Ch 33: Nerve, Muscle & Specialized Cell Types for the MCAT: Help and Review
About This Chapter
Who's it for?
Anyone who needs help preparing for the science section of the MCAT exam will benefit from taking this course. You will be able to grasp the subject matter faster, retain critical knowledge longer and earn better grades. You're in the right place if you:
- Have fallen behind in understanding the structure of nerve cells or the components of muscle, epithelial and connective tissues.
- Need an efficient way to learn about nerve, muscle and specialized cell types.
- Learn best with engaging auditory and visual tools.
- Struggle with learning disabilities or learning differences, including autism and ADHD.
- Experience difficulty understanding your teachers.
- Missed class time and need to catch up.
- Can't access extra MCAT science preparation resources at school.
How it works:
- Start at the beginning, or identify the topics that you need help with.
- Watch and learn from fun videos, reviewing as needed.
- Refer to the video transcripts to reinforce your learning.
- Test your understanding of each lesson with short quizzes.
- Submit questions to one of our instructors for personalized support if you need extra help.
- Verify you're ready by completing the Nerve, Muscle and Specialized Cell Types chapter exam.
Why it works:
- Study Efficiently: Skip what you know, review what you don't.
- Retain What You Learn: Engaging animations and real-life examples make topics easy to grasp.
- Be Ready on Test Day: Use the Nerve, Muscle and Specialized Cell Types chapter exam to be prepared.
- Get Extra Support: Ask our subject-matter experts any relevant question. They're here to help!
- Study With Flexibility: Watch videos on any web-ready device.
Students will review:
In this chapter, you'll learn the answers to questions including:
- How are neurons structured, and what is their purpose?
- What role do Schwann cells play in forming the myelin sheath?
- Why are neuroglia cells important to neurons?
- How does actin and myosin bonding make muscles contract?
- What role do sarcomere and sliding filaments play in muscle contraction?
- How are skeletal muscle fibers categorized?
- What is the relationship between endothelial cells and tissue health?
- How are adipose, fibrous and loose connective tissues structured?

1. The Structure and Function of Neurons
The structure of neurons contains two main components, dendrites and axons, that polarize and depolarize cells. Those two components are responsible for the function of sending signals among cells. This lesson extrapolates on those elements, in addition to synapses, and it also explores polarization and depolarization processes.

2. The Myelin Sheath, Schwann Cells & Nodes of Ranvier
The myelin sheath, Schwann cells, and nodes of Ranvier are all related to the nervous system and multiple sclerosis (MS). Explore the role of all three in the development of MS and the action potential of the devastating disease.

3. Neuroglia: Function & Definition
Neuroglia are types of glial cell which supports neurons with nutrients and protection from pathogens. Explore the structures and functions of four types of neuroglia: astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, and radial glia.

4. Muscle Contraction: Actin and Myosin Bonding
Muscle contraction has to do with the bonding of two proteins called actin and myosin. Explore myosin molecules and thick filaments, actin molecules and thin filaments, the organization of myosin and actin to create muscle contraction, and the role of tropomyosin and troponin.

5. The Sarcomere and Sliding Filaments in Muscular Contraction: Definition and Structures
Muscles shorten when they contract, and sarcomeres enable this process. Learn about the sarcomere and the sliding filaments in muscular contraction. Explore the functions and structures involved in muscle contraction.

6. Skeletal Muscle Fibers: Types and Functions
Most muscles in the human body contain a mixture of different kinds of muscle fibers, each of which serve different purposes. Explore the functions of different types of skeletal muscle fibers like fast fibers, slow fibers, and intermediate fibers.

7. Multicellular Organisms, Tissues and Epithelium
Multicellular organisms, like humans, comprise groups of specialized cells working together. Explore the four levels of cellular organization that form an organism and discover one of the four main types of human tissue: epithelial tissue.

8. Fibrous Connective Tissue: Function & Types
Connective tissue, epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue are the four main types of tissue in humans. Learn about connective tissue, the function of fibrous connective tissue, and the types of specialized fibrous connective tissues, including the ligaments, tendons, and fasciae.

9. Adipose Tissue and Loose Connective Tissue: Functions and Structures
Fixed and wandering cells are the two main types of connective tissue cells in the human body. Fixed cells create three types of fiber (collagenous, elastic, & reticular) that comprise the matrix of connective tissue. Learn about the functions and structures of connective tissue, connective tissue cell types, connective tissue fibers, loose connective tissue, the basement membrane, adipose connective tissue, and wandering cells.

10. What Are Nerve Cells? - Function, Types & Structure
Nerve cells, also called neurons, are located in the nervous system where they use electrical messages called action potential to cause actions in other cells. Discover the various functions, types, and structures of nerve cells in this lesson.
Earning College Credit
Did you know… We have over 220 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Other Chapters
Other chapters within the MCAT Prep: Help and Review course
- Electronic Structure for the MCAT: Help and Review
- The Periodic Table for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Chemical Bonding for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Gases for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Principles of Fluids
- Phase Equilibria for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Stoichiometric Calculations for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Thermochemistry & Thermodynamics for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Kinetics and Equilibrium for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Solution Chemistry for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Acids and Bases Overview for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Electrochemistry for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Translational Motion for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Force, Motion & Gravitation for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Equilibrium and Momentum for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Work and Energy for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Waves for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Sound for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Electrostatics & Magnetism for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Electronic Circuit Elements for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Light & Geometrical Optics for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Atomic Nucleus for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Enzymes and Metabolism for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Nucleic Acids - DNA and RNA for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Processes and Steps of DNA Replication for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Basic Molecular Biology Lab Techniques for the MCAT: Help and Review
- The Transcription and Translation Process for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Eukaryotes for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Fungi for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Virus Structure & Life Cycle for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Prokaryotic Cells for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Cell Biology & Cell Cycle for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Hormones & Mechanisms of Hormone Action for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Structure, Function & Sensory Reception in the Nervous System for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Circulatory System Overview for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Lymphatic System for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Immune System - Innate and Adaptive Systems for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Digestive System Functions & Organs for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Urinary System for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Muscle and Skeletal Systems for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Respiratory System for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Skin System for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Anatomy and Physiology of Male and Female Reproductive Systems for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Reproductive Sequence for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Developmental Mechanisms for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Mendelian Concepts for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Genetic Variability & Mutation for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Analytic Methods in Genetics for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Evolution & Natural Selection for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Development of Vertebrates for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Introduction to Organic Chemistry for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Verbal Reasoning for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Principles & Procedures in Scientific Research
- Scientific Basics & Theories
- Analyzing Scientific Data for the MCAT: Help and Review
- MCAT Prep: General Info
- Sensory Processes & Theories
- Human Senses
- Human Attention & Cognition
- States of Human Consciousness
- Memory
- Characterizing Language Development
- Emotion
- Stress
- Genetics, Evolution & Environmental Influences on Behavior
- Prenatal Development & Birth
- Principles of Motor Development, Learning & Control
- Adolescent Development for the MCAT: Help and Review
- Personality Components & Assessment
- Psychological Health & Disorders
- Motivation Types and Sources
- Attitude Types and Theories
- Types of Social Groups & Organizations
- Theories of Deviance & Social Control
- Learning and Conditioning
- Understanding the Self
- Prejudice & Discrimination
- Social Behavior
- Social Structure
- Families, Religions & Schools as Social Institutions
- Political & Economic Systems
- Health and Medicine
- Culture, Socialization & Social Interaction
- Population and Migration
- Sex and Gender Roles
- Social Status
- Genetic Variation, Control & Reproduction
- Cell Structure, Functions & Processes
- MCAT Prep Flashcards