Contraction of Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle contracts to produce movement. Muscles contract in three different ways:

• They shorten e.g. to move an object closer to the body.

 

• They lengthen e.g. to move an object away from the body.

 

• They maintain a fixed state of contraction e.g. to hold something still.

 

 

Muscles work in pairs, when one muscle shortens the opposite muscle lengthens e.g. the biceps shortens to bend the elbow at the same time its opposite muscle, the triceps, lengthens to allow the movement to occur.  Good working between pairs of muscle allows for smooth controlled movement.