GCSE PE Revision: Antagonistic muscle pairs

Revision tool for pupils studying for their GCSE Physical Education exam.

1. Antagonistic Muscle Pairs UEL

2. Antagonistic muscle pairs….WHAT ARE THEY? Pairs of muscles that work together to bring about movement. As one muscle contracts (agonist) the other relaxes (antagonist). Examples of Antagonistic muscle pairs: 1. Biceps and Triceps 2. Quadriceps and Hamstrings 3. Gastrocnemius and Tibialis Anterior REMEMBER….. Muscles are connected to bones by tendons. When a muscle contracts, they pull on the tendon which pulls on the bone, creating movement!!!

3. AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS BICEPS & TRICEPS AGONIST ANTAGONIST ANTAGONIST AGONIST

4. BADMINTON SMASH Questions Fill in the gaps…… Within an antagonistic muscle pair, the agonists contracts whilst the antagonist relaxes. Can you identify the agonist and antagonist within this movement? >>> .....also what type of movement does this muscle contraction create? Flexion (at the elbow) AGONIST - BICEP ANTAGONIST - TRICEP

5. CYCLING Question Which muscle is contracting to allow Sir Chris Hoy to flex his leg at the knee? ……therefore, which muscle is relaxing during the type of movement? Hamstring (AGONIST) Quadricep - ANTAGONIST

6. SO TO RECAP……… Antagonistic muscle pairs work together to create movement Three main examples Biceps (movement – flexion at the elbow joint and Triceps (movement – extension at the elbow joint) Quadriceps (movement – extension at the knee joint) and Hamstrings (movement – flexion at the knee joint) Gastrocnemius (movement – plantar-flexion at ankle joint) and Tibialis Anterior (movement – dorsi-flexion at the ankle joint). The muscle that contract and pulls is called the AGONIST The muscle that relaxes and allow the joint to work is called the ANTAGONIST