The transverse abdominus is the antagonist of the diaphragm. The other accessory muscles and their antagonists include the obliques (belly) and the costals (ribs), but we’re looking most closely at the transverse abdominus here.
Which muscles are antagonists?
In an antagonistic muscle pair, as one muscle contracts, the other muscle relaxes or lengthens. The muscle that is contracting is called the agonist and the muscle that is relaxing or lengthening is called the antagonist.
Antagonistic muscle pairs.
| Biceps | Triceps |
|---|---|
| Pectorals | Latissimus dorsi |
Which muscles are antagonistic during breathing?
The diaphragm and the abdominals form what is known as an antagonistic pair of muscles. This means that they work in opposition to produce two actions.
What muscle is the antagonist of abdominals?
The rectus abdominis, external oblique, and transversus abdominis all flex the back, making them antagonists to the back extensor muscles. Only those three abdominal muscles form the antagonist group for the back extension, leaving out the fourth abdominal muscle: the internal abdominal oblique.
What is antagonistic muscles give two examples?
Antagonist and agonist muscles often occur in pairs, called antagonistic pairs. As one muscle contracts, the other relaxes. An example of an antagonistic pair is the biceps and triceps; to contract, the triceps relaxes while the biceps contracts to lift the arm.
What are examples of antagonists?
Examples of antagonists include Iago from William Shakespeare’s Othello, Darth Vader from the original Star Wars trilogy, the ancient evil Sauron from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and President Snow in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
What type of muscle is the diaphragm?
skeletal
Role of Muscle in Respiration
The diaphragm muscle is of the skeletal or striated type and is the major muscle of ventilation. Accessory muscles of ventilation include the scalene, the sternocleidomastoid, the pectoralis major, the trapezius, and the external intercostals.
Are intercostal muscles antagonistic?
In the intermediate part (5th-9th ribs) the intercostal muscles are antagonist, the external ones are inspiratory and the internal ones are expiratory.
