4.2.3 - reciprocal inhibition

Question 1

What are antagonistic muscle pairs?

Answer 1

Muscle can only pull
They must work in pairs to move joints
They are called antagonistic muscle pairs
Antagonistic muscles work in pairs in order to move a joint in two direction’s
One of the muscles moves the joint one direction and the other muscle moves the joint in the opposite direction

Question 2

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 2

The simultaneous contraction and relaxation of opposing muscles

Question 3

What does agonist mean?

Answer 3

The agonist is the muscle responsible for movement and is contracting

Question 4

What does antagonist mean?

Answer 4

The antagonist relaxes to allow the movement to occur

Question 5

Explain the contraction of the muscles during a bicep curl.

Answer 5

During the upward phase of a bicep curl, the bicep is the agonist as it is contracting concentrically
During the downward phase of a bicep curl, the bicep is the antagonist as it is contracting eccentrically