Functions of Extensor Muscles
Extensors also play a crucial role in daily life movements and activities like flexors. Some important functions of Extensor Muscles are given below:
- Extension Movements: The primary function of extensor muscles is to straighten or increase the angle between two bones or body parts at a joint. This action is essential for various movements, including extending the elbow, knee, fingers, and toes.
- Maintenance of Posture: Extensor muscles in the back contribute to maintaining an upright posture by extending the spine. They counteract the flexion created by activities like bending forward and provide stability to the vertebral column.
- Walking and Running: Extensor muscles in the lower limbs, particularly the hip and knee extensors, play a vital role in walking and running. They provide the necessary force to extend the leg during the propulsive phase of these activities.
- Jumping and Lifting: Extensor muscles are crucial for activities that involve jumping, lifting, and pushing. They generate the force needed to extend the limbs and lift the body or external objects.
- Balancing Movements: Extensors contribute to overall balance and stability by supporting the body in an extended position. This is important for maintaining equilibrium during various activities, including standing and performing dynamic movements.
What is the Difference Between Flexor and Extensor Muscles?
The difference between flexor and extensor muscles lies in the way they function or the way they bring out a change in the associated body parts. Two types of skeletal muscles play crucial roles in the movement of joints in the human body. Flexor muscles are responsible for bending or decreasing the angle between two bones or body parts at a joint while extensor muscles are responsible for straightening or increasing the angle between two bones or body parts at a joint.
These muscles work in pairs. One example of a flexor-extensor pair is the pair of biceps and triceps in the arm that brings out movement at the elbow joint. In this article, we will read about the difference between flexor and extensor muscles and the similarities, functions of the extensor and flexor muscles, functional significance in daily activities, and injury risks to the flexor and extensors.
Table of Content
- Difference Between Flexor Muscles and Extensor Muscles
- What are Flexor Muscles?
- Functions of Flexor Muscles
- What are Extensor Muscles?
- Functions of Extensor Muscles
- Similarities Between Flexor and Extensor Muscles
- Functional Significance in Daily Activities