Question

What does it mean that most skeletal muscles are found in pairs as antagonists? How does this affect the bones?

Answer 1

Antagonistic pairs of muscles means that as the one contracts, the other expands and relaxes, and vice versa.

A good example is the biceps and triceps of the upper arm - when u lift something, the biceps contracts and the triceps is extended and relaxed. When u push something down, the triceps contracts and the biceps expands and relaxes.

Muscles are connected to bones via connective tissue called tendons. so the same tendon experiences strain during both actions of the same pair of antagonistic muscles.