MSM - Muscular System - Module Overview
Muscular System
Module Overview
The muscular system consists of more than 600 individual muscles and accounts for just under half of the total body weight of an adult. Muscles provide the ability to walk, talk, and even breathe. But that's just the beginning of the muscular system's responsibility. This system works along with other body systems to enable effective systemic function.
This module will explore the different types of muscle tissue and the function of each type.
Essential Questions
- What are the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the muscular system?
- What is the cellular structure and function of a muscle cell?
- How does the muscular system contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis?
- What body systems depend on the muscular system?
- How many types of muscle tissue are there?
- How does the skeletal system function with the muscular system to make movement possible?
- What diseases affect the muscular system?
Key Terms
- A-band - an area where actin and myosin overlap
- Actin - a muscle protein; a major component of the I-band and helps to compose the thin filaments
- Cardiac muscle - the principal involuntary-muscle tissue of the vertebrate heart made up of striated fibers joined at usually branched ends and functioning in synchronized rhythmic contraction
- Cramp - a painful, involuntary muscle contraction, usually caused by fatigue or strain
- Fascia - a sheet of tissue that covers or connects parts inside the body (such as muscles)
- I-band - the small gap between the myosin and the Z-band at the end of the sarcomere
- Involuntary - a type of muscle that contracts without conscious control
- Myocyte - muscle cell
- Myofibril - located within the muscle cells; composed of thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments
- Myosin - a muscle protein; a major component of the A-band; thick filaments
- Muscle - a tissue that has the ability to contract to help with movement
- Muscle contraction - when the sarcomere shortens and the Z-lines move closer together
- Sarcomere - the basic unit of muscle contraction; segment between two neighboring Z-lines
- Skeletal muscle - striated Muscle that is attached to the bones of the skeleton and is usually under voluntary control.
- Sliding filament theory - theory that explains how sarcomeres contract; myosin filaments use energy from ATP to "walk" along the actin filaments with their cross bridges; myofilaments slide past one another and contract the myocyte
- Smooth muscle - muscle tissue that lacks cross striations, is made up of elongated spindle-shaped cells having a central nucleus and is found especially in vertebrate hollow organs and structures (as the digestive tract and bladder) as thin sheets performing functions not subject to direct voluntary control
- Sprain - an injury to the joints caused by overstretching
- Strain - an injury to the muscle caused by overstretching
- Superficial muscles - muscles that are located in the layer closest to the skin
- Tendon - a tough piece of tissue in your body that connects a muscle to a bone
- Visceral muscle - smooth muscle found in the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems.
- Voluntary - a type of muscle that is controlled by the individual, such as the striated muscle
IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS OR OPENSOURCE