muscular system vocab Flashcards
acetylcholine
a neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction
acetylcholinesterase
an enzyme that inactivates acetylcholine
antagonists
muscles that have the opposite action to that of the prime mover
aponeurosis
a broad flat sheet of connective tissue that connects one muscle to another
contractibility
the ability of muscle cells to shorten to produce movement
elasticity
the ability of tissue to return to its original shape
epimysium
fibrous connective tissue that surrounds the whole muscle
excitability
ability of muscle and nerve tissue to receive and respond to stimuli
extensibility
the ability of muscle tissue to stretch when pulled
insertion
the end of the muscle tissue that is attached to a relatively moveable part
motor unit
a single neuron and all its muscle fibers it stimulates
neuromuscular junction
area of communication between the axon terminal of a motor neuron and the sarcolemma of a muscle fiber
neurotransmitter
a chemical substance that is released at the axon terminals to stimulate a muscle fiber contraction or an impulse in another neuron
origin
the end of the muscle that is attached to relatively immovable parts
prime mover
the muscle that is mainly responsible for a particular movement