muscular system Flashcards
What are the three types of muscle tissue?
Skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, smooth muscle
What distinguishes skeletal muscle tissue from other muscle types?
Contains striations and is under voluntary control
What is the structure of skeletal muscle tissue?
Long cylindrical fibres that are multinucleate
How long can a single skeletal muscle cell be?
Up to 30cm long
What is the contraction ability of skeletal muscle?
Can contract rapidly but also fatigue easily
Where is cardiac muscle tissue found?
In the walls of the heart
What is a unique feature of cardiac muscle cells?
They are short, fat, branched, and interconnected via intercalated discs
How many nuclei do cardiac muscle cells typically contain?
One or two nuclei
What is the shape of smooth muscle cells?
Fusiform, larger in the middle and tapered at either end
What type of control do smooth muscle tissues have?
Involuntary control
What are the four special characteristics that enable skeletal muscle to perform optimally?
- Excitability
- Contractility
- Extensibility
- Elasticity
What are the primary functions of muscles?
- Produce movement
- Maintain posture
- Stabilise joints
- Generate heat
What connective tissue surrounds individual muscle fibres?
Endomysium
What is a fascicle?
A bundle of muscle fibres
What connective tissue layer surrounds each fascicle?
Perimysium
What is the outermost connective tissue covering of a muscle called?
Epimysium
What are the two points of attachment for skeletal muscles called?
- Origin
- Insertion
What is the origin of a muscle?
The end attached to the less movable bone
What is the insertion of a muscle?
The end attached to the more movable bone
How are skeletal muscles named?
- Shape
- Size
- Location
- Direction of fibres
- Number of origins
- Action
What is myology?
The study of the structure, arrangement, and action of muscles
What is an agonist muscle?
The muscle that performs the action or specific movement
What is an antagonist muscle?
Muscles whose action opposes the agonist action
What are synergist muscles?
Muscles that work together to perform the same task
