Free WACE Physical Education Studies Flashcard Review

The outermost connective tissue layer surrounding an entire skeletal muscle; encloses all muscle fibres within a single muscle.

The connective tissue layer that surrounds and groups together bundles of muscle fibres called fascicles; allows fascicles to slide over each other during contraction.

The innermost connective tissue layer that surrounds individual muscle fibres; provides structural support and allows nutrients and oxygen to reach each fibre.

A bundle of muscle fibres grouped together and surrounded by perimysium; serves as a functional unit within the muscle.

A contractile filament within a muscle fibre composed of repeating sarcomeres; responsible for generating the force of muscle contraction.

The basic functional and structural unit of muscle contraction, bounded by Z lines and containing thick and thin filaments; the region where sliding filament theory occurs.

A thin filament protein in the sarcomere; contains binding sites for myosin cross bridges and is responsible for the sliding motion during muscle contraction.

A thick filament protein with cross bridges that attach to actin binding sites; generates force by pulling actin filaments toward the centre of the sarcomere.

The arm-like projection on myosin that attaches to binding sites on actin and pulls the thin filament; the mechanism of force generation in the sliding filament theory.

The central region of the sarcomere containing thick filaments only; shortens during muscle contraction as thin filaments slide toward the centre.

A nerve cell that transmits signals from the central nervous system to muscle fibres; its axon branches to innervate multiple muscle fibres in a motor unit.

A branched extension of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons; transmits information toward the cell body.

A single, long extension of a neuron that transmits signals away from the cell body; in a motor neuron, the axon extends to muscle fibres.

A motor neuron and all the muscle fibres it innervates; is the functional unit for muscle contraction and responds as a single entity.

A principle stating that when a motor neuron is stimulated, all muscle fibres in its motor unit contract completely or not at all; the neuron does not partially activate.

The pattern of motor unit activation in which smaller motor units (Type I) are recruited first, followed by progressively larger motor units (Type IIa, then IIb) as force demand increases.

A muscle fibre characterised by slow contraction, high oxidative capacity, fatigue resistance and low force output; suited for endurance activities.

A muscle fibre characterised by moderate contraction speed, high oxidative and glycolytic capacity, moderate force output; suited for both endurance and moderate-intensity power activities.

A muscle fibre characterised by fast contraction, high glycolytic capacity, rapid fatigue, high force output; suited for sprint and power activities.

The inverse relationship between the force a muscle can exert and the speed of contraction during concentric contractions; greater speed results in less force, and vice versa.