MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Antagonistic Muscle is a muscle that opposes the action of another. For example, when the triceps oppose the contraction of the flexing biceps by relaxing, the triceps would be regarded as the antagonistic muscle to the biceps whereas the biceps, the agonist muscle.

Detailed explanation-2: -In an antagonistic muscle pair as one muscle contracts the other muscle relaxes or lengthens. The muscle that is contracting is called the agonist and the muscle that is relaxing or lengthening is called the antagonist.

Detailed explanation-3: -Antagonistic muscles always work in synergy: when one of the muscles contracts, the other relaxes. The most common example of antagonistic muscles are the biceps and the triceps. As the agonist muscle contracts, the antagonist relaxes, helping to manage and regulate the movement of the former.

Detailed explanation-4: -The muscle primarily responsible for a movement is called the prime mover, and muscles that assist in this action are called synergists. A synergist that makes the insertion site more stable is called a fixator. Meanwhile, a muscle with the opposite action of the prime mover is called an antagonist.

Detailed explanation-5: -Muscles work in ‘antagonistic muscle pairs’. One muscle of the pair contracts to move the body part, the other muscle in the pair then contracts to return the body part back to the original position. Muscles that work like this are called antagonistic pairs.