Understanding Flexor and Extensor Muscles: Their Functions and Examples

Flexor is a muscle that causes movement by contracting and shortening. It is the opposite of an extensor, which lengthens and straightens a joint. In other words, flexors bring a limb towards the body, while extensors move it away from the body.

For example, the biceps brachii muscle in your arm is a flexor because it contracts to bend your elbow and bring your hand towards your shoulder. Similarly, the muscles in your legs that bend your knees and ankles are also flexors.

In contrast, the muscles that straighten out these joints, such as the triceps brachii in your arm and the extensors in your legs, are called extensors.

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