MSM - Muscular System - Module Overview

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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 withA human male is positioned with his back to the viewer. He holds his arms up and is flexing his biceps. 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

  1. A-band - an area where actin and myosin overlap
  2. Actin - a muscle protein; a major component of the I-band and helps to compose the thin filaments
  3. 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
  4. Cramp - a painful, involuntary muscle contraction, usually caused by fatigue or strain
  5. Fascia - a sheet of tissue that covers or connects parts inside the body (such as muscles)
  6. I-band - the small gap between the myosin and the Z-band at the end of the sarcomere
  7. Involuntary - a type of muscle that contracts without conscious control
  8. Myocyte - muscle cell
  9. Myofibril - located within the muscle cells; composed of thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments
  10. Myosin - a muscle protein; a major component of the A-band; thick filaments
  11. Muscle - a tissue that has the ability to contract to help with movement
  12. Muscle contraction - when the sarcomere shortens and the Z-lines move closer together
  13. Sarcomere - the basic unit of muscle contraction; segment between two neighboring Z-lines
  14. Skeletal muscle - striated Muscle that is attached to the bones of the skeleton and is usually under voluntary control.  
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. Sprain - an injury to the joints caused by overstretching
  18. Strain - an injury to the muscle caused by overstretching
  19. Superficial muscles - muscles that are located in the layer closest to the skin
  20. Tendon - a tough piece of tissue in your body that connects a muscle to a bone
  21. Visceral muscle - smooth muscle found in the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems.  
  22. Voluntary - a type of muscle that is controlled by the individual, such as the striated muscle

 

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