Medical Terminology: The Muscular System

Medical Terminology: The Muscular System

• The muscular system, along with the skeletal system, is referred to as the musculoskeletal system.
• Muscle tissue is made of long, slender cells called muscle fibers.
• Muscles are responsible for movement, holding the body upright, moving body fluids, and producing heat.
• Fascia covers, supports, and separates muscles. ( Combining Form: fasci/o)
• Tendons connect muscles to bones. (Combining Forms: ten/o, tend/o, tendin/o)
• Ligaments connect bones to bones.
• The Achilles tendon connects the gastrocnemius muscle to the heel bone.

Structures of the Muscular System

• Epimysium, perimysium, fascicle, endomysium, and muscle fiber are structures of skeletal muscle.
• Fascia is a band of connective tissue that separates and envelops muscles. (plural, fasciae or fascias)
• Myofascial refers to muscle tissue and fascia.

Types of Muscle Tissue

• Three types of muscle tissue:
  • Skeletal muscle; attached to bones; voluntary; striated. (striated = dark and light bands)
  • Smooth muscle; in internal organs; involuntary; unstriated.
  • Myocardial muscle; walls of the heart; involuntary; striated. (my/o = muscle, cardi/o = heart)

Muscle Contraction and Relaxation

• Muscle innervation (in-err-VAY-shun); stimulation of a muscle by an impulse transmitted by a motor nerve.
• Neuromuscular (new-roh-MUS-kyou-lar); pertaining to the relationship between a nerve and muscle.

Contrasting Muscle Motion

• Abduction (ab-DUCK-shun); movement away from the midline of the body.
• Adduction (ah-DUCK-shun); movement toward the midline of the body.
• Flexion (FLECK-shun); decreasing the angle between two bones.
• Extension; increasing the angle between two bones.
• Elevation; raising or lifting a body part.
• Depression; lowering a body part.
• Rotation; circular movement.
• Circumduction (ser-kum-DUCK-shun); circular movement at the end of a limb.
• Supination (soo-pih-NAY-shun); palm of hand upward.
• Pronation (proh-NAY-shun); palm of hand downward.
• Dorsiflexion (dor-sih-FLECK-shun); bending the foot upward at the ankle.
• Plantar flexion (PLAN-tar FLECK-shun); bending the foot downward at the ankle.

How Muscles Are Named

• Muscles can be named for their origin and insertion, action, location, direction of fibers, number of divisions, and size or shape.
• Examples are sternocleidomastoid, levator anguli oris, rectus femoris, external oblique, internal oblique, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, gluteus maximus, deltoid.

The Hamstring Group

• Located in the back of the upper leg, consists of three muscles:
  • Biceps femoris
  • Semitendinosus
  • Semimembranosus
• Functions are knee flexion and hip extension.

Select Muscles and Their Functions

• Muscles of the head, like frontalis, temporalis, and masseter, are responsible for specific movements of the facial area.

Muscles of the Trunk and Legs

• Pectoralis major (chest muscles)
• Deltoid, trapezius, biceps brachii, triceps brachii for shoulder and arm movement.
• Rectus femoris, quadriceps femoris, hamstring group, gastrocnemius for leg movement.

Pathology of the Muscular System

• Fasciitis (inflammation of fascia)
• Tenosynovitis (inflammation of the tendon sheath)
• Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons)
• Atrophy (weakening or wearing away of tissue)
• Myalgia (muscle tenderness or pain)
• Myolysis (muscle degeneration)
• Myorrhexis (muscle rupture)
• Polymyositis (inflammation of voluntary muscles)
• Muscle tone (balanced muscle tension)
• Atonic (lacking muscle tone or strength)
• Dystonia (impairment of voluntary muscle movement)
• Hypotonia (diminished muscle tone)
• Ataxia (lack of muscle coordination)
• Bradykinesia (extreme slowness in movement)
• Dyskinesia (impairment of voluntary movement)

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)

• Paralysis, Hemiparesis, Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Cardioplegia

Diagnostic Procedures of the Muscular System

• Deep tendon reflexes (DTR)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Muscle biopsy

Medical Specialists

• Neurologist (treats paralysis and muscular disorders)
• Physiatrist (specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation)
• Rehabilitation (restoration of ability)

This quiz explores the essential terminology and structures related to the muscular system. It covers muscle tissue types, their functions, and connections to other body systems. Perfect for students learning about human anatomy or medical terminology.