Arm and Leg Muscles are Arranged in Antagonistic Pairs

Question

Arm and leg muscles are arranged in antagonistic pairs. How does this affect their functioning?
A) It provides a backup if one of the muscles is injured.
B) One muscle of the pair pushes while the other pulls.
C) It allows the muscles to produce opposing movements.
D) It allows one group of muscles to have fast-twitch fibers and the other to have slow-twitch fibers.

Accepted Answer

Antagonistic muscle pairs work together to produce opposing movements, such as flexing and extending a joint. For example, the biceps and triceps in the arm are an antagonistic pair - the biceps flex the elbow while the triceps extend it. This allows for more precise control of movements and a wider range of motion.