The muscular system

Question 1

What are the three properties of skeletal muscle?

Answer 1

Extensibility
Elasticity
Contractability

Question 2

Define extensibility

Answer 2

The ability of muscle tissue to lengthen

Question 3

Define Elasticity

Answer 3

The ability of the muscle to return to its normal resting length once it has been stretched.

Question 4

Define contractability

Answer 4

The capacity for a muscle to contract or shorten forcibly when stimulated by nerves and hormones.

Question 5

What are the three functions of the skeletal muscle?

Answer 5

Movement
Support and posture
Heat production

Question 6

How does skeletal muscles cause movement?

Answer 6

Attach to the bone, against which they pull to enable movement.

Question 7

How does skeletal muscle affect posture?

Answer 7

Muscles are in a constant state of contraction.

Muscles in legs and torso contract statically to maintain balance.

Question 8

How does the skeletal muscle assist heat production?

Answer 8

The contraction of skeletal muscle involves the production of energy. In breaking down glycogen to produce this energy, heat is produced.

Question 9

List the characteristics of slow twitch muscle fibres.

Answer 9

Red
Contract slowly
Aerobic
Endurance based
Can contract repeatedly
Exert less force

Question 10

List the characteristics of fats twitch muscle fibres.

Answer 10

White
Contract rapidly
Anaerobic
Speed/strength based
Easily exhausted
Exert greater force

Question 11

What is another name for Type 2a muscle fibres?

Answer 11

Fast oxidative glycolytic fibres

Question 12

What is another name for type 2b muscle fibres?

Answer 12

Fast-twitch glycolytic fibres

Question 13

Give examples of the exercises that are performed by type 2a muscle fibres?

Answer 13

200m swim or 800m run

Question 14

Describe the characteristic of type 2a muscle fibres.

Answer 14

Can pick up certain type 1 characteristics through endurance training.
Tend to have a greater resistance to fatigue.

Question 15

Type 2b muscle fibres are much bigger than type 2b. What else is different in their biological make-up?

Answer 15

The motor neurone that carries the impulse is much larger.

Question 16

What activities use type 2b muscle fibres?

Answer 16

Power lifters and sprinters. Activities of very high intensity as they have a much stronger force of contraction.

Question 17

What is the function of connective tissue?

Answer 17

It holds all the individual muscle fibres together. It also encases the entire muscle forming tendons.

Question 18

What do tendons do?

Answer 18

Attach muscles to bones.

Question 19

Describe the anatomical make-up of tendons.

Answer 19

They vary in length and are composed of parallel fibres of collagen.

Question 20

What is the origin?

Answer 20

The end of the muscle attached to a stable bone against which the muscle can pull (usually a flat bone).

Question 21

What is the insertion?

Answer 21

The muscle attachment on the bone that the muscle puts into action.

Question 22

Describe the antagonistic muscle action?

Answer 22

Fixator muscles stabilise the origin so that the agonist can achieve maximum and effective contraction.

Question 23

What do neutralisers do in the antagonistic muscle action?

Answer 23

They prevent any undesired movement which may occur.

Question 24

State the other muscle of the following in an antagonistic pair.
Pectorals
Anterior deltoids
Trapezius
Rectus abdominus

Answer 24

Lattisimus dorsi
Posterior deltoids
Deltoids
Erector spinalis

Question 25

``` State the other muscle of the following in an antagonistic pair. Quadriceps group Tibialis anterior Biceps brachii Wrist flexors ```

Answer 25

Hamstring group Gastrocnemius and soleus Trcieps brachii Wrist extensors

Question 26

What are the three types of muscle contraction?

Answer 26

Concentric Eccentric Isometric

Question 27

What is an eccentric contraction?

Answer 27

The muscles lengthen while contracting.

Question 28

When is an eccentric contraction used?

Answer 28

In an antagonistic pairing when the muscle are performing an exercise with weight. The antagonist in the movement will eccentrically contract in order to control the movement.

Question 29

If there was not an eccentric contraction performed by the antagonist what would happen during a weighted movement?

Answer 29

The movement would not be controlled and would likely cause injury because it would be performed too quickly.

Question 30

What is a concentric contraction?

Answer 30

The muscles shorten while contracting.

Question 31

What is plyometrics?

Answer 31

A type of strength training based on a muscle contracting eccentrically.

Question 32

Describe an isometric contraction.

Answer 32

A muscle contracting without actively or visibly lengthening or shortening.

Question 33

What is an isometric contraction also known as?

Answer 33

A static contraction.

Question 34

The majority of muscles in the body are constantly isometrically contracting. Why is this?

Answer 34

They contract to maintain posture.