The Nervous, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems Flashcards
Tiny cellular structures that perform specific functions within a cell. Examples include nuclei, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum.
Organelles
The parts of the cell that use nutrients to create energy for the cell; commonly known as the powerhouses of the cell.
Mitochondria
A part of the body, such as a muscle or organ, that receives a signal from a neuron to produce a physiological response.
Effector Site
Minerals that have an electrical charge to help transmit nerve impulses throughout the body, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Electrolytes
Sensory pathway that relays information to the central nervous system.
Afferent Pathway
A motor pathway that relays information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
Efferent Pathway
Specialized structures that respond to mechanical forces (touch and pressure) within tissues and then transmit signals through sensory nerves.
Mechanoreceptors
Receptors that responds to pain
Nociceptors
Nerves that serve the outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle and are largely responsible for the voluntary control of movement.
Somatic Nervous System
Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that works to increase neural activity and put the body in a heightened state.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that works to decrease neural activity and put the body in a more relaxed state.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Sensory receptors sensitive to change in length of the muscle and the rate of that change.
Muscle Spindles
A specialized sensory receptor located at the point where skeletal muscle fibers insert into the tendons of skeletal muscle; sensitive to changes in muscular tension and rate of tension change.
Golgi Tendon Organ (GTO)
A condition of reduced bone mineral density, which increases risk of bone fracture.
Osteoporosis
A division of the skeletal system consisting of the skull, the rib cage, and the vertebral column.
Axial skeleton
A division of the skeletal system consisting of the arms, legs, and pelvic girdle.
Appendicular skeleton
Scientific explanation of how remodeling (new bone growth) occurs along the lines of stress placed on the bone.
Wolff’s Law
Special cells that break down and remove old bone tissue.
Osteoclasts
Special cells that form and lay down new bone tissue.
Osteoblasts
Projections protruding from the bone where tendons and ligaments can attach.
Processes
Fibrous cartilage structures between vertebrae that act as shock absorbers and assist with movement.
Intervertebral Discs
Composed of the largest segments in the spinal column
Lumbar spine
Composed of 12 vertebrae located in the upper and middle back
Thoracic Spine
Form a flexible framework and provides support and motion for the head
Cervical Spine
Composed of three to five small, fused bones
Coccyx
Composed of five vertebrae that fuse togetherr as the body develops
Sacrum
Movement of a limb that is visible.
Osteokinematics
The description of joint surface movement; consists of three major types: roll, slide, and spin.
Arthrokinematics
A joint with a fluid-filled joint capsule.
Synovial Joints
Joints that have no joint capsule, fibrous connective tissue, or cartilage in the uniting structure.
Nonsynovial Joints
A fibrous connective tissue that connects bone to bone.
Ligament
A protein found in connective tissue, muscles, and skin that provides strength and structure. It is the most abundant protein in the human body.
Collagen
A specialized cartilage disc located in the epiphysis that is responsible for longitudinal bone growth.
Growth Plate
Largest bundles of fibers within a muscle.
Fascicles
Connective tissue surrounding a muscle fascicle.
Perimysium
Connective tissue that wraps around individual muscle fibers within a fascicle.
Endomysium
Inner layer of fascia that directly surrounds an entire muscle, commonly referred to as the “deep fascia.”
Epimysium
Protein-based molecule that carries oxygen molecules into the muscles.
Myoglobin
The thin, stringlike, myofilament that acts along with myosin to produce muscular contraction.
Actin
The thick myofilament that acts along with actin to produce muscular contraction.
Myosin
The structural unit of a myofibril composed of actin and myosin filaments between two Z-lines. (Functional unit
of the muscular system or Connection points)
Sarcomere
The specialized site where the nervous system communicates directly with muscle fibers.
Neuromuscular junction
A neurotransmitter that helps the action potential cross the synapse into the muscle, which initiates the steps in a muscle contraction.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
A high-energy molecule that serves as the main form of energy in the human body; known as the energy currency of the body.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Muscle fibers that are small in size, generate lower amounts of force, and are more resistant to fatigue.
Type 1 muscle fibers
Muscle fibers that are larger in size, generate higher amounts of force, and are faster to fatigue.
Type 2 muscle fibers
Motor units cannot vary the amount of force they generate; they either contract maximally or not at all.
All-or-nothing principle
