Muscular system

1.1.7 What are the 3 types of muscle groups?

1. Voluntary muscles – Under your control
2. Involuntary muscles – Not under your control. Controlled by the involuntary nervous
system
3. Cardiac muscle – Only found in the wall of the heart. We cannot control the
contractions

GCSE bitesize

1.1.8 What are the 12 muscles important to the GCSE examination?

1. Deltoid - shoulder muscles (abducts the upper arm from body)
2. Pectoralis major – chest muscles (adducts the arm at the shoulder)
3. Latissimus dorsi - lower back muscle (rotates upper arm at the shoulders)
4. Biceps - top of arm muscles (flexion of arm at the elbow)
5. Triceps - underneath of arm muscles (extension of arm at the elbow)
6. External obliques – to the side of the abdomen (pull the chest downwards; flex and
rotate the spinal column)
7. Gluteals - buttocks (extension of the upper leg)
8. Hip flexors – connect the leg to the pelvis and abdomen (flexion at the hip)
9. Quadriceps - front of leg muscles (extension of the leg at the knee)
10. Hamstrings - back of leg muscles (flexion of the leg at the knee)
11. Gastrocnemius - calf muscles (plantar-flexion of the foot)
12. Tibialis anterior – runs don the shin (pulls the toes towards the shin)

1.1.9 What are antagonistic pairs?

Some muscles work in pairs. When one muscle contracts (agonist), the other relaxes
(antagonist).

Where does this occur?

1. Biceps and triceps
2. Quadriceps and hamstrings YouTube
3. Gastrocnemius and tibialis
4. Hip flexor and gluteus maximus

1.1.10 What are the two types of muscle fibre?

1. Type I - Slow twitch – suited to low intensity work e.g. marathon running as they can be
used for a long period without fatiguing.
2. Type IIa - Fast twitch – used in anaerobic work; can be improved through endurance
training to increase their resistance to fatigue.
3. Type IIx – Fast twitch – used in anaerobic work and can generate much greater force
than other fibre types, but fatigue quickly.

1.1.11 How does the skeletal and muscular systems work together?
The main function is to create movement but also keep you stable, protect you and give you
good posture. By working together they also create levers in the body.

Fulcrum – the point around which the lever rotates

Articulation – the state of having a joint; being a joint
Articulate – act as a joint