What is the term used for muscles in opposing pairs?

The term "antagonistic" is used to describe muscles that work in opposing pairs. This concept is fundamental in understanding how muscles function to produce movement in the body. When one muscle contracts (the agonist), its antagonist muscle relaxes, allowing for coordinated movement and control. For instance, during the bending of the elbow, the biceps brachii flexes while the triceps brachii must relax to allow this motion.

Understanding muscles as antagonistic pairs is crucial in fields such as anatomy, physiology, and physical training, as it highlights how balance and coordination are maintained within the muscular system.

Other terms like "competing," "contrasting," or "conflicting" do not appropriately describe this functional relationship among muscles, as they do not convey the biological mechanism of cooperation between muscles to achieve movement.