Muscles, tendons and ligamentsMuscles, tendons and ligamentsHow they work How they work together to help us together to help us movemove

Muscle PairingsMuscle Pairings

Muscles work together in pairs and use a Muscles work together in pairs and use a pulling force with the bones in the body to pulling force with the bones in the body to move. Muscles pull by flexing/contracting move. Muscles pull by flexing/contracting or shortening (going thicker) while the or shortening (going thicker) while the other muscle must extend/straightens or other muscle must extend/straightens or lengthen (goes long and thin). Such lengthen (goes long and thin). Such muscle pairs are called antagonistic. This muscle pairs are called antagonistic. This means they do the opposite of one means they do the opposite of one another.another.

Muscle examplesMuscle examplesBiceps and triceps Biceps and triceps – raise and lower – raise and lower the armthe arm

Pectoral and Pectoral and shoulder – move shoulder – move the whole arm the whole arm back and forwardsback and forwards

More musclesMore musclesQuadriceps Quadriceps (thigh) and (thigh) and Hamstring – Hamstring – Bend and Bend and straighten the straighten the knee jointknee joint

Calf and shin Calf and shin muscles – bend muscles – bend the ankle joint.the ankle joint.

LigamentsLigamentsLigaments link Ligaments link bones together. bones together. Some very Some very common ones that common ones that are damaged are are damaged are the ones the ones surrounding the surrounding the knee, eg the knee, eg the crutiate and medial crutiate and medial ligaments. ligaments.

TendonsTendonsTendons tie muscle Tendons tie muscle onto bone and onto bone and allow the muscle to allow the muscle to work the bone as a work the bone as a lever. They are lever. They are very important. Eg very important. Eg Achilles tendon – Achilles tendon – attaches the calf attaches the calf muscle to the heel muscle to the heel bone. Without it, bone. Without it, we could not walk.we could not walk.

Joint typesJoint typesThe five main The five main types of joints aretypes of joints areHinge – allow Hinge – allow movement in one movement in one direction only eg direction only eg knee and elbowknee and elbowBall and socket – Ball and socket – allow circular allow circular movement eg hip movement eg hip and shoulderand shoulder

Pivot joints can Pivot joints can allow some allow some movement eg your movement eg your neckneck

Gliding and sliding Gliding and sliding joints are many joints are many small bones small bones moving over each moving over each other eg ankle, other eg ankle, wristwrist

Fixed joints don’t Fixed joints don’t move eg skull.move eg skull.