Body Builders
The clingy Saran wrap of your insides that won’t leave any organ alone.
What is fascia?
The solo performers of the smooth muscle world, each doing their own thing like stubborn cats.
What is multiunit smooth muscle?
A single “BOOP” from your muscle when it gets poked.
What is a twitch?
The chemical Cupid delivering love notes from your brain to your muscles.
What is acetylcholine?
The extrovert muscle, always showing off by contracting.
What is the agonist?
These mini gym bros live inside your muscles and do the heavy lifting, one rep at a time.
What are myofibrils?
The synchronized swimming team of your digestive system, working in perfect rhythm.
What is visceral smooth muscle?
The awkward pause between “Hey, let’s contract!” and the muscle actually doing something.
What is the latent period?
The grumpy housekeeper who shreds those love notes right after they’re read.
What is acetylcholinesterase?
The introvert muscle, quietly relaxing while others do the work.
What is the antagonist?
The thin spaghetti strands that your muscles twirl when they flex.
What is actin?
The part of your muscle that’s basically the homebody of attachments—it doesn’t move.
What is the origin?
When your muscles play Jenga and pile up their efforts to make you stronger.
What is summation?
The pre-workout stash in your muscles, giving them a quick energy boost.
What is creatine phosphate?
The supportive bestie muscle who cheers on the lead actor.
What is the synergist?
The thick spaghetti strands that shove the thin ones for fun (and strength).
What is myosin?
The drama queen of muscle attachments, always needing to be the center of attention by moving.
What is the insertion?
The “No breaks, full speed ahead!” level of muscle contraction.
What is complete tetanic contraction?
Your muscles’ personal oxygen-filled water bottle.
What is myoglobin?
The cool crew of a single neuron and its exclusive muscle fiber gang.
What is a motor unit?
The muscle’s tangled web of straws—both the kind you sip from and the kind that bend like crazy.
What is the sarcoplasmic reticulum?
The bossy lead muscle that won’t let anyone else take credit for the job.
What is the prime mover?
The process of convincing your laziest muscle friends to finally help out.
What is recruitment?
The IOU oxygen check your body writes after sprinting for the bus.
What is oxygen debt?
The postman delivering messages from your brain that say, “Let’s move!”
What is a motor neuron?