The role of the muscular system
38
GCSE PE YEAR 10
The role of the muscular system
Lesson objectives:
- Consider the basic roles that the muscular system fulfills.
- Be aware of the particular movements that various muscles can allow.
- Consider specific muscles and muscles groups, and the major movements they are responsible for.
Movements complexity
Pectorals
Muscles fall into separate categories that relate to specific movements:
Very few movements involve only one set of muscular contractions. Most movements involve a variety of movements that are linked together. A pole-vaulter, for example, would be involved in a very complex number of movements involving all of the major muscle groups.
HOMEWORK
Complete worksheet 2: linking muscles to sport.
Complete worksheet: Muscles of the body.
these are allow the arm to be raised at the shoulders, so would be involved in the tennis drive, shot putt and all of the swimming strokes.
- Flexors
- Extensors
- Adductors
- Abductors
Muscles and movement
The muscular system allows us to move body parts, stabilize joints when movement is happening and protects and keeps vital organs in place.
The muscular system also is giving us our individual shape (as it makes up just over 40% of our total body mass
Extensors
The muscles that work with and against the flexors and that straighten a limb by contracting
Hamstrings and quadriceps
are involved in the movement of the legs including any kicking movements, especially sprinting and jogging.
Flexors
Gastrocnemius
these are involved in initial movements of the leg, specifically running and take-off of any type of jump.
The muscles that bend a limb at a joint by contracting
Abdominals
these are made up of the major muscles that allow movement around the stomach and waist. These are very important for keeping the body straight and upright in a variety of movements as well as specifically when doing exercises such us sit-ups.
Isotonic contractions
Concentric
When the muscles shortens (it also tends to bulge, such as the biceps in the arm)
These can be concentric or eccentric
Eccentric
When the muscle gradually lengthens and returns to its normal length and shape.
Isometric contractions
Here there is no actual movement of either the limb or the joint because the muscle are working to keep the joint stable.
Major muscles and movement functions
Biceps and triceps
are mainly involved in any movement of the arm, especially at the elbow including any type of throwing movement, such us a javelin or a ball and smash at tennis, volleyball or badminton.
Adductors
The muscles that move a limb towards the body.
Muscular contractions
When these muscles do contract , they do so in one of two ways:
- Isotonic contractions
- Isometric contractions