Muscle Structure
The connective tissue sheath that surrounds an individual muscle fiber.
What is the Endomysium?
This molecule must attach to myosin to initiate muscle contraction.
What is ATP?
Type of muscle found in hollow, visceral organs like the stomach.
What is Smooth Muscle?
A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it stimulates.
What is a Motor Unit?
Often called "the powerhouse," this is the largest muscle in the human body, located in the buttocks.
What is the gluteus maximus?
This organelle stores calcium ions in muscle cells
What is the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum?
Known as the "thin" filament in muscle contraction.
What is Actin?
This type of striated muscle is found only in the heart.
What is Cardiac Muscle?
The gap between a nerve ending and a muscle cell.
What is the Synaptic Cleft (or Neuromuscular Junction)?
Located on the anterior upper arm, this muscle is responsible for flexing the elbow.
What is the biceps brachii?
The actual contractile unit of a muscle fiber, extending from Z-line to Z-line.
What is a Sarcomere?
The neurotransmitter that signals a muscle contraction.
What is Acetylcholine (ACh)?
Movement that decreases the angle of a joint.
What is Flexion?
This type of muscle tissue is characterized by a "striped" appearance under a microscope.
What is striated?
This group of four muscles on the front of the thigh is used for straightening the knee.
What are the quadriceps?
A bundle of muscle fibers surrounded by perimysium.
What is a Fascicle?
This term refers to the end of the muscle that is attached to a moveable bone.
What is Insertion?
A contraction where muscles do not shorten, such as holding a plank.
What is Isometric?
This tough, fibrous connective tissue attaches muscles to bones.
What is a tendon?
This term refers to the end of the muscle that is attached to a stationary bone
The muscle cell membrane.
Answer: What is the Sarcolemma?
The theory that explains how muscles shorten, where thin filaments slide over thick filaments.
What is the Sliding Filament Theory?
The muscle responsible for the main movement of a body part.
What is the Agonist?
This is a bundle of muscle fibers wrapped in connective tissue.
What is a fascicle?
This movement increases the angle of a joint, such as extending your arm.
What is extension?