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Medical Terminology
Mod. 6: Muscular System
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| acetylcholine | A neurotransmitter that stimulates contraction of skeletal muscles |
| actin | One of the two contractile proteins in muscle cells; the other is myosin |
| agonist | A muscle that carries out a given movement (from Greek agon meaning “contest,” “struggle”) |
| amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | A disease caused by motor neuron degeneration resulting in muscular weakness and atrophy; Lou Gehrig disease |
| antagonist | The muscle that opposes an agonist; it must relax when the agonist contracts; also a substance that interferes with or opposes the action of a medication |
| cardiac muscle | Involuntary muscle that makes up the heart wall |
| chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) | A disease of unknown cause that involves persistent fatigue along with muscle and joint pain and other symptoms; may be virally induced |
| creatine kinase (CK) | An enzyme found in muscle tissue; the serum CK level increases in cases of muscle damage; creatine phosphokinase (CPK) |
| dermatomyositis | A disease of unknown origin involving muscular inflammation as well as dermatitis and skin rashes |
| electromyography (EMG) | Study of the electrical activity of muscles during contraction |
| fascia | The fibrous sheath of connective tissue that covers a muscle; called deep fascia to differentiate it from the superficial fascia that underlies the skin Root: fasci/o Plural: fasciae |
| fascicle | A small bundle, as of muscle or nerve fibers |
| fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) | A disorder associated with widespread muscular aches and stiffness and having no known cause |
| insertion | In a given movement, the point where a muscle is attached to a moving part of the skeleton |
| muscle | An organ that produces movement by contracting; also the tissue that composes such organs Roots: my/o, muscul/o |
| muscular dystrophy | A group of hereditary muscular disorders marked by progressive weakness and muscular atrophy |
| myasthenia gravis (MG) | A disease characterized by progressive muscular weakness; an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction |
| myosin | One of the two contractile proteins in muscle cells; the other is actin |
| neuromuscular junction (NMJ) | The point of contact, or synapse, between a branch of a motor neuron and a muscle cell |
| origin | In a given movement, the point where a muscle is attached to a stable part of the skeleton |
| polymyositis | A disease of unknown cause involving muscular inflammation and weakness |
| prime mover | The main muscle involved in a given movement |
| repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Tissue damage caused by repeated motion, usually overuse of the arm or hand in occupational activities such as writing, typing, painting, or using hand tools; also called repetitive motion injury, cumulative trauma injury, overuse syndrome |
| skeletal muscle | Voluntary muscle that moves the skeleton and maintains posture |
| smooth (visceral) muscle | Involuntary muscle that makes up the wall of hollow organs, vessels, and ducts; visceral muscle |
| sprain | Injury to a ligament caused by abnormal or excessive force at a joint, but without bone dislocation or fracture |
| strain | Trauma to a muscle because of overuse or excessive stretch; if severe, may involve muscular tearing, bleeding, separation of a muscle from its tendon, or tendon separation from a bone |
| synergist | A muscle that assists a prime mover to produce a given movement |
| tendinitis | Inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by injury or overuse; the shoulder, elbow, and hip are common sites; also spelled tendonitis |
| tendon | A fibrous band of connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone Roots: ten/o, tendin/o |
| tenosynovitis | Inflammation of a tendon and its sheath |
| tonus | A state of steady, partial muscle contraction that maintains firmness; muscle tone Root:ton/o |