CH. 07 KEY TERMS
ABDUCTION
moving a body part away from the midline
CONTRACTURE
a severe tightening of a flexor muscle resulting in bending of a joint
EXTENSION
increasing the angle between two bones, or straightening a body part
MUSCLE TONE
a state of readiness to act
ROTATION
turning a body part around its own axis
ADDUCTION
moving a body part toward the midline
DORSIFLEXION
bending backward or bending the foot toward the knee
FASCIA
a tough, sheetlike membrane that covers and protects the tissue.
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
more than 600 muscles that make up the system
SKELETAL MUSCLE
attached to the bones and causes body movement
CARDIAC MUSCLE
forms the wall of the heart and contracts to circulate blood
ELASTICITY
allows the muscle to return to its original shape after it has contracted or stretched
FLEXION
decreasing the angle between two bones, or bending a body part
ORIGIN
the end of a muscle that is attached to a bone that does not move
SUPINATION
turning a body part upward
CIRCUMDUCTION
moving in a circle at a joint
EXCITABILITY
irritability, the ability to respond to a stimulus such as a nerve impulse
INSERTION
the end that moves when the muscle contracts
PLANTER FLEXION
bending forward or bending the foot away from the knee
TENDONS
strong, tough, fibrous connective-tissue cords.
CONTRACTIBILITY
muscle fibers that are stimulated by nerves contract, or become short and thick, which causes movement
EXTENSIBILITY
the ability to be stretched
INVOLUNTARY
they function without conscious thought or control
PRONATION
Turning a body part downward
VISCERAL MUSCLE
also called smooth muscle. Found in the internal organs of the body.