FoM:L5 - Muscles Flashcards
What is the function of muscles?
- movement
- posture
- heat generation
What are the characteristics of muscle tissue?
Excitability - receives and responds to stimuli
Contractility - able to forcibly shorten
Extensibility - lengthens when stretched
Elasticity - goes back to resting length
What are the 3 types of muscle tissue?
skeletal: striated, voluntary
smooth: non-striated, involuntary
cardiac: striated, involuntary
How is CT related to muscles?
Tendons/aponeuroses between muscle and bone.
Fascia/septa - between/around individual muscle. Septa separate groups of muscles into compartments.
Retinaculum - thickening of fascia that retain structures in place e.g. ankle and wrist
Outline muscle compartments
- muscles in the limbs contained in compartments separated by septa.
- muscles in the same compartment are synergists (generally have same function)
- Muscles in opposite compartments are antagonists
- generally have the same nerve supply
What is meant by the terms proximal and distal attachment?
proximal: origin of a muscle, fixed
distal: insertion, moveable
How are muscles arranged?
- muscles in the limbs are contained in compartments separated by connective tissue septa
- muscles in the same compartment are synergists.
- Muscles in opposite compartments are antagonists
What is meant by agonist?
- prime mover
- major responsibility for effecting a particular movement
What is an antagonist?
opposes the action of another muscle
What is a synergist?
- aids action of prime mover
- effects same movement
- or stabilises joints to prevent undesired movement
What is a fixator?
- immobilises 1 or more bones
- allowing other muscles to act from a stable base
What muscles make up the posterior compartment of the thigh?
hamstrings
What is compartment syndrome?
too much pressure in a confined space
