The Muscular System

Question 1

Functions of the muscular system

Answer 1

1. Movement
2. Posture
3. Maintains bodily Functions (breathing, digestion + supports circulatory system)

Question 2

Characteristics of the muscular system

Answer 2

1. Excitability - muscles can be stimulated to react
2. Contractibility - muscles can shorten
3. Extensibility - muscles can lengthen
4. Atrophy - muscles will decrease if not used
5. Hypertrophy - muscles will increase when trained

Question 3

Types of muscles

Answer 3

1. Voluntary, muscles that we consciously control
2. Involuntary, maintain our bodily processes (also known as smooth muscles).
3. Cardiac , are involuntary muscles (striped muscles in wall of heart that makes up tissue called myocardium)

Question 4

Muscle contractions

Answer 4

Muscular and nervous system work together to produce movement. Messages are sent from the brain to the muscles so that they can contract or contract.

Question 5

Types of contractions

Answer 5

1. Isotonic contractions: Muscle size changes when applying force. can be broken into two further categories, concentric (muscle shortening) and eccentric (muscle lengthening).
2. Isometric contractions: muscle applies force but there is no change in the length of the muscle.

Question 6

Role of muscles

Answer 6

1. Agonist: muscle that contracts/shortens when movement occurs
2. Antagonist: Muscle that relaxes/lengthens when movement occurs

Question 7

Reciprocal Inhabitation

Answer 7

Process of one muscle contracting (agonist) and the other muscle relaxing (antagonist)