The Musculo-Skeletal System | Edexcel A-Level Physical Education (9PE0)
The Musculo-Skeletal System
- 68 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Component 1: scientific principles of physical education
- Component 1
The Musculo-Skeletal System is examined in Component 1, Scientific principles of physical education.
It covers muscles, bones and movements of the upper body, muscles, bones and movements of the lower body and trunk, contraction types and the stretch-shortening cycle and muscle roles and the acute response to a warm-up.
Sample questions from The Musculo-Skeletal System
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Muscles, bones and movements of the upper body
What does the trapezius contribute to an overhead throw?
Show the answer
The trapezius moves and steadies the scapula. A stable scapula gives the arm muscles a firm base to pull from. -
Muscles, bones and movements of the upper body
Which muscle extends the elbow as a basketball player releases a set shot?
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The triceps brachii extends the elbow to push the ball towards the basket. -
Muscles, bones and movements of the lower body and trunk
Which bones form the knee joint, and where does the fibula fit in?
Show the answer
The femur, tibia and patella form the knee joint. The fibula runs beside the tibia but takes no part in the joint itself. -
Muscles, bones and movements of the lower body and trunk
Which muscle dorsiflexes the ankle, and when does a sprinter need it?
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The tibialis anterior dorsiflexes the ankle. A sprinter pulls the toes up during the recovery phase so the foot clears the track. -
Contraction types and the stretch-shortening cycle
Which contraction does the biceps brachii perform as a weight is lowered in a biceps curl?
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The biceps brachii contracts eccentrically to control the weight on the way down. Gravity, not the triceps, extends the elbow. -
Contraction types and the stretch-shortening cycle
What is the amortisation phase, and why should it be as short as possible?
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The amortisation phase is the transition between the eccentric stretch and the concentric contraction. A long transition lets stored elastic energy escape as heat, so less force is produced. -
Muscle roles and the acute response to a warm-up
What is an antagonistic muscle pair? Give two examples.
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An antagonistic pair is two muscles producing opposite movements at the same joint. The biceps and triceps brachii at the elbow and the quadriceps and hamstrings at the knee are pairs. -
Muscle roles and the acute response to a warm-up
How does a warm-up change the elasticity of muscles, tendons and ligaments?
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A warm-up makes muscles, tendons and ligaments more elastic and extensible. The warmed tissue can lengthen further, allowing a greater range of movement.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles, bones and movements of the upper body | The shoulder joint and girdle, horizontal flexion and extension in a forehand, abduction in a star jump, adduction in a climber's wide grip, the trapezius, circumduction and rotation, the elbow's hinge action, the wrist and hand, and pronation and supination at the radio-ulnar joints. | 18 |
| Muscles, bones and movements of the lower body and trunk | The hip joint and the muscles that flex, extend, abduct and adduct it, a hurdler's trail leg, the knee and the fibula, the quadriceps and hamstrings, gastrocnemius and soleus, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion, the bones of the foot and the vertebral column. | 18 |
| Contraction types and the stretch-shortening cycle | Isotonic, concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions in a block landing, a biceps curl and a press-up, the stretch-shortening cycle and its three phases, the amortisation phase, elastic energy, the stretch reflex, countermovement jumps and the triple jump. | 16 |
| Muscle roles and the acute response to a warm-up | Agonist, prime mover, antagonist, fixator and synergist, antagonistic pairs, fixators in a biceps curl and a kick, and how a warm-up changes muscle temperature, viscosity, elasticity, synovial fluid and articular cartilage. | 16 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel A-Level Physical Education Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,108 questions with their answers.