Question

Match the muscle with the muscles' correct description. Some of the answers will be used more than once and other answers will not be used.

What muscle flexes the thigh?
What muscle extends the thigh?
What muscle flexes the knee?
What muscle extends the knee?
What muscle flexes the foot?

Bicep Femoris
Tibialis Anterior
Gastrocnemius
Rectus Femoris
Gluteus Medius

Answer 1

Answer:

• The muscle that flexes the thigh is the rectus femoris.
• The muscle that exerts the thigh is the biceps femoris.
• The muscle that flexes the knee is the biceps femoris.
• The muscle that extends the knee is the Rectus Femoris.
• The muscle that flexes the foot is the Tibialis anterior .

Explanation:

The movement of the upper and lower limbs depends on the action of muscle contraction and relaxation.  The muscle function depends on the location of the muscle in relation to the joint where it will produce the effect:

1. Rectus femoris is located on the anterior aspect of the thigh, and is a muscle that influences both the movement of the thigh and the knee, producing the flexion of both.
2. Biceps femoris is located postero-laterally in the thigh, allowing the flexion of the knee and the extension of the thigh on the hip.
3. Tibialis anterior, in the front face of the leg, contributes with the movement of the foot during the step, besides carrying out the dorsal flexion of the foot.

Muscle movement also depends on the coordinated action of the antagonistic muscles, since while one group contracts, the other must relax.