Adaptations for movement as a universal feature of living organisms
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Flip to reveal answersHow do animals produce movement?
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All 6 Flashcards — Adaptations for movement as a universal feature of living organisms
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Question
How do animals produce movement?
Answer
**Muscles pull on a skeleton** — the muscle contracts and the skeleton acts as a system of levers.
Question
Why can't one muscle move a bone both ways?
Answer
A muscle can **only contract (pull)** — it cannot push or lengthen itself, so it moves a bone in one direction only.
Question
What is an antagonistic pair?
Answer
Two muscles on **opposite sides of a joint** with **opposite effects** — one bends the joint, its partner straightens it.
Question
At the elbow, which muscle bends it and which straightens it?
Answer
The **biceps** contracts to **bend (flex)** the elbow; the **triceps** contracts to **straighten (extend)** it.
Question
Tendon vs ligament?
Answer
A **tendon** joins **muscle to bone**; a **ligament** joins **bone to bone**.
Question
List the levels of organisation in a muscle, largest to smallest.
Answer
Whole **muscle** → muscle **fibre** (cell) → **myofibril** → **sarcomere** (the contractile unit).
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Topic 2.8 hub
Muscle and motility
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