Module 6 Intro
1. Module 6 Intro
1.17. Module Glossary
Module 6—The Motor System and Homeostasis
Module Glossary
actin: a thin myofilament consisting of two strands of actin protein molecules wrapped around each other
Actin works with myosin to produce muscle contractions.
atrophy: a reduction in size, tone, and power of a muscle
constrict: to make smaller or narrower, especially at one place, by squeezing
Blood vessels will constrict to reduce blood flow.
dilate: to make wider or larger; cause to expand or swell; stretch
Blood vessels will dilate to increase blood flow.
hypertrophy: an exercised induced increase in muscle mass
muscle fibre: a single muscle cell
myosin: a thick myofilament consisting of two strands of mysosin molecules wound around each other
One end consists of a long rod, while the other end consists of a double-headed globular region. Myosin works with actin to produce muscle contractions.
non-striated muscle: contains contractile proteins arranged randomly and do not create bands or stripes; called smooth muscle
striated muscle: marked with stripes or bands which are the result of highly organized arrangements of contractile proteins within muscles