Chapter 5: The Nervous, Skeletal and Muscular Systems 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
A 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
Mitochondria
The parts of the cell that use nutrients to create energy for the cell; commonly known as the power houses of the cell
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 (PNS)
Sensory pathway that relays information to the central nervous system
Afferent Pathway
Nuerons are composed with these 3 main parts:
the cell body, the axon and the dendrites.
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 impulses
Interneurons
Specialized structures that respond to mechanical forces (touch and pressure) within tissues and then transmit signals through sensory nerves
Mechanoreceptors
Specialized structures that respond to chemical interaction (mell and taste)
Chemoreceptors
Specialized structures that respond to light (vision)
Photoreceptors
Nerves that serve the outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle and 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 (fight or flight)
Sympathetic nervous system
Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that works to decrease neural activity and put the body in a more relaxed state (rest and digest)
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 (GTO)
Receptors located in and around the joint capsule that respond to pressure, acceleration, and deceleration of the joint
Joint Receptors
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 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
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 cafe, and the vertebral column
Axial Skeleton
A division of the skeletal system consisting of the arms, legs and the 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
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 descriptions 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 tissues, muscles, and skin that provides strength and structure. It is the mot 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. These 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 these
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
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 theory
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)
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 I muscle fibers
Muscle fibers that are larger in size, generate higher amounts of force, and are faster to fatigue
Type II 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
