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Related Concept Videos

Muscle Coordination and Action01:24

Muscle Coordination and Action

Muscle coordination is a complex and finely tuned process essential for smooth and purposeful movements like flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and rotation. The human body orchestrates the actions of various muscles working in concert, each with a specific role. Four functional types describe how muscles work together: agonist, antagonist, synergist, and fixator.
Agonists
Agonist muscles, often called prime movers, are the primary muscles responsible for producing a specific movement.
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The anterior compartment muscles originate from the humerus. They primarily function as flexors and are also known as flexor muscles. They typically insert on the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The superficial layer includes the flexor carpi radialis,...
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Muscles of the Eye01:20

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Fascicle Arrangement in Skeletal Muscles01:25

Fascicle Arrangement in Skeletal Muscles

Fascicles are bundles of muscle fibers in a skeletal muscle. Muscle fascicle arrangement is directly associated with the power and range of motion of various muscles. The configuration of these fascicles can vary, leading to different functional outcomes.
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Muscles that Move the Arm01:31

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Three-Dimensional Finger Motion Tracking during Needling: A Solution for the Kinematic Analysis of Acupuncture Manipulation
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Published on: October 28, 2021

Index finger position fluctuations reflect multi-muscle coordination.

Kaori Nagata1, Shota Hagio, Hiroko Tanabe

  • 1Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology : Official Journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology
|February 7, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Index finger movements reflect complex muscle coordination. Fluctuations in both abduction-adduction and extension-flexion directions were observed, with greater movement in the extension-flexion plane, indicating integrated muscle control.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Index finger movement relies on the intricate coordination of multiple muscles.
  • The metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint is crucial for fine motor control of the index finger.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate index finger movement fluctuations during a static position-holding task.
  • To determine if these fluctuations reflect integrated muscle coordination.

Main Methods:

  • Eleven healthy males performed a position-holding task with their index finger.
  • A load of 5% maximal voluntary contraction force was applied.
  • Two laser displacement sensors measured index finger displacement in abduction-adduction and extension-flexion directions.

Main Results:

  • Index finger movements fluctuated around the target position in both measured directions.
  • Path length of displacement and standard deviation of acceleration were significantly greater in the extension-flexion direction compared to abduction-adduction.
  • These findings suggest complex muscle interplay during index finger positioning.

Conclusions:

  • Index finger movement fluctuations are indicative of integrated muscle coordination across multiple joints.
  • The observed differences in movement patterns highlight varying degrees of muscle involvement in different planes of motion.
  • Laser displacement sensing provides a non-invasive method to quantify subtle finger movements and infer underlying neuromuscular control strategies.