist with nerve transmission.
neurotransmitters
A neurotransmitter that helps the action potential cross the synapse into the muscle, which initiates the steps in a muscle contraction.
acetylcholine (ACh)
The series of steps in muscle contraction involving how myosin (thick) and actin (thin) filaments slide past one another to produce a muscle contraction, shortening the entire length of the sarcomere.
sliding filament history
The physiological process of converting an electrical stimulus to a muscle contraction.
excitation-contraction coupling
The myosin heads bind to actin and pull them toward the sarcomere center, which slides the filaments past each other, shortening the muscle.
power stroke
A high-energy molecule that serves as the main form of energy in the human body; known as the energy currency of the body.
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
The length of a muscle when it is not actively contracting or being stretched.
resting length
Muscle fibers that are small in size, generate lower amounts of force, and are more resistant to fatigue.
type 1 muscle fibers
Muscle fibers that are larger in size, generate higher amounts of force, and are faster to fatigue.
type 2 muscle fibers
Motor units cannot vary the amount of force they generate; they either contract maximally or not at all.
all-or-nothing principle
The smallest blood vessels and the site of exchange of elements between the blood and the tissues.
capillaries
