Your muscles are incredible machines that power every movement you...
Physical Education287 views·Updated 15 Aug 2026·2 pagesMuscles Topic Revision Notes for PE and Sports Science
Jessica Spencer@jessicaspencer_pdbc
1
of 2
Understanding Muscle Types
Ever wonder why your heart keeps beating without you thinking about it? That's because you've got three different types of muscles working in your body right now.
Smooth muscles are the quiet workers - they're found in your internal organs and blood vessels, doing their job without any input from you. Cardiac muscle exists only in your heart, pumping blood 24/7 without you having to remember to make it happen. Both of these are involuntary muscles, meaning they're completely outside your conscious control.
Skeletal muscles are your action heroes - these are attached to your skeleton and are completely voluntary muscles. You consciously control these when you're running, jumping, or playing sport. They're the muscles that make you stronger and more coordinated as you train.
The major skeletal muscles you need to know include your pectorals (chest), abdominals (core), deltoids (shoulders), biceps and triceps (arms), trapezius and latissimus dorsi (back), quadriceps and hamstrings (thighs), and gastrocnemius (calves).
💡 Quick Tip: Remember voluntary muscles with "V for Victory" - these are the muscles that help you win at sports!
2
of 2
Major Muscle Actions
Knowing what each muscle actually does will transform how you think about movement and exercise. Each muscle has a specific job that creates particular movements at your joints.
Your deltoids have different parts that extend and flex your shoulder joint - they're crucial for throwing and reaching movements. The trapezius handles shoulder horizontal extension, whilst your pectorals manage shoulder adduction and horizontal flexion (think push-ups). Your triceps extend your elbow (straightening your arm) whilst biceps flex it (bending your arm).
Your core abdominals flex your spine, giving you that strong midsection for sport. The latissimus dorsi handles shoulder adduction - these broad back muscles are massive for swimming and climbing. Down in your legs, gluteals extend your hip (powerful for jumping), quadriceps extend your knee (kicking and running), and hamstrings flex your knee (bringing your heel toward your bum).
Finally, your gastrocnemius creates plantar flexion of your ankle - pointing your toes down, which is essential for jumping and sprinting power.
💡 Remember: Flexion = bending a joint, Extension = straightening a joint. This simple rule applies to nearly every muscle action!
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Physical Education287 views·Updated 15 Aug 2026·2 pagesMuscles Topic Revision Notes for PE and Sports Science
Jessica Spencer@jessicaspencer_pdbc
Your muscles are incredible machines that power every movement you make, from kicking a football to simply breathing. Understanding how different muscle types work and where they're located will help you grasp how your body performs in PE and sports.
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of 2
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Understanding Muscle Types
Ever wonder why your heart keeps beating without you thinking about it? That's because you've got three different types of muscles working in your body right now.
Smooth muscles are the quiet workers - they're found in your internal organs and blood vessels, doing their job without any input from you. Cardiac muscle exists only in your heart, pumping blood 24/7 without you having to remember to make it happen. Both of these are involuntary muscles, meaning they're completely outside your conscious control.
Skeletal muscles are your action heroes - these are attached to your skeleton and are completely voluntary muscles. You consciously control these when you're running, jumping, or playing sport. They're the muscles that make you stronger and more coordinated as you train.
The major skeletal muscles you need to know include your pectorals (chest), abdominals (core), deltoids (shoulders), biceps and triceps (arms), trapezius and latissimus dorsi (back), quadriceps and hamstrings (thighs), and gastrocnemius (calves).
💡 Quick Tip: Remember voluntary muscles with "V for Victory" - these are the muscles that help you win at sports!
2
of 2Sign up to see the content. It's free!
- Access to all documents
- Improve your grades
- Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Major Muscle Actions
Knowing what each muscle actually does will transform how you think about movement and exercise. Each muscle has a specific job that creates particular movements at your joints.
Your deltoids have different parts that extend and flex your shoulder joint - they're crucial for throwing and reaching movements. The trapezius handles shoulder horizontal extension, whilst your pectorals manage shoulder adduction and horizontal flexion (think push-ups). Your triceps extend your elbow (straightening your arm) whilst biceps flex it (bending your arm).
Your core abdominals flex your spine, giving you that strong midsection for sport. The latissimus dorsi handles shoulder adduction - these broad back muscles are massive for swimming and climbing. Down in your legs, gluteals extend your hip (powerful for jumping), quadriceps extend your knee (kicking and running), and hamstrings flex your knee (bringing your heel toward your bum).
Finally, your gastrocnemius creates plantar flexion of your ankle - pointing your toes down, which is essential for jumping and sprinting power.
💡 Remember: Flexion = bending a joint, Extension = straightening a joint. This simple rule applies to nearly every muscle action!
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