What term describes the point of attachment of a muscle that moves during contraction?

• A. Origin
• B. Anchorage
• C. Attachment
• D. Insertion

Answer: (D)

The moving end of a muscle is called the insertion. When a muscle contracts, it shortens by pulling the insertion toward the origin, producing movement at the related joint. The origin is the fixed attachment, typically the proximal or stationary end, while the insertion is the end that moves. For example, the biceps brachii has an origin on the scapula and an insertion on the radius; when it contracts, the radius moves toward the shoulder to bend the elbow. The other terms don’t fit this specific role: origin refers to the fixed end, attachment is too general, and anchorage isn’t the standard anatomical term here.