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Muscular System - Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (21)

  • What are the two main divisions of the muscular system?
    Axial muscles support and position the axial skeleton; Appendicular muscles support, move, and brace the limbs.
  • Define origin and insertion in muscle attachment.
    Origin is the fixed attachment point of a muscle; Insertion is the movable attachment point, typically distal to the origin.
  • What is the role of tendons in the muscular system?
    Tendons connect muscles to bones and conduct the forces of muscle contraction to perform specific movements.
  • Describe the functional roles of agonist, antagonist, and synergist muscles.
    Agonist produces the primary movement; Antagonist opposes the agonist; Synergist assists the agonist to work efficiently.
  • How does muscle naming provide clues about muscle location and function?
    Muscle names can indicate body region, relative position, direction, size, shape, number of origins, or action.
  • What is a fascicle in muscle anatomy?
    A fascicle is a bundle of muscle fibers (cells) within a muscle.
  • Compare parallel, convergent, and pennate muscle fascicle arrangements.
    Parallel: fascicles run along the muscle's long axis; Convergent: fascicles converge on a common attachment; Pennate: fascicles attach at an angle to a tendon.
  • What type of muscle fascicle arrangement produces the strongest contractions?
    Pennate muscles produce the strongest contractions due to their angled fascicle arrangement.
  • What is the function of circular (sphincter) muscles?
    Circular muscles surround openings and contract to open or close body openings.
  • What are the four groups of axial muscles?
    Muscles of head & neck, muscles of facial expression, muscles of vertebral column, and muscles of anterior thoracic & abdominal trunk.
  • What is the primary function of appendicular muscles?
    Appendicular muscles stabilize and move the appendicular skeleton, including limbs and girdles.
  • Name the muscles of facial expression and their general function.
    Muscles like orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus major, and orbicularis oris move skin to allow facial expressions.
  • What are the muscles of mastication and their action?
    Masseter and temporalis muscles elevate the mandible to enable chewing.
  • Describe the action and attachments of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
    Flexes neck and rotates head toward shoulder; origin at sternum and clavicle, insertion at mastoid process.
  • What muscles assist in breathing by moving the rib cage?
    External intercostals elevate ribs for inhalation; internal intercostals depress ribs for exhalation; diaphragm expands thoracic cavity.
  • List the muscles forming the anterior abdominal wall and their functions.
    Rectus abdominis flexes spine; external and internal obliques flex and rotate spine; transversus abdominis compresses abdomen.
  • What muscles position the shoulder and move the arm?
    Trapezius elevates and retracts shoulder; deltoid abducts shoulder; pectoralis major flexes and adducts arm; latissimus dorsi extends and adducts arm.
  • What is the rotator cuff group and its function?
    Four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) that stabilize the shoulder joint.
  • Name the primary muscles that move the forearm at the elbow.
    Biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis flex the forearm; triceps brachii extends the forearm.
  • Which muscles move the thigh and leg, and what are their actions?
    Iliopsoas flexes hip; gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates hip; quadriceps femoris extends knee; hamstrings flex knee and extend hip.
  • What muscles move the foot and toes?
    Tibialis anterior dorsiflexes and inverts foot; gastrocnemius plantar flexes and inverts foot; extensor digitorum longus extends toes.