Anatomy · Muscles

The muscles of the body

A clear, referenced guide to the body's major muscles — what each one is, where it sits, the movement it produces and the problems that affect it, across 14 key muscles.

Abdomen

Abdominal Muscles (Abs)The abdominal muscles form the front wall of the belly. They bend and twist the trunk, sup…

Arm

Biceps (Biceps Brachii)The biceps is the muscle at the front of the upper arm that bends the elbow and turns the … Triceps (Triceps Brachii)The triceps is the muscle at the back of the upper arm that straightens the elbow. It work…

Back

Trapezius (Upper Back & Neck)The trapezius is a large diamond-shaped muscle of the upper back and neck. It moves and st… Latissimus Dorsi (Back Muscle)The latissimus dorsi is the large, wing-shaped muscle of the lower and mid back. It pulls …

Chest

Pectoralis Major (Chest Muscle)The pectoralis major is the large fan-shaped muscle of the chest. It pulls the arm across … Diaphragm (Breathing Muscle)The diaphragm is the dome-shaped muscle under the lungs that powers breathing. It flattens… Heart Muscle (Cardiac Muscle)Cardiac muscle is the special muscle that makes up the heart wall. Unlike other muscles, i…

Head

Masseter (Jaw Muscle)The masseter is the powerful muscle of the cheek that closes the jaw for chewing. Relative…

Hip

Gluteus Maximus (Buttock Muscle)The gluteus maximus is the large muscle of the buttock and the biggest muscle in the body.…

Leg

Quadriceps (Thigh Muscles)The quadriceps are the four muscles at the front of the thigh that straighten the knee. Th… Hamstrings (Back of Thigh)The hamstrings are the three muscles at the back of the thigh that bend the knee and exten… Gastrocnemius (Calf Muscle)The gastrocnemius is the main calf muscle at the back of the lower leg. It points the foot…

Shoulder

Deltoid (Shoulder Muscle)The deltoid is the rounded muscle that caps the shoulder. It lifts the arm out to the side…

See also

Bones of the skeleton · Organs of the body · Nerves · Blood vessels · Body systems

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