Nerve, Muscle & Specialized Cell Types for the MCAT: Help and Review - Videos & Lessons

About This Chapter

The Nerve, Muscle and Specialized Cell Types chapter of this Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Help and Review course is the simplest way to master these types of cells. This chapter uses simple and fun videos that are about five minutes long, plus lesson quizzes and a chapter exam to ensure students learn the essentials of nerve, muscle and specialized cell types.

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?

10 Lessons in Chapter 33: Nerve, Muscle & Specialized Cell Types for the MCAT: Help and Review

Chapter Practice Test

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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

The nervous system controls, coordinates, and communicates with all other bodily systems, constantly handling the body's needs. To perform all these functions effectively, it utilizes special cells known as nerve cells, or neurons. This lesson explores the structure, function, and classes of neurons, and their use in the nervous system. It also provides an example of a multipolar neuron.

Chapter Practice Exam

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Practice Final Exam

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Summary:

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