Chapter 10 Study Guide

Front

What are the muscles that are most directly involved in bringing about a movement called?

Back

Agonist

Front

What does muscle fiber recruitment refer to?

Back

It refers to which and how many motor units are involved in a muscle contraction.

Front

Which of the following is NOT an example of neural adaptations to anaerobic exercise?

Back

Increase in muscle fiber number.

Front

What is an isometric muscle action?

Back

An isometric muscle action is when the muscle does not change length because the contractile force is equal to the resistive force.

Front

What is the purpose of reciprocal inhibition?

Back

To allow a coordinated, unresisted movement.

Front

Define agonist in the context of muscle movement.

Back

The agonist is the primary muscle responsible for generating a specific movement.

Front

What is the role of motor units in muscle contractions?

Back

Motor units consist of a motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates, and they work together to produce muscle contractions.

Front

Explain the concept of muscle fiber recruitment during exercise.

Back

Muscle fiber recruitment involves activating additional motor units to increase the strength of a muscle contraction.

Front

What are neural adaptations, and how do they affect performance in anaerobic exercise?

Back

Neural adaptations improve the efficiency of the nervous system in activating muscles, leading to better performance without necessarily increasing muscle size.

Front

What happens during an isometric contraction?

Back

During an isometric contraction, the muscle generates force without changing its length.