How Muscles Affect Movement (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))
Revision Note
Author
Emma ArchboldExpertise
Biology
How Muscles Move the Skeleton
At each joint, multiple different muscle groups work together to cause movement in two or more directions
Each joint has muscles called prime movers, which are the muscles most responsible for the action of the joint
Muscles often work together in pairs to create movement in two directions:
Agonist muscles contract and therefore shorten, pulling the bone at the joint and causing the movement, this can also be called the prime mover
Antagonist muscles relax during a movement and therefore lengthen
When muscles contract it can result in different outcomes:
Isometric muscle contractions do not cause movement because the muscle length does not change
An example of this is tensing a muscle when holding a lifted weight still, or holding a plank by keeping the body in a fixed position
Isotonic movement involves the lengthening or shortening of muscles, leading to movement at a joint
Concentric contraction is when the muscle shortens
Eccentric contraction is when the muscle lengthens
Exam Tip
You may be asked to describe the muscles, bones and types of movement of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle joints. All of this information is covered earlier in the topic.
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