Vocabulary Flashcards
Human Movement System
The combination and interrelation of the nervous, muscular, and skeletal system.
Nervous System
A conglomeration of billions of cells specifically designed to provide a communication network within the human body.
Sensory Function
The ability of the nervous system to sense changes in either the internal or external environment.
Integrative Function
The ability of the nervous system to analyze and interpret sensory information to allow for proper decision making, which produces the appropriate response.
Motor Function
The neuromuscular response to the sensory information.
Proprioception
The cumulative sensory input to the central nervous system from all mechanoreceptors that sense body position and limb movement.
Neuron
The functional unit of the nervous system.
Sensory (Afferent) Neurons
Transmit nerve impulses from effector sites (such as muscles and organs) via receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
Interneurons
Transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to another.
Motor (Efferent) Neurons
Transmit nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord to effector sites.
Central Nervous System
The portion of the nervous system that consists o the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System
Cranial and spinal nerves that spread throughout the body.
Mechanoreceptors
Sensory receptors responsible for sensing distortion in the body tissues.
Muscle Spindles
Receptors sensitive to change in length of the muscle and the rate of that change.
Golgi Tendon Organs
Receptors sensitive to change in tension of the muscle and the rate of that change.
Joint Receptors
Receptors surrounding a joint that respond to pressure, acceleration, and deceleration of the joint.
Skeletal System
The body’s framework, composed of bones and joints.
Bones
Provide a resting ground for muscles and protection of vital organs.
Joints
Junctions of bones, muscles, and connective tissue at which movement occurs. Also known as an articulation.
Axial Skeleton
Portion of the skeletal system that consist of the skull, rib cage, and vertebral column.
Appendicular Skeleton
Portion of the skeletal system that includes the upper and lower extremities.
Remodeling
The process of resorption and formation of bone.
Osteoclasts
A type of bone cell that removes bone tissue.
Osteoblasts
A type of cell that is responsible for bone formation.
Epiphysis
The end of long bones, which is mainly composed of cancellous bone, and house much of the red marrow involved in red blood cell production. They are also one of the primary sites for bone growth.
Diaphysis
The shaft portion of a long bone.
Epiphyseal Plate
The region of long bond connecting the diaphysis to the epiphysis. It is a layer of subdividing cartilaginous cells in which growth in length of the diaphysis occurs.
Periosteum
A dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone, except that of the articulating surfaces in joints, which are covered by a synovial membrane.
Medullar Cavity
The central cavity of bone shafts where marrow is stored.
Articular (Hyaline) Cartilage
Cartilage that covers the articular surfaces of bones.
Depressions
Flattened or indented portions of bone, which can be muscle attachment sites.
Processes
Projections protruding from the bone where muscles, tendons, and ligaments can attach.
Arthrokinematics
Join motion.
Synovial Joints
Joints that are held together by a joint capsule and ligaments and are most associated with movement in the body.
Nonsynovial Joints
Joints that do not have a joint cavity, connective tissue, or cartilage.
Ligament
Primary connective tissues that connects bones together and provides stability, input to the nervous system, guidance, and the limitation of improper joint movement.
Epimysium
A layer of connective tissue that is underneath the fascia and surrounds the muscle.
Perimysium
The connective tissue that surrounds fascicles.
Endomysium
The deepest layer of connective tissue that surrounds individual muscle fibers.
Tendons
Connective tissues that attach muscles to bone and provide an anchor for muscles to produce force.
Sarcomere
The functional unit of muscle that produces muscular contraction and consists of repeating sections of actin and myosin.
Neural Activation
The contraction of a muscle generated by neural stimulation.
Motor Unit
A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the neuromusclar junction (synapse) to transmit electrical impulses from the nerve to the muscle.
