BIOL 2457: MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026
What are the 3 muscle types? CORRECT ANSWER
1) Skeletal
2) Cardiac
3) Smooth
Which 2 muscle types are striated? CORRECT ANSWER
1) Skeletal
2) Cardiac
- Smooth muscle is NOT striated meaning their fibrils do not align in parallel bundles, so they do
appear to have that "stripe" look that runs down
Describe skeletal muscle by giving its: 1) location, 2) function, 3) characteristics of cells, and 4)
activity CORRECT ANSWER 1) Location: Attached to bones
2) Function: Its contraction moves the skeleton
3) Characteristics of cells: Multinucleate; unbranched
4) Activity: Voluntary
Describe cardiac muscle by giving its: 1) location, 2) function, 3) characteristics of cells, and 4)
activity CORRECT ANSWER 1) Location: ONLY the heart
2) Function: Pumps blood
3) Characteristics of cells: 1 or 2 nuclei; branched (intercalated discs form connections end to
end)
4) Activity: Involuntary
, Describe smooth muscle by giving its: 1) location, 2) function, 3) characteristics of cells, and 4)
activity CORRECT ANSWER 1) Location: In any hollow organs, blood vessels (EXCLUDING heart)
2) Function: Moves food, help regulate blood pressure, etc.
3) Characteristics of cells: ONLY 1 nuclei; unbranched
4) Activity: Involuntary
What are the 4 major properties that ALL muscles share? CORRECT ANSWER 1) Contractility
2) Extensibility
3) Elasticity
4) Excitability
What is contractility? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Creates
tension when muscle forcefully contracts
- Move objects (ex. Pull, push, pick up, etc.)
What is extensibility? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Ability of
muscle to stretch without being damaged
- Allows muscle to contract even if it's already stretched
What is elasticity? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Ability of muscle to
return back to its original length and shape after contraction
What is excitability? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Ability of
muscle to receive and respond to stimuli
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026
What are the 3 muscle types? CORRECT ANSWER
1) Skeletal
2) Cardiac
3) Smooth
Which 2 muscle types are striated? CORRECT ANSWER
1) Skeletal
2) Cardiac
- Smooth muscle is NOT striated meaning their fibrils do not align in parallel bundles, so they do
appear to have that "stripe" look that runs down
Describe skeletal muscle by giving its: 1) location, 2) function, 3) characteristics of cells, and 4)
activity CORRECT ANSWER 1) Location: Attached to bones
2) Function: Its contraction moves the skeleton
3) Characteristics of cells: Multinucleate; unbranched
4) Activity: Voluntary
Describe cardiac muscle by giving its: 1) location, 2) function, 3) characteristics of cells, and 4)
activity CORRECT ANSWER 1) Location: ONLY the heart
2) Function: Pumps blood
3) Characteristics of cells: 1 or 2 nuclei; branched (intercalated discs form connections end to
end)
4) Activity: Involuntary
, Describe smooth muscle by giving its: 1) location, 2) function, 3) characteristics of cells, and 4)
activity CORRECT ANSWER 1) Location: In any hollow organs, blood vessels (EXCLUDING heart)
2) Function: Moves food, help regulate blood pressure, etc.
3) Characteristics of cells: ONLY 1 nuclei; unbranched
4) Activity: Involuntary
What are the 4 major properties that ALL muscles share? CORRECT ANSWER 1) Contractility
2) Extensibility
3) Elasticity
4) Excitability
What is contractility? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Creates
tension when muscle forcefully contracts
- Move objects (ex. Pull, push, pick up, etc.)
What is extensibility? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Ability of
muscle to stretch without being damaged
- Allows muscle to contract even if it's already stretched
What is elasticity? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Ability of muscle to
return back to its original length and shape after contraction
What is excitability? CORRECT ANSWER One of the properties of all muscle: Ability of
muscle to receive and respond to stimuli
