Third Class Levers Flashcards

Third Class Levers Overview

• Fulcrum: the pivotal point in a lever where the lever arm rotates.
• Resistance: the load or weight that must be overcome by the lever.
• Effort: the force applied to move the resistance; in third class levers, this is applied between the fulcrum and the resistance.

Characteristics of Third Class Levers

• Most prevalent lever type in the human body.
• Commonly found in various joints that involve a range of motion and lifting tasks.

Examples of Third Class Levers

• Elbow Joint:

  • The biceps brachii muscle applies effort to flex the elbow.
  • Resistance is determined by the weight in the hand or the forearm’s weight.

• Mandible Function:

  • Serves as a third class lever when biting into food.
  • The temporomandibular joint acts as the fulcrum during this motion.

Key Joint in Mandible Lever System

• Temporomandibular joint functions as the pivotal fulcrum.
• Temporalis muscle exerts the required effort for jaw movement and biting.

Explore the concept of third class levers through interactive flashcards. Learn about the roles of the fulcrum, resistance, and effort in human movement, particularly in the context of the elbow and mandible. Ideal for students studying physics or human anatomy.