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The triceps brachii is a large, thick muscle on the dorsal part of the upper arm. It is a voluntary muscle, meaning it can be moved consciously. The triceps brachii is the only constituent of the posterior muscle group of the arm, spanning almost the entire length of the humerus. The triceps brachii is composed of three heads: a long head, a lateral head, and a medial head. The triceps brachii is the main muscle controlling the movement of the elbow, along with the biceps brachii.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Any muscle with three heads, or points of origin, particularly the large extensor along the back of the upper arm in humans |
| Parts | The medial, lateral, and long head |
| Function | Extension of the forearm at the elbow joint |
| Controlled by | The radial nerve |
| Injuries | Tendonitis, sprains, strains, and tears |
| Treatment | Ice, rest, and physical therapy |
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What You'll Learn
Triceps brachii is a three-headed muscle
The triceps brachii is a three-headed muscle of the arm, with long, medial, and lateral heads. It is the only constituent of the posterior muscle group of the arm, spanning almost the entire length of the humerus. The triceps brachii gets its name from the Latin word "tri" meaning three, and "cep" meaning head. The three heads of the triceps brachii originate from their respective attachments on the humerus and scapula, and converge into a single tendon that attaches to the olecranon process, the bony prominence of the elbow, located on the upper portion of the ulna.
The primary function of the triceps brachii is the extension of the forearm at the elbow joint, which is achieved through the contraction of the triceps brachii muscle and the relaxation of the opposing biceps brachii muscle. This muscle is particularly active during pushing or thrusting movements, as well as supporting body weight on the hands with the elbows semi-flexed, such as when using the arms to lift oneself up from a chair. Additionally, the long head of the triceps brachii contributes to the extension and adduction of the arm at the shoulder joint.
The triceps brachii is a large, thick muscle that often appears in the shape of a horseshoe on the dorsal part of the upper arm. It is derived from the paraxial mesodermal leaflet and originates from the dorsal muscle mass of the upper limb bud during the fifth week of embryogenesis. The arterial supply to the triceps brachii is provided by the deep brachial artery, which is a branch of the brachial artery and is supplied by ulnar collateral arteries. The venous drainage is the brachial vein that runs alongside the deep brachial artery.
The triceps brachii is innervated by the radial nerve, which gives off separate branches for each head. However, according to a cadaveric study, the medial head may also be partially innervated by the ulnar nerve, while the long head may be partially innervated by the axillary nerve. The nerve supply to the triceps brachii is provided by the radial nerve, with roots C6, C7, and C8.
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It extends the forearm at the elbow joint
The triceps brachii is a three-headed muscle of the arm. It is a large, thick muscle that often appears in the shape of a horseshoe on the posterior aspect of the arm. The three heads are the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. The triceps is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint and an antagonist of the biceps and brachialis muscles.
The triceps' primary function is extending the forearm at the elbow joint, which opposes the action of the flexors such as the biceps brachii. This extension movement is necessary for everyday actions such as reaching, getting dressed, and pushing off from armrests to stand up from a chair. The triceps brachii is the only constituent of the posterior muscle group of the arm, spanning almost the entire length of the humerus.
The triceps and biceps brachii are the main muscles controlling the movements of the elbow. The triceps brachii is involved in active extension, which occurs as a result of the contraction of the triceps brachii muscle and the relaxation of the biceps brachii. The triceps brachii is most active in pushing or thrusting movements, as well as supporting body weight on the hands with the elbows semi-flexed (e.g. when using arms to lift oneself up from a chair).
The medial head of the triceps is active in all forms of forearm extension, while the long and lateral heads are only significantly active during extension at the shoulder joint. The long head of the triceps also travels across the shoulder joint, helping to extend the arm back behind the body. The triceps brachii can be trained in a variety of ways, including static contraction movements such as pullovers, straight-arm pull-downs, and bent-over lateral raises.
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Triceps tendonitis is a common condition
The triceps brachii is a large, thick muscle on the dorsal part of the upper arm. It is the only constituent of the posterior muscle group of the arm, spanning almost the entire length of the humerus. The triceps brachii is composed of three heads: a long head, a lateral head, and a medial head. The triceps tendon attaches the triceps muscle to the olecranon, the bony prominence of the elbow.
The most common symptom of triceps tendonitis is severe pain in the elbow, triceps muscle, or shoulder, which is exacerbated by pushing or pulling movements. There may also be swelling around the elbow. Triceps tendonitis can be diagnosed through a thorough subjective and objective examination from a physiotherapist, and occasionally further investigations such as an ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan may be required.
Treatment for triceps tendonitis typically begins with conservative measures such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can also be used to manage pain and swelling. In some cases, physical therapy may be recommended to strengthen and stretch the triceps tendon. If conservative treatments are ineffective, surgery may be necessary, particularly in cases of partial or complete tears of the tendon.
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Triceps ruptures are rare
The triceps brachii is a three-headed muscle of the arm. It is the only constituent of the posterior muscle group of the arm, spanning almost the entire length of the humerus. The triceps brachii is a large, thick muscle on the dorsal part of the upper arm. It often appears in the shape of a horseshoe on the posterior aspect of the arm. The primary function of the triceps is the extension of the forearm at the elbow joint. It is composed of three heads: a long head, a lateral head, and a medial head. The triceps and biceps brachii are the main muscles controlling the movements of the elbow.
The injury typically occurs due to either a fall on an outstretched hand or a direct blow to the triceps tendon. The patient presents after a painful popping sensation with pain and swelling over the posterior elbow with the inability to extend the elbow against resistance. If a rupture were to occur, it would occur at the tendon-bone junction, resulting from an eccentric contraction of the muscle. A palpable defect is not always present, but when it is, it can be found in the posterior arm. Swelling and echymosis (bruising) are other nonspecific findings.
In cases of a complete rupture of the triceps tendon, surgical repair is usually recommended. However, no clear guidelines exist for the treatment of these injuries or the postoperative rehabilitation. A midline posterior incision is performed, the ruptured triceps tendon is identified and mobilized, and the tendon footprint is prepared. The tendon is then repaired using bone suture anchors, with a parachute technique, and held in 40° of flexion. The rehabilitation programme is divided into five phases over a period of 12 weeks. Range of movement is gradually increased in a brace for the first 6 weeks.
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The triceps brachii can be trained in a variety of ways
The triceps brachii is a three-headed muscle of the arm, with its primary function being the extension of the elbow joint. The triceps brachii can be trained in a variety of ways, targeting its different heads: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head.
One way to train the triceps brachii is through isolation movements. These exercises focus specifically on the triceps brachii muscle and include lying triceps extensions, behind-the-back arm extensions, cable push-downs, and standing triceps "kickbacks." By performing these exercises, you can directly target and strengthen the triceps brachii muscle.
Additionally, the triceps brachii can be trained using compound elbow extension movements, such as pressing movements. Examples of these compound exercises include push-ups, bench presses, close-grip bench presses, tricep dips, and military presses. The grip position during these exercises can be adjusted to vary the focus on the triceps brachii. A closer grip will increase the activation of the triceps brachii, while a wider grip will shift the emphasis to the outer chest.
Static contraction movements are another way to train the triceps brachii. These exercises involve contracting the triceps brachii statically to keep the arm straight against resistance. Examples of static contraction movements include pullovers, straight-arm pull-downs, and bent-over lateral raises. These exercises not only target the triceps brachii but also engage the deltoids and latissimus dorsi muscles.
By incorporating a combination of isolation movements, compound elbow extension movements, and static contraction movements into your training regimen, you can effectively train and strengthen the triceps brachii muscle, improving its function and appearance.
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Frequently asked questions
The triceps muscle is the large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. Its primary function is the extension of the elbow joint.
The triceps brachii is made up of three heads or muscle segments: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head.
Overusing the triceps muscle can lead to triceps tendonitis, causing pain, tenderness, swelling, and muscle weakness. This is common in sports like baseball and tennis, or in people who lift weights.
