Structure and Function of the Muscular System

• What is the muscle near the back of your neck?

  Trapezius
• What is the muscle on your shoulders?

  Deltoids?
• What are the muscles on your chest called?

  Pectorals
• What is the muscle at the top of your arm at the front?

  Bicep
• What is the muscle at the back of your arm?

  Tricep
• What is the muscle on your back?

  Latissimus Dorsi
• What are the muscles in your stomach called?

  Abdominals
• What are your bum muscles called?

  Gluteals
• What are your muscles at the front of your leg?

  Quadriceps
• What are the muscles at the back of your leg?

  Hamstrings
• What are your calf muscles called?

  Gastrocnemius
• What is the function of the deltoids?


  They are used in all arm movements - they allow abduction, adduction, flexion, extension and rotation at the shoulder.
• What is the function of the pectoral muscles?


  They are used to adduct the arm at the shoulder joint and also to rotate the arm inwards.
• What is the function of the bicep muscles?

  Used to cause flexion at the elbow
• What is the function of the abdominals?

  To bend the body fowards at the hip, flexing the vertebrae.
• What is the function of the quadriceps?

  Used to extend the knee joint.
• What is the function of the trapezius?

  Extend the neck, and lift the head upwards - helps shoulders up too.
• What is the function of the triceps?

  Extend the arm at the elbow
• What is the function of the Latissimus Dorsi?

  Adduct the arm at the shoulder - swings the arm backwards and rotates it inwards
• What is the function of the gluteals?

  To flex and extend the leg at the hip
• What is the function of the hamstring?

  Straightens the hip and allows flexion at the knee joint
• What is the function of the gastrocnemius?

  Straightens leg at the ankle and allows you to point toes or stand on tiptoes
• What are antagonistic pairs?

  Muscles that have opposite actions at a joint. One contracts when the other relaxes.
• What are the three components of an antagonistic pair?

  Agonist

  Antagonist

  Fixator
• What does the agonist do?

  It is the prime mover - the muscle that contracts to allow the movement - when it pulls, it gets shorter.
• What does the antagonist do?

  The other muscle in the partnership that relaxes (lengthens) whilst the agonist contracts.
• What does the fixator do?

  Stabilises the joint, it doesn't move but it contracts to fix the muscles to the bone - it prevents unwanted movements
• What are some examples of antagonistic pairs?

  Biceps and Triceps

  Quadriceps and Hamstrings

  Pectorals and Latissimus Dorsi

  Deltoids and Trapezius