HBS 1.2.1-1.2.3 Flashcard

Front

What is the endomysium?

Back

The endomysium is a thin layer of connective tissue that wraps around individual muscle fibers (muscle cells), providing support and insulation.

Front

What is a muscle fiber?

Back

A muscle fiber, also known as a muscle cell, is a long, cylindrical cell that makes up skeletal muscle tissue and is responsible for muscle contraction.

Front

What is the sarcolemma?

Back

The sarcolemma is the plasma membrane of a skeletal muscle cell, which surrounds the muscle fiber and plays a crucial role in muscle contraction.

Front

What connects skeletal muscle to bone?

Back

Tendons are tough connective tissues that connect skeletal muscles to bones, allowing for movement.

Front

What are troponin and tropomyosin?

Back

Troponin and tropomyosin are regulatory proteins bound to actin filaments in muscle cells, playing a key role in muscle contraction by regulating the interaction between actin and myosin.

Front

What is the function of tendons?

Back

Tendons transmit the force generated by muscles to bones, facilitating movement.

Front

What is the role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum?

Back

The sarcoplasmic reticulum is an organelle in muscle cells that stores calcium ions, which are essential for muscle contraction.

Front

What is the difference between myosin and actin?

Back

Myosin is a thick filament that interacts with actin (a thin filament) to produce muscle contraction; myosin heads bind to actin to form cross-bridges.

Front

What is a sarcomere?

Back

A sarcomere is the basic functional unit of a muscle fiber, defined as the segment between two Z lines, and is responsible for muscle contraction.

Front

What is the role of calcium in muscle contraction?

Back

Calcium ions bind to troponin, causing a conformational change that moves tropomyosin away from actin's binding sites, allowing myosin to bind and initiate contraction.