MUSCLE: PROPERTIES + CHARACTERISITICS + FUNCTIONS

Question 1

What are the three types of muscle tissue?

Answer 1

1. Skeletal
2. Cardiac
3. Smooth

Question 2

What are the four basic tissue types?

Answer 2

1. Excitability
2. Contractility
3. Extensibility
4. Elasticity

Question 3

What is excitability?

Answer 3

Ability to respond to stimulation

Question 4

What is contractility?

Answer 4

Ability to shorten and pull

Question 5

What is extensibility?

Answer 5

Ability to contract over different lengths

Question 6

What is elasticity?

Answer 6

Ability to regain original length

Question 7

What are the four characterisitics of skeletal muscle?

Answer 7

1. Skeletal muscles are somatic structures (under voluntary control)
2. Skeletal muscles are innervated by spinal nerves (originating from the spinal cord) or cranial nerves (originating from the brainstem)
3. Skeletal muscles are contractile organs that attach directly or indirectly onto bones
4. Their contraction produces motion of the body

Question 8

What are the five major functions of skeletal muscle?

Answer 8

1. Produce movement at various joints of the skeleton (via tendons or muscle fibres attaching onto bones)
2. Maintain posture and body position (even at rest, skeletal muscles contract to stabilize joints of the body)
3. Support soft tissues (abdominal wall and pelvic floor muscles support viscera)
4. Regulate orifices (sphincters regulate ingestion, defecation, urination, etc.)
5. Maintain body temperature (skeletal muscle contraction generate heat)

Question 9

Arrange the following from the largest to the smallest: myofibril; filament; fibre; fascicle

Answer 9

Fascicle, fibre, myofibril, filament