PAIRED MUSCLE ACTIONS

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY (EPISODE # 1)

PAIRED MUSCLE ACTIONS

Movement of the skeleton often involves pairs of muscles that perform opposing actions, like flexing and extending or bending and straightening. Muscles involved in these paired actions are categorized as agonists and antagonists.
A muscle that contracts to generate the main force of an action is called the prime mover, or the agonist. for that action.
Muscles that perform the paired and opposing action are called the antagonists.
The agonists in elbow flexion are the muscles that contract to bring the elbow joint into a flexed position. The antagonists are the muscles that perform the opposite
are the muscles that perform the opposite
action: elbow extension. When the action of elbow extension occurs, the roles switch.
The triceps brachii is now the agonist and contracts to extend the limb, while the biceps brachii muscle is relaxed and becomes the antagonist. Muscles interactions throughout body regions involve paired actions. These include flexion and extension, elevation and
depression, and pronation and supination.