Muscular System Terms Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is a threshold stimulus?

Type of muscle contraction

Energy required for relaxation

Minimum amount of energy needed to make a muscle fiber contract (correct)

Maximum energy that can be applied to a muscle

What is the all-or-none response?

The phenomenon that a muscle fiber will only contract to its full extent.

Define a motor unit.

A motor neuron and the muscle fibers that the motor neuron innervates.

What does recruitment refer to in the muscular system?

Activation of additional motor units to accomplish an increase in contractile strength in a muscle. Signup and view all the answers

What is muscle tone?

The normal degree of vigor and tension maintained in skeletal muscles by involuntary spinal reflexes. Signup and view all the answers

What is muscular hypertrophy?

An increase in size of skeletal muscle through a growth in size of its component cells. Signup and view all the answers

Define muscular atrophy.

Loss of muscle size and strength. Signup and view all the answers

What is muscle fatigue?

The reduced ability to produce muscle tension. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during a muscle cramp?

Involuntary, forced contraction that does not relax. Signup and view all the answers

What is oxygen debt?

The difference between the resting rate of oxygen consumption and the elevated rate following an exercise. Signup and view all the answers

What is rigor mortis?

After death stiffening of muscles by natural processes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Muscular System Terms

Threshold Stimulus: Minimum energy required for muscle fiber contraction.
All-or-None Response: Muscle fibers contract fully or not at all upon stimulation.
Motor Unit: Comprises a motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates.
Recruitment: Additional motor units are activated to increase muscle contraction strength.
Muscle Tone: Sustained tension in skeletal muscles maintained by involuntary spinal reflexes.
Muscular Hypertrophy: Muscle size increases due to growth of individual muscle cells.
Muscular Atrophy: Reduction in muscle size and strength due to disuse or other factors.
Muscle Fatigue: Decreased ability of muscles to generate tension during prolonged activity.
Muscle Cramp: Involuntary and sustained contraction of muscle that does not relax.
Oxygen Debt: Difference between resting oxygen consumption and elevated consumption post-exercise.
Rigor Mortis: Post-death muscle stiffening due to biochemical processes.

Description

Test your knowledge of key terms related to the muscular system with these flashcards. Each card provides a definition of important concepts such as threshold stimulus, all-or-none response, and motor units. Perfect for students studying anatomy and physiology.