Muscular System Vocab Flashcards
scientific study of muscles
myology
the creation of heat due to muscle contraction
thermogenesis
muscles under your conscious control
voluntary muscles
muscles not under your conscious control
involuntary muscles
the shortening of a muscle fiber to produce force for movement
muscle contraction
the replacement of skeletal muscle fibers by connective tissue due to damage, disease, or non-use
fibrosis
the decrease in size or deterioration of muscle tissue due to disease or non-use
muscle atrophy
also called scar tissue
fibrosis
What is muscle contraction?
the shortening of a muscle fiber to produce force for movement
the increase in size of muscle tissue due to strenuous activity
muscle hypertrophy
a neuron that forms a connection with a skeletal muscle fiber telling the muscle fiber to contract
motor neuron
a small gap that separates the membrane of a neuron and the membrane of a muscle fiber
synaptic cleft
chemicals released by neurons at synapses to communicate with cells in the surrounding area
neurotransmitter
a specific neurotransmitter that is released from a motor neuron, crosses the synaptic cleft, and binds to a receptor on a muscle fiber to signal the muscle to contract
acetylcholine (ach) VERY IMPORTANT
the synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber
neuromuscular junction
area in which a muscle attaches to a bone and when the muscle contracts this end does not move
origin
area in which a muscle attaches to a bone and when the muscle contracts this end is pulled toward the origin
insertion
the main muscle used to create a specific movement
prime mover (agonist)
any muscle that aids the prim over when a specific movement is performed
synergist
muscle that resists the primer mover
antagonist
