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This thin protein filament, found in muscle fibers, interacts with myosin to facilitate contraction.
What is actin?
This muscle, located in the upper arm, is responsible for flexing the elbow and supinating the forearm.
What is the biceps brachii?
Having your arm bound in a cast for six weeks can lead to this (a decrease in muscle size and strength).
What is atrophy?
This is the largest muscle in the human body, responsible for the movement of the hip and thigh.
What is the gluteus maximus?
I work quietly behind the scenes, controlling organs and vessels without you even thinking. I’m not striated like my cousins, and I never tire. What am I?
What is smooth muscle?
The neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction that binds to receptors on the muscle cell membrane.
What is acetylcholine?
This muscle, also known as the occipitofrontalis, controls the movement of the scalp and eyebrows
What is the epicranius?
This condition, often associated with a viral infection, can cause paralysis and was famously eradicated in many parts of the world through vaccination efforts in the 20th century.
What is polio?
The strongest muscle in the human body, based on its size, is this jaw muscle that plays a crucial role in chewing.
What is the masseter?
I’m a process where muscles call in reinforcements when more force is required, but not all of me is needed at once. I start small, but if the task is tough, I’ll get stronger. What am I?
What is recruitment?
This structural unit of a muscle fiber is the repeating unit within a myofibril responsible for muscle contraction.
What is a sarcomere?
This muscle, located on the side of the abdomen, helps with rotating and flexing the torso, and also plays a role in compressing the abdominal cavity.
What is the external oblique?
This condition is a progressive weakening of the muscles due to a genetic disorder that affects muscle fibers, often leading to difficulty with movement and breathing.
What is muscular dystrophy?
This type of muscle, which makes up the majority of the human body, is under voluntary control and is responsible for body movements such as walking and lifting.
What is skeletal muscle?
When I contract, there’s no middle ground. What principle am I following?
What is "all-or-none"?
This molecule, found in muscle cells, binds to calcium ions and plays a critical role in muscle contraction by enabling the interaction of actin and myosin
What is troponin?
Known as the longest muscle in the human body, this muscle helps flex the hip and knee and rotates the thigh laterally.
What is the sartorius?
This naturally occurring substance, historically used as a poison on arrows, blocks neuromuscular transmission by interfering with acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.
What is curare?
This unique feature of cardiac muscle cells allows them to contract in a coordinated manner, ensuring that the heart beats as a unified organ rather than individual muscle fibers contracting independently.
What are intercalated discs?
I’m the outermost layer, wrapping your entire muscle like a protective coat. My siblings are inside, each with their own role to hold and protect. What am I?
What is epimysium?
This molecule, stored in muscle fibers, is the immediate source of energy for muscle contraction and is used up within a few seconds of intense activity.
What is creatine phosphate?
Part of the hamstring group, this muscle plays a key role in flexing the knee and extending the hip.
What is the biceps femoris?
This condition is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and abnormal postures.
What is dystonia?
These fibers are better suited for explosive, short-duration activities and rely more on anaerobic metabolism.
What are fast-twitch muscle fibers?
I'm a weak spot for some athletes. I can really knock them off their feet!
What is the Achilles tendon?