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Muscle Function
Muscle Functions / Characteristics
| Vocabulary Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Flexors | Muscles which bend a limb at a joint. |
| Extensors | Muscles which straighten a limb at a joint. |
| Adductors | Muscles which move a limb towards the midline of the body. |
| Abductors | Muscles which move a limb away from the midline of the body. |
| Agonist | Prime mover responsible for contraction and producing the desired movement. |
| Synergist | Muscles which assist the agonist in producing the desired movement. |
| Antagonist | Muscle working in opposition to the agonist, that must relax for the desired movement to occur at the joint. |
| Stabilizers | Contract to protect a joint and maintain alignment. |
| Contractility | respond to nervous impulse by shortening or contracting, causing a pulling force on bone. |
| Distensibility | ability to stretch. |
| Elasticity | ability to return to original shape fter stretch is removed. |
| Excitability | respond to nervous or electrical stimuli. |