GCSE Physical Education Exam Questions by Topic

A basketball player performs a chest pass. Using your knowledge of the muscular system, identify the agonist, the antagonist and the joint action at the elbow during the pushing phase of the pass.

1. Identify the joint being used: the elbow.
2. Identify the movement at the elbow during the push: extension, since the arm straightens.
3. Identify the agonist for elbow extension: the triceps brachii, as it is the muscle contracting concentrically to straighten the arm.
4. Identify the antagonist: the biceps brachii, since it must relax and lengthen to allow the triceps to shorten and extend the elbow.
5. State the full answer: agonist = triceps brachii, antagonist = biceps brachii, joint action = extension.