tendon
a band of fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone
aponeurosis
fibrous or membranous sheet connecting a muscle and the part it moves
Sarcolemma
plasma membrane of a muscle fiber
Sarcoplasm
cytoplasm of a muscle cell
myoglobin
a red pigment that stores oxygen; similar to hemoglobin (transports oxygen in blood)
sarcoplasmic reticulum
The smooth ER of a muscle cell, enlarged and specialized to act as a Ca2+ reservoir. The SR winds around each myofibril in the muscle cell.
neuromuscular junction or end plate
the junction between a nerve fiber and the muscle it supplies
synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft.
endomysium
fine areolar connective tissue surrounding each muscle fiber
epimysium
Sheath of fibrous connective tissue surrounding a muscle
perimysium
fibrous connective tissue that surrounds groups of muscle fibers called fascicles
origin
less moveable of the two bones is considered to be the starting point of the muscle
insertion
the end that moves when the muscle contracts
refractory period
(neurology) the time after a neuron fires or a muscle fiber contracts during which a stimulus will not evoke a response
rigor mortis
Cross bridge detachment requires ATP. 3-4 hours after death muscles begin to stiffen with weak rigidity at 12 hours post mortem. Dying cells take in calcium (the cross bridge fromation). BUT no ATP generated to BREAK CROSS BRIDGE
isometric contraction
contraction that results in development of muscular tension but results in no movement ( you push the car but car doesn't move) (muscle doesn't shorten or lengthen)
isotonic contraction
muscle length changes and moves a load
motor unit
A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it stimulates
myogram
a graphical recording of muscle activity
(unfused) incomplete tetanus
further increase in stimulus...leads to a state of sustained fluttering contraction
(wave) temporal summation
Increased stimulus frequency (muscle does not completely relax btwn stimuli)...produces second contraction of greater force
complete tetanus
If stimuli are given quickly enough,muscle reaches maximal tension. One smooth sustained contraction. No relaxation. (like when someone has superhuman strength)
maximal stimulus
strongest stimulus that increases contractile force
threshold stimulus
stimulus strength causing first observable muscle contraction
Concentric contractions
Muscle shortens and does work
Eccentric Contractions
Muscle generates force as it lengthens
Muscle Tone
The state of partial contraction in a muscle, even when the muscle is not being used. Muscle tone does not produce active movements, but it keeps muscles firm, healthy and ready to respond to any situation
Aerobic endurance
The length of time a muscle can continue to contract using aerobic pathways
Anaerobic threshold
The point at which muscle metabolism converts to anaerobic glycolysis
Muscle Fatigue
is a state of physiological inability to contract even though the muscle still may be receiving stimuli
Oxygen debt or excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)
The extra amount of oxygen that the body must take in for a restorative process
contractures
lack in ATP; states of continuous contraction because the cross bridges are unable to detach. It's a permanent and often painful stiffening of a joint and muscle.
hypertrophy
increase in the size of tissue, such as muscle
atrophy
any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
calmodulin
calcium binding protein that regulates calcium in smooth muscle tissue
hyperplasia
abnormal increase in number of cells
aponeurosis
strong sheet of tissue that acts as a tendon to attach muscles to bone
myasthenia gravis
a chronic progressive disease characterized by chronic fatigue and muscular weakness (especially in the face and neck)
Fibromyositis
Also known as fibromyalgia. A group of conditions involving chronic inflammation of a muscle, its connective tissue coverings and tendon, and capsules of nearby joints. Symptoms are nonspecific and involve varying degrees of tenderness, as well as fatigue
Hernia
Protrusion of an organ through its body cavity wall. May be congenital (owing to failure of muscle fusion during development), but most often is caused by heavy lifting or obesity and subsequent muscle weakening.
Myalgia
Muscle pain resulting from any muscle disorder
Myofascial pain syndrome
Pain caused by a tightened bad of muscle fibers, which twitch when the skin over them is touched. Mostly associated with overused and strained postural muscles.
Myopathy
any disease of the muscle
Myostonic Dystrophy
A form of muscular dystrophy that is less common than DMD; in the US it affects about 14 of 100K ppl. Symptoms include a gradual reduction in muscle mass and control of the skeletal muscles, abnormal heart rhythm, and diabetes mellitus. May appear at any
RICE
Acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. The standard treatment for a pulled muscle, or excessively stretched tendons or ligaments.
Spasm
A sudden, involuntary twitch in smooth or skeletal muscle ranging from merely irritating to very painful. May be due to chemical imbalances. In spasms of eyelid or facial muscles, called ticks, psychological factors may be involved. Stretching and massagi
Strain
Commonly called a "pulled muscle." A strain is excessive stretching and possible tearing of a muscle due to muscle overuse or abuse. The injured muscle becomes painfully inflamed (myositis) and adjacent joints are usually immobilized.
Tetanus
(1) A state of strained contraction of a muscle that is a normal aspect of skeletal muscle functioning. (2) An acute infectious disease caused by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani and resulting in painful spasms of some skeletal muscles. Progress
prime mover or agonist
muscle that has the principal responsibility for a given movement
antagonists
muscles that oppose or reverse a movement. Usually helps regulate action of prime mover. Resistance.
synergist
Muscle that aids the prime mover by adding a little extra force or reducing undesirable movements that might occur as the Prime mover contracts.
fixator
muscle that immobilizes one or more bones, gives prime mover stable base on which to act.
Sphincters
circular muscle that surrounds a tube such as the urethra and constricts the tube when it contracts
fusiform muscles
spindle-shaped with a central belly that tapers to tendons on each end; allos them to focus their power onto small, bony targets; ex. bracialis, biceps brachii
pennate muscle
A muscle with fibers that align obliquely with the tendon, creating a featherlike arrangement.
Charley horse
a muscle contusion. ie. tearing of muscle followed by bleeding into the tissue (hematoma) and severe, prolonged pain. A common contact sport injury; football players frequently suffer a charley horse of the quadriceps (muscle of the thigh)
Electromyography
Recording and interpretation of graphic records of the electrical activity of contracting muscles. Electrodes inserted into the muscles record the impulses that pass over muscle-cell membranes to stimulate contraction.
Hernia
An abnormal protrusion of abdominal contents (typically coils of the small intestine) through a weak point in the muscles of the abdominal wall. Most often caused by increased intraabdominal pressure during lifting or straining. The hernia penetrates the
Quadriceps and hamstring strains
Also called quad and hamstring pulls, these conditions involve tearing these muscles or their tendons; happen mainly in athletes who do not warm up properly and then fully extend their hip (qad pulls) or knee (hamstring pull) quickly or forcefully (e.g.,
Ruptured calcaneal tendon
Although the calcaneal (achilles) tendon is the largest, strongest tendon in the body, its rupture is surprisingly common, particularly in older people as a result of stumbling and in young sprinters when the tendon is traumatized during takeoff. The rupt
Shin splints
Common term for pain in the anterior compartment of the leg caused by irritation of the tibialis anterior muscle as might follow extreme or unusual exercise without adequate prior conditioning. Because it is tightly wrapped by fascia, the inflamed tibiali
Tennis elbow
Tenderness due to trauma or overuse of the tendon of origin or the forearm extensor muscles at the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. Caused and aggravated when these muscles contract forcefully to extend the and at the wrist--as in executing a tennis bac
Torticollis
A twisting of the neck in which there is a chronic rotation and tilting of the head to one side, due to injury of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side; also called wryneck. Sometimes present at birth when muscle fibers are torn during difficult deli