Muscular System Flashcards
What is the role of muscles in the body?
Muscles enable movement, maintain posture, produce heat, and support joint stability.
What are the 3 different types of muscles
- Skeletal Muscle
- Cardiac Muscle
- Smooth Muscle
Functions and Appearance of Skeletal Muscles
Striated and voluntary; moves bones and enables body movements.
Functions and Appearance of Smooth Muscles
Non-striated and involuntary; found in walls of organs (e.g., stomach, blood vessels) and controls automatic movements.
Functions and Appearance of Cardiac Muscles
Striated and involuntary; makes up the heart and pumps blood.
What is Reciprocal Inhibition?
A process where one muscle (agonist) contracts while its opposing muscle (antagonist) relaxes to allow movement (e.g., bending the arm: biceps contract, triceps relax).
What is an agonist and antagonist?
Agonist: The muscle that contracts to create movement (e.g., biceps during elbow flexion).
Antagonist: The muscle that opposes the movement (e.g., triceps during elbow flexion).
AGONIST GETS SHORTER ANTAGONIST GETS LONGER
What is the difference between cartilage, tendons and ligaments?
Cartilage: Flexible tissue that cushions joints and supports structures (e.g., nose, ears).
Tendons: Connect muscle to bone, helping transmit force from muscles to bones.
Ligaments: Connect bone to bone, providing stability to joints.
What are the 3 different types of muscle contractions?
Isometric Contraction
Isotonic Contraction
Isokinetic Contraction
Explain and give an example of an isotonic movement
The muscle changes length while moving. This can either be concentrically or eccentrically (muscle gets shorter or muscle gets longer)
Eg:
Concentric: A weightlifter lifting a barbell. (the bicep is getting shorter
Eccentric: A weightlifter lowering a barbell. (the bicep is getting longer)
Explain and give an example of an isometric movement
The muscle stays the same length and doesn’t move. Example: A gymnast holding a handstand.
Explain and give an example of an isokinetic movement
The muscle contracts at a constant speed throughout the movement. Example: Using a stationary bike or leg press machine that adjusts resistance to maintain a steady speed.
Eccentric v Concentric
Concentric Contraction: The muscle shortens while generating force.
Example: Lifting a weight during a bicep curl.
Eccentric Contraction: The muscle lengthens while under tension.
Example: Lowering the weight back down after a bicep curl.
What are the major muscles and their major movement?
Deltoid: Shoulder abduction.
Biceps: Elbow flexion.
Triceps: Elbow extension.
Pectoralis Major: Shoulder flexion and adduction.
Rectus Abdominis: Trunk flexion.
Quadriceps: Knee extension.
Hamstrings: Knee flexion.
Gastrocnemius: Plantar flexion (pointing toes).
What is the difference between fast twitch and slow twitch fibres?
Fast Twitch Fibers:
Quick and powerful.
Fatigue quickly.
Best for sprinting and weightlifting.
Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers:
Endurance-focused.
Fatigue slowly.
Best for long-distance running and cycling.
