Final Flashcards
Where is Cardiac Muscle found and is it Voluntary or Involuntary
Found only in the heart; Involuntary because it contracts automatically
Where is Skeletal Muscle found and is it Voluntary or Involuntary
Attached to bone; Voluntary as it can be contracted at will
Where is Smooth Muscle found and is it Voluntary or Involuntary
Found in digestive tract, blood vessels, bladder, airways, and uterus; Involuntary because it contracts automatically such as when the digestive tract processes food.
Define Muscle Tone
The continuous state of partial contraction in which muscles are at their optimal resting length
What is the length-tension relationship?
The strength of a contraction depends upon the length of the fibers before the contraction beings.
What nerve must a skeletal muscle be stimulated by in order to contract?
Motor Neuron
What is the connection between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber?
Neuromuscular junction
What are the 4 steps of muscle fiber contraction?
1) When an impulse reaches the end of a motor neuron it causes small vesicles to fuse with the cell membrane and release acetylcholine (ACh) into the synaptic cleft. 2) The ACh quickly diffuses across the synaptic cleft where it stimulates receptors in the sarcolemma 3)This sends an electrical impulse over the sarcolemma and inward along the T tubules. The impulse in the T tubules causes the sacs in the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release calcium. 4) The calcium binds with the troponin on the actin filament to expose attachment points. In response, the myosin heads of the tick filaments grab onto the thin filaments, and muscle contraction occurs.
When do muscles use glucose?
If the supply of creatine phosphate is exhausted before the supply of oxygen has reached an acceptable level. Muscles receive much of their glucose from the bloodstream however some is stored within muscle in the form of glycogen. This is called Anaerobic respiration (without oxygen)
What is lactic acid?
A byproduct of anaerobic respiration which leads to muscle fatigue.
What is the role of a muscle?
To move a body part
Define Prime Mover (in regards to muscle)
The main muscle triggering the movement
Define Synergists (in regards to muscle)
The muscles that assist the prime mover
Define hypertrophy and atrophy
Muscle enlargement and shrinkage of muscle
At rest, muscles obtain most of their energy by metabolizing what?
Fatty Acids
What is the origin of the muscle?
Refers to the end of the muscle that attaches to the more stationary bone
What is the belly of the muscle
The thick midsection
What is the insertion of the muscle
The end of the muscle that attaches to the move move-able bones.
What 3 muscles are involved in breathing?
External Intercostals (elevate ribs), Internal Intercostals (depress ribs), and Diaphragm (enlarges thorax to trigger inspiration
What comprises a motor unit? (in regards to muscle)
The neuron and all the fibers it stimulates
What is muscle Threshold?
The minimum voltage needed to cause a muscle fiber to contract
What is a Twitch?
A single, brief contraction. Occurs when a fiber receives a stimulus at or above threshold.
How many bones are found in the adult body?
206
What does the Axial Skeleton consist of?
Skull, rib cage, and vertebral column







