Which of the following is controlled by axial muscles?

• A. Bicep curls
• B. Shoulder rotation
• C. Walking
• D. Facial expressions

Answer: (D)

Axial muscles are the muscles of the head, neck, and trunk that move the body’s axis and help with posture, stabilization, and movements in the facial region. Facial expression muscles sit in the face and neck, shaping the features to convey emotion, which is a classic example of axial-area control.

The other options involve limb movements: curling the forearm uses a muscle of the arm (appendicular), rotating the shoulder involves the shoulder girdle (appendicular), and walking relies on leg and hip muscles (appendicular). Since facial expressions are produced by muscles in the face, they fall under axial muscle control.