English for Physiotherapy – C1

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM

A. READING:

Before you read the text, answer the questions:

 What are the different types of muscles?

 What is the function of skeletal muscles?

Muscles make up the bulk of the body and account for 1/3 of its weight. There are three types of
muscles: cardiac, skeletal and smooth. Cardiac muscles are found in the walls of the heart and
they are involuntary. They are part of both the Muscular System and the Circulatory System,
being responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. They are involuntary, having their
own pacemaker for rhythmic beating.

Skeletal muscles are also known as voluntary muscles, since we control their actions at will. In
the muscular system, skeletal muscles are connected to the skeleton, either to bone or to
connective tissues such as ligaments. Muscles are always attached at two or more places. When
the muscle contracts, the attachment points are pulled closer together; when it relaxes, the
attachment points move apart. Skeletal muscles only pull in one direction. For this reason they
always come in pairs. When one muscle in a pair contracts, to bend a joint for example, its
partner then contracts and pulls in the opposite direction to straighten the joint out again.

Smooth muscle (so-named because the cells do not have striations) is present in the walls of
hollow organs like the urinary bladder, uterus, stomach, intestines, and in the walls of
passageways, such as the arteries and veins of the circulatory system, and the tracts of the
respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems. Smooth muscle is also present in the eyes, where
it functions to change the size of the iris and alter the shape of the lens; and in the skin where it
causes hair to stand erect in response to cold temperature or fear.

Read the passage then choose the correct answer:

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

a. Types of muscles
b. Muscles contractions
c. Muscles can help us digest

2. Which of the following does NOT help with the movement of the skeletal muscles?

a. Tendons
b. Ligaments
c. Smooth muscle

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3. Skeletal muscles are known as voluntary muscles because:

a. They have their own pacemaker

b. They come in pairs
c. We control their actions at will

B. USE OF ENGLISH

1. Translate into Romanian the following instructions:

Knees flexed…………………………………………………………………………………..

Spine extended………………………………………………………………………………..

Neck rotated…………………………………………………………………………………..

Digits of the hand extended……………………………………………………………………

Knees flexed……………………………………………………………………………………

Spine flexed laterally……………………………………………………………………………

Wrists hyper-extended…………………………………………………………………………

Arms abducted………………………………………………………………………………….

Thighs flexed………………………………………………………………………………………

Digits of the hand adducted……………………………………………………………………….

2. Fill in the blanks with articles ‘a’ / ‘an’ / ‘the’ – in some cases no article is needed

Myasthenia gravis is _____ autoimmune disease in which _____ body’s immune system attacks
_____ acetylcholine receptors located on _____ motor end plate. _____ neural message coming
from _____ brain causes _____ motor neuron to release acetylcholine which diffuses across
_____ synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on _____ motor end plate of _____ skeletal muscle
cells. _____ binding between ACh and _____ receptors causes ion channels to open which, in
turn, initiates muscle contraction. With _____ reduced number of receptors, _____
depolarization of _____ motor end plate is also reduced and _____ strength of contraction is
diminished. _____ loss of receptors results in muscle weakness and quick fatigability of_____
involved muscles. _____ condition is most pronounced in facial muscles, muscles that move
_____jaw, _____ tongue and _____ muscles involved with respiration.

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3. Match the words in column A with their definitions/descriptions in column B

A B
1. Binds A. to attach to
2. Break down B. originating from / coming from
3. Burst C. unusual / uncommon
4. Fatigability D. to increase in size
5. Gait E. covering / shroud
6. Pinched F. tendencies to get tired easily or quickly
7. Progressive G. obvious / most visible
8. Pronounced H. squeezed
9. Rare I. get worse with time
10. Sheath J. uncontrolled, rhythmic muscle movements
11. Shuffling K. walking without completely picking up the feet between steps
12. Stemming L. the manner or way a person walks or runs
13. Swell M. sudden event / something that happen quickly
14. Tremors N. to become dysfunctional

4. Here are some questions that you can ask your patient when taking his medical
history or when suggesting some exercises. Fill in the gaps with SOME or ANY:

1. Do you have __________ pain in your shoulders?

2. I think it will be helpful if you start doing __________ exercises.

3. __________ muscle relaxants can make you very sleepy.

4. Is there __________ one who can drive you home from the hospital?

5. Is there __________ way you can start walking about 1 km per day?

6. You must find __________ time to relax. Stress is making your neck muscles stiff.

7. Do you have __________ aspirin at home? You can take it to relieve the pain.

8. If you have __________ problems with the medicine I want you to call me immediately.

9. In __________ cases recovery is complete and there are no further problems.

10. I will give you a double prescription – you can take the medicine if you have __________
future problems.

C. LISTENING

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Access the following link about carpal tunnel syndrome (https://www.nhs.uk/video/pages/carpal-

tunnel-syndromeanimation.aspx?searchtype=Tag&searchterm=Muscles_bones&) and fill in the
gaps with the missing words (no more than 2 words for a gap):

a. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that causes pain and

…………………………… in your hand and fingers.
b. There is pressure on the median nerve if the narrow space inside the carpal tunnel
is………………..…..
c. Apart from pain, numbness or a tingling sensation in your hand and fingers, it might be
also difficult to………………..…..objects.
d. Inflammatory drugs can be used to reduce……….…………………………..
e. Surgery generally consists of a small incision intended to……………..……………..the
pressure on the median nerve.
f. There is no real difference in success between the open surgery and the
………………………..………..surgery.