This document discusses antagonistic muscle pairs, which are pairs of muscles that work together to create movement. As one muscle contracts (the agonist), the other relaxes (the antagonist). The main examples given are the biceps and triceps at the elbow, the quadriceps and hamstrings at the knee, and the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior at the ankle. The document explains that as the agonist contracts, it causes either flexion or extension at the given joint, while the antagonist relaxes to allow the movement to occur.

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 andTriceps
2. Quadriceps and Hamstrings
3. Gastrocnemius andTibialis Anterior

3. AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS
BICEPS &TRICEPS

4. BADMINTON
SMASH
Questions
Fill in the gaps……
1. Within an antagonistic
muscle pair, the agonists
contracts whilst the
antagonist relaxes.
2. 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
1. 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. SOTO RECAP………
• Antagonistic muscle pairs work together to create movement
Three main examples
• Biceps (movement – flexion at the elbow joint andTriceps (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) andTibialis
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