Meaning & use
antagonist definition muscle
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrasetechnical
A search phrase asking for the meaning of 'antagonist' in anatomy: the muscle that opposes the movement of another muscle.
Grammar: This is not a sentence or a dictionary entry; it is a string of keywords used to look up a definition.
She typed 'antagonist definition muscle' into the search bar to finish her biology homework.
The search 'antagonist definition muscle' led him to a page explaining how opposing muscles work in pairs.
Common combinations
- antagonist muscle
- The biceps and triceps are antagonist muscles: when one contracts, the other relaxes.
- antagonist pair
- The hamstrings and quadriceps form an antagonist pair at the knee.
- definition of a muscle
- The definition of a muscle is a tissue that contracts to produce movement.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opposing muscle
- A plain-English way to say the same thing; 'antagonist' is the technical term used in anatomy textbooks.
Opposites
Word family
- antagonistic adjective
- Describing two things that work against each other, as muscles or chemicals can.
- antagonism noun
- Active opposition or hostility between people, groups, or forces.
Commonly confused: antagonist definition muscle or agonist?
antagonist definition muscle vs agonist
The agonist is the muscle that produces the main movement; the antagonist is the one that opposes or reverses it.
Practice
In anatomy, what is an antagonist muscle?
Choose one answer.
An antagonist opposes the movement of another muscle, such as the triceps opposing the biceps. The first option describes the agonist, not the antagonist.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “antagonist definition muscle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.