Questions and Answers
What is the difference between involuntary muscles and voluntary muscles?
Involuntary muscles are not under your conscious control while voluntary muscles are.
What are skeletal muscles?
Muscles attached to bones that allow movement.
What does a tendon do?
Attaches muscle to bone.
What does striated mean?
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What is striated muscle?
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What two characteristics describe skeletal muscles?
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What are smooth muscles?
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How do smooth muscles behave differently than skeletal muscles?
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What is cardiac muscle?
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How is cardiac muscle similar to skeletal muscle?
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How is cardiac muscle similar to smooth muscle?
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What are repeated contractions of cardiac muscle called?
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Why must skeletal muscles work in pairs?
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To bend the arm at the elbow, which muscle contracts?
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Which muscle relaxes when bending the arm at the elbow?
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To straighten the arm, which muscle contracts?
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Which muscle relaxes when straightening the arm?
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How does exercise develop muscular strength?
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Why is warming up and stretching important?
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Study Notes
Muscle Types and Functions
- Involuntary muscles operate without conscious control, while voluntary muscles require intention to function.
- Skeletal muscles are attached to bones, enabling movement, and are voluntary, quick to react, but fatigue rapidly.
- Smooth muscles are located in internal organs like the stomach and blood vessels, functioning involuntarily, not striated, and are slower to react while tiring slowly.
- Cardiac muscle is unique to the heart, is involuntary, striated, reacts quickly, and does not tire.
Muscle Characteristics
- Skeletal muscles are characterized by their ability to contract quickly and fatigue rapidly.
- Smooth muscle differs from skeletal muscle in that it is not striated and reacts and tires more slowly.
- Cardiac muscle shares striated characteristics and quick reactivity with skeletal muscle, while paralleling the slow fatigue trait of smooth muscle.
Muscle Mechanics
- Tendons are strong connective tissues that connect muscles to bones, facilitating movement.
- Skeletal muscles work in antagonistic pairs; while one muscle contracts, the other must relax.
- Example: To flex the arm at the elbow, the biceps contract and the triceps relax. To extend the arm, the triceps contract while the biceps relax.
Exercise and Muscle Development
- Regular exercise causes individual muscle cells to increase in size, resulting in overall muscle thickness and strength.
- Warming up is crucial as it enhances blood flow to muscles, increasing flexibility and preparing them for intense activity.
- Stretching after warming up is essential to properly prepare muscles for vigorous exercise or sports.
Key Terms
- Striated Muscle: A muscle that appears banded, commonly referring to skeletal muscle.
- Heartbeats: Repeated contractions of cardiac muscle.
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Description
This quiz focuses on the differences between involuntary and voluntary muscles, as well as the characteristics of skeletal muscles. By studying these flashcards, you will enhance your understanding of muscle functions and classifications in human anatomy.
