Muscular System and Levers in GCSE PE (OCR)
This page provides a comprehensive overview of the muscular system and lever mechanics, crucial for GCSE PE muscular system OCR studies. It covers three main areas: major muscles, antagonistic pairs, and lever systems.
Major Muscles
The document lists 11 major muscles that are important for GCSE PE students to know:
- Deltoid
- Pectorals
- Biceps
- Triceps
- Latissimus dorsi
- Gluteals
- Hamstring
- Gastrocnemius
- Abdominals
- Quadriceps
- Trapezius
Highlight: Each of these muscles is responsible for creating specific movements in the body.
Antagonistic Pairs
The concept of antagonistic muscle pairs is introduced, which is fundamental to understanding muscle function in the body.
Definition: Antagonistic pairs are muscles that work in partnerships to create movement.
The document explains three key roles in antagonistic muscle action:
- Agonist: The muscle that contracts to allow movement.
- Antagonist: The muscle that reacts while the agonist contracts.
- Fixator: The muscle that stabilizes the joint and contracts to fix muscle to bone.
Example: Two examples of antagonistic muscle pairs are provided:
- Biceps and triceps
- Hamstring and quadriceps
These examples are crucial for understanding antagonistic muscle pairs GCSE PE.
Lever Systems
The page introduces the concept of lever systems in the human body, which is essential for comprehending biomechanics in physical education.
Definition: All levers have three parts:
- Fulcrum: The fixed point, generally at the center
- Load: The weight of the body or anything it's carrying
- Effort: The muscular force that moves the load
The document outlines three classes of levers:
-
1st Class Lever:
- Found in the neck when the head is raised
- Fulcrum is in the middle
-
2nd Class Lever:
- Found in the ankle area when on tiptoes
- Load is in the middle
-
3rd Class Lever:
- Found at the elbow when lowering the forearm
- Effort is in the middle
Vocabulary: FLE - An acronym used to remember the order of Fulcrum, Load, and Effort in different lever classes.
This information is crucial for understanding lever systems in physical education GCSE and provides examples of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class levers in the human body.