Contracting the gastrocnemius muscles to elevate the body on the toes involves a ________ lever.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ankle plantar flexion (standing on your toes) involves a second-class lever, where the load is at the opposite end of the lever from the force (fulcrum in the middle). The load in this case is the body weight, the force is generated by the gastrocnemius muscle, and the fulcrum is the ball of the foot. This type of lever provides the most mechanical advantage, allowing a smaller force to move a larger load.

Contracting the Gastrocnemius Muscles to Elevate the Body on the Toes