A muscle whose contraction is mostly responsible for a movement is said to be the ________ for that movement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term "agonist" and "prime mover" are used interchangeably to describe the muscle that is responsible for producing the majority of the force during a movement. Therefore, choice E ("agonist and prime mover") is the best answer. Choice A ("synergist") refers to a muscle that assists the agonist, while choice B ("agonist and fixator") refers to a muscle that not only produces the movement but also stabilizes another joint. Choice C ("antagonist") refers to a muscle that opposes the movement, and choice D ("fixator") refers to a muscle that stabilizes the origin of the agonist.

A Muscle Whose Contraction Is Mostly Responsible for a Movement