 | Term | Definition |
| |
antagonist |
A muscle that counteract, or opposes, the action of another muscle. |
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aponeurosis |
A wide , thin, sheet-like tendon made up of connective tissue that typically attaches muscle to muscle. |
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atrophy |
A loss of muscle mass and strength that occurs with the disuse of muscles over time. |
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cardiac muscle |
A type of involuntary muscle found in the heart, roughly quadrangular in shape, cross striated and having single central nucleus. |
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endomysium |
The connective tissue covering that surrounds an individual muscle cell. |
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epimysium |
A thin connective tissue covering muscle. |
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fascia |
The connective tissue structure covering the skeletal muscles and separating them from one another. |
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fascicles |
Section into which muscles are divided. |
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fibromyalgia |
A muscular skeletal pain and fatigue disorder with no known cause but with evidence pointing to a genetic predisposition to a neuromuscular/neuroendocrine abnormality that disturbs the usual sensory perception, especially of pain signals. |
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insertion |
In locations at which skeletal muscles attach, the attachment point on the bone that moves. |
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muscle cramps |
Pain in the absence of electrolyte or pH disturbance, commonly indicating a peripheral nerve disorder and less commonly an abnormality in muscle fibers. |
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muscular dystrophy |
One of a group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration. |
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myasthenia gravis |
A chronic neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal, or voluntary, muscles or the body. |
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origin |
In locations at which skeletal muscles attach, the attachment point on the bone that is more fixed or still. |
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oxygen debt |
The inability of the body to be able to absorb enough oxygen to supply the energy required to sustain a high level of activity resulting in its utilizing the anaerobic energy system and in the build up of lactic acid in the muscles. |
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perimysium |
Connective tissue responsible for dividing a muscle into sections. |
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prime mover |
A muscle that is the primary actor in a given movement, that is, the muscle that produces the movement in muscle contraction. |
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skeletal muscle |
Voluntary muscle found in the locomotive system that controls movement by being attached to bones in the body, made up of cylindrical fibers of striated cells with the nucleus of each cell tending to be toward the edge of the cell. |
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smooth muscle |
Type of involuntary muscle found throughout the body, composed of elongated spindle shaped cells with the nucleus centrally located and without striations. |
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sprain |
A stretching or tearing injury to a ligament. |
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strain |
A stretching or tearing injury to a muscle of a tendon. |
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synergist |
A muscle that acts with another muscle to produce movement. |
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tendonitis |
Inflammation and irritation of the tendon, caused by microscopic tearing. |
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tendons |
The connective tissue that attaches muscles to bones. |
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tetanus |
Also called lockjaw. Disease that results from the bacteria clostridium tetani releasing a toxin that affects the motor nerves, characterized by spasms of muscles, often fatal. |
