Which muscle returns the limb to the anatomical position?

Which muscle returns the limb to the anatomical position?

• A. Flexor
• B. Skeletal muscle
• C. Extensor
• D. Smooth muscle

Answer: (C)

Extensor muscles extend joints, bringing a limb back to the neutral, straight position used in anatomical position. When a joint is flexed, the extensor works to straighten it, returning the limb to that reference pose—for example, the elbow is extended by the triceps to restore the arm to full extension. Flexors would bend the joint, moving away from the anatomical position, while smooth muscle isn’t typically responsible for voluntary limb movement, and skeletal muscle is the tissue type that performs the movement rather than describing the action itself.

Extensor muscles extend joints, bringing a limb back to the neutral, straight position used in anatomical position. When a joint is flexed, the extensor works to straighten it, returning the limb to that reference pose—for example, the elbow is extended by the triceps to restore the arm to full extension. Flexors would bend the joint, moving away from the anatomical position, while smooth muscle isn’t typically responsible for voluntary limb movement, and skeletal muscle is the tissue type that performs the movement rather than describing the action itself.