APU6.6 Muscle Regions & Movements

The muscular system has three main functions: movement, posture, and production of body heat. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscle is attached to bones and allows for voluntary movement. Smooth muscle is found internally and controls involuntary functions like digestion. Cardiac muscle makes up the walls of the heart and contracts involuntarily.

This document summarizes key concepts from the first lecture of a functional anatomy course for physical therapist assistants. It defines common anatomical and kinesiological terminology used to describe body motions such as flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and planes of motion. It also outlines expectations for the course by reviewing the syllabus and introducing basic principles of kinesiology including osteokinematics, axes of rotation, and open and closed chain motions.

This document defines and compares isotonic and isometric muscle contractions. It begins by defining isotonic and isometric contractions, noting that isotonic contractions involve muscle shortening while isometric contractions maintain muscle length. It then provides examples of each type of contraction and lists their similarities and differences. Specifically, it notes that both involve cross-bridge cycling and tension development, but isotonic contractions allow movement while shortening and isometric contractions maintain length against resistance. It concludes by listing some benefits of isometric exercises for strength training.