| A | B |
| 500+ | # muscles in the body |
| Abduction | Movement away from the midline of the body |
| Adduction | Movement toward the midline of the body |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Muscles are affected (paralysis occurs) by degeneration of the nerves in the spinal cord and brain |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | ALS - Lou Gehrig's disease |
| Antagonist | Muscle opposes the action of another muscle i.e. muscle spasm |
| Ataxia | Inability to coordinate the muscles in execution of voluntary movement |
| Atonic | Lack of muscle tone |
| Atrophy | Wasting or decrease in size of an organ or tissue |
| Biceps | Muscle of upper arm that flexes the arm and forearm |
| Cardiac muscle | Striated in appearance but like smooth muscle in its action. |
| Cardiac muscle | Example of a muscle whose movement cannot be consciously controlled. |
| Myocardium | Cardiac muscle |
| Dorsiflexion | Flexion backwards of ankle joint |
| Dorsiflexion | Opposite of plantar flexion |
| Electromyography | Process of recording the strength of muscle contraction using electrical stimulation |
| Electromyography | EMG |
| Epicondylitis | Inflammation of the elbow |
| Extension | Straightening out a limb |
| External Movement | Movement involving contraction & relaxation of muscles that are attached to bones |
| Fascia | Membrane that covers, supports and separates muscles |
| Flexion | Bending a limb; decreasing angle between two bones |
| Hemiparesis | Paralysis of one side of the body |
| Hypertrophy | Increase in size of an organ or tissue |
| Internal Movement | Movement involving contraction & relaxation of muscles |
| Muscle Atrophy | Wasting away of muscle caused by disuse of muscle over a long period of time |
| Muscle Biopsy | Removal of muscle tissue for microscopic examination |
| Muscle insertion | Place where the muscle ends |
| Muscle origin | Place where the muscle begins |
| Muscles | Responsible for movement |
| Muscular Dystrophy | Inherited disease affecting muscle strength and action |
| Myalgia | Muscle tenderness or pain |
| Myasthenia Gravis | Muscle fatigue caused by repetitive use of a muscle |
| Myoclonus | Muscle spasm or twitching |
| Paralysis | Loss of sensation or purposeful muscle movements as a result of nerve damage (stroke or spinal cord injury) |
| Paraplegia | Paralysis of both legs and lower part of the body |
| Plantar Flexion | Motion that extends the foot downward toward the ground (pointing toes) |
| Pronation | Turning the hand - placing the palm downward |
| Quadriplegia | Paralysis of all four extremities |
| Rotation | Circular movement around an axis |
| Smooth Muscles | Muscle fibers that move internal organs such as the blood vessels, digestive tract and secretory ducts leading from glands. |
| Smooth Muscles | Also called involuntary or visceral muscles |
| Sphincter | Ring-like muscle that tightly constricts the opening of a passageway |
| Striated Muscles | Muscle fibers that move all bones as well as the face and eyes. |
| Striated Muscles | Also called voluntary or skeletal muscles |
| Supination | Turning the hand - placing the palm upward |
| Synergist | Muscle that acts together with another muscle - assisting movement |
| Triceps | Muscle of the posterior upper arm that extends the forearm |