How muscles work

Question 1

sliding filament theory

Answer 1

when muscles contract, the sarcomeres shorten as the thin filaments slide over the thick filaments

Question 2

tendons

Answer 2

muscles are attached to the bone by tendons, so that the joint bends when the muscle contract

Question 3

antagonists + example

Answer 3

pair of muscles that have opposite actions
the triceps and biceps are antagonistic muscles, the tricep straightens the arm and the bicep bends it

Question 4

origin

Answer 4

the end of a muscle that is fixed to a stationary bone

Question 5

insertion

Answer 5

the end of a muscle fixed to the moveable bone

Question 6

agonist/prime mover

Answer 6

the muscle that caused the desired action
example: triceps + biceps, the bicep is the agonist

Question 7

synergists

Answer 7

muscles that help the agonist - may produce same movement as agonist or steady a joint.
example: synergistic muscles immobilise the wrist every time we clench our fist

Question 8

fixator

Answer 8

a fixator muscle acts as a stabiliser of one part of the body during movement of another part

Question 9

muscle tone

Answer 9

maintaining partial contraction of skeletal muscles , holds our body parts in position