True or False: Muscles can push.

Muscles cannot actually push; they can only contract and create force in a pulling motion. When a muscle shortens, it pulls on the bone to which it is attached, leading to movement. This is why, in the context of how muscles function, the statement that "muscles can push" is incorrect.

Muscle action operates on the basis of tension produced through contraction—essentially pulling rather than pushing. When a muscle contracts, it gets shorter and exerts a force on the tendons that connect it to bones, resulting in movement of the skeleton. This distinction is fundamental to understanding how muscular movement works in the body, making it clear why stating that muscles can push is inaccurate.

The claim that muscles can "push and pull" is misleading, as it implies that muscles can exert force in both directions; however, they only pull. Thus, recognizing the specific pulling action of muscles helps in understanding their physiological role in movement and body mechanics.