1. Module 6 Intro

1.17. Module Glossary

Module 1 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