contract
When one muscle of a pair contracts, the other muscle of the pair relaxes to allow movement of the body part.
When one muscle of a pair contracts, the other muscle of the pair relaxes to allow movement of the body part.
When the bicep contracts, the tricep relaxes. These pair of muscles are known as antagonists which means as one contracts, the other relaxes and vice versa.
Because muscle cells can only contract, not extend, skeletal muscles most work in pairs. While one muscle contracts, the other muscle in the pair relaxes to its original length.
Relaxes
The muscles can only pull, not push. So, to move a limb, one muscle relaxes while the other muscle pulls.
The muscles can only pull, not push. So, to move a limb, one muscle relaxes while the other muscle pulls.
It Contracts
It relaxes
contracts - for antagonistic muscle pairs e.g. muscles in arm (when one relaxes, other contracts, and vice versa)
When one muscle pulls, the other muscle relaxes.
The other relaxes. This other is called the antagonist. The one contracting is called the agonist.