Which option does not describe ipsilateral contractions?

Which option does not describe ipsilateral contractions?

• A. Involves movement produced by contracted muscles on the same side of the body.
• B. Involves contraction of muscles on the same side of the body.
• C. Involves coordinated activity of muscles on the same side.
• D. Involves contraction of muscles on the opposite side of the body.

Answer: (D)

Ipsilateral means moving or acting on the same side of the body. The statements that describe same-side muscle activity fit this idea: movement produced by contracted muscles on the same side, contraction of muscles on the same side, and coordinated activity of muscles on the same side. The one that does not fit ipsilateral contractions says contraction of muscles on the opposite side of the body, which is contralateral. So that opposite-side description is the one that does not describe ipsilateral contractions. For example, if the right arm muscles contract to lift the right hand, that’s ipsilateral; contraction on the left side while the right side moves would involve the opposite side.

Ipsilateral means moving or acting on the same side of the body. The statements that describe same-side muscle activity fit this idea: movement produced by contracted muscles on the same side, contraction of muscles on the same side, and coordinated activity of muscles on the same side. The one that does not fit ipsilateral contractions says contraction of muscles on the opposite side of the body, which is contralateral. So that opposite-side description is the one that does not describe ipsilateral contractions. For example, if the right arm muscles contract to lift the right hand, that’s ipsilateral; contraction on the left side while the right side moves would involve the opposite side.