Chrystal Faye Tibudan BSN 1-H

MUSCULAR SYSTEM
SEATWORK

1. Differentiate the two types of muscle contraction: isotonic and isometric

contraction.

➔ The myofilaments succeed in their sliding motions during isotonic

contraction, the muscle shortens, and movement occurs. During isometric
contraction, the myosin filaments spin their wheels and the muscle does
not shrink and the tension in the muscle increases.

2. Define oxygen deficit and muscle fatigue and list possible causes of muscle
fatigue.

➔ Oxygen deficit occurs during prolonged muscle activity. Oxygen deficit is

not a total lack of oxygen; rather, it happens when a person is not able to
take in oxygen fast enough to keep the muscle supplied with all the
oxygen they need when they are working vigorously.

➔ Muscle fatigue occurs when we exercise our muscles strenuously for a

long time. A muscle is fatigued when it is unable to contract even though
it is still being stimulated. Without rest, a working muscle begins to tire and
contracts more weakly until it finally ceases reacting and stops
contracting.
➔ Factors that contribute to muscle fatigue are not fully known. Suspected
causes are imbalance in ions (Ca2+, K+) and problems at the
neuromuscular junction. However, many agree that the major factor is the
oxygen deficit.

3. Define origin, insertion, prime mover, antagonist, synergist, and fixator as they
relate to muscles.

➔ Origin is attached to the immovable or less movable bone. Think of the

origin as the anchor, or leverage, point.

➔ Insertion is attached to the movable bone. When the muscle contracts,

the insertion moves toward the origin.

➔ Prime mover is the muscle that has the major responsibility for causing a
particular movement.

➔ Antagonist is the muscle that opposes or reverses a movement.

➔ Synergists a muscle that aid the action of the prime movers by reducing
undesirable or unnecessary movement.
 ➔ Fixators is a muscle that serves as a stabilizer of one part of the body
during movement of another part.

4. List and explain the different types of body movements.

➔ Flexion- a movement in the sagittal plane that decreases the angle of the
joint and brings two bones closer together.
➔ Extension- the opposite of flexion, it is a movement that increases the
angle, or distance, between two bones or parts of the body (straightening
the knee or elbow).
➔ Rotation- movement of bone around its longitudinal axis.
➔ Abduction- is moving a limb away (generally on the frontal plane) from
the midline, or median plane of the body.
➔ Adduction- the opposite of abduction so it is the movement of a limb
toward the body midline.
➔ Circumduction- a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and
adduction commonly observed in ball-and socket joints.
➔ Dorsiflexion- a movement of the ankle joint in a dorsal direction ( standing
one’s heels).
➔ Plantar Flexion- a movement of the ankle joint in which the foot is flexed
downward (standing on one’s foot or pointing the toes).
➔ Inversion- a movement that results in the lateral turning of the sole of the
foot.
➔ Pronation- Movement of the palm of the hand from an anterior or
upward-facing position to a posterior or downward-facing position.
➔ Supination- movement of the palm from a posterior position to an anterior
position. opposite of the pronation.

5. Define the following terms: prime mover, antagonists, synergists and fixators.
➔ Prime Mover- Agonist
➔ Antagonists- Reverses and/or opposes the action of a prime mover
➔ Synergists- Performs the same movement as the prime mover. Stabilizes a
joint so that the prime mover can act at more distal joints
➔ Fixtators- Immobilizes the origin of a prime mover. Postural muscles for the
most part.

6. What are the criteria used in naming muscles?

➔ Direction of the muscle fibers

➔ Relative size of the muscle
➔ Location of the muscle
➔ Number of origins
➔ Location of the muscle’s origin and insertion
➔ Shape of the muscle
➔ Action of the muscle