
The triceps is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. It is a voluntary muscle, meaning it is a muscle that you choose to move. The triceps is made up of three muscle segments, or 'heads', which include the long head, the lateral head and the medial head. These three heads originate at different locations and run down the back of the arm, joining close to the elbow to form one common tendon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 3 |
| Name of muscles | Long head, lateral head, medial head |
| Location | Back of the upper arm |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The triceps is made up of three heads: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head
- The triceps is a voluntary muscle, meaning it is a muscle you choose to move
- The triceps is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end
- The triceps is located at the back of the upper arm and covers the majority of the backside of the humerus (upper arm bone)
- The triceps tendon attaches to the olecranon process, the pointy projection at the end of the ulna bone of the forearm that forms the elbow

The triceps is made up of three heads: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head
The triceps is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. The name 'triceps' means 'three heads', referring to the subdivision of the muscle into three segments: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head.
The long head runs from the shoulder blade down along the length of the humerus (upper arm bone). The lateral head is located on the outer side of the back of the arm, and the medial head is located on the inner side. All three heads of the triceps originate at different locations. The long head originates at the infraglenoid tubercle, a ridge along the outermost portion of the shoulder blade that connects with the humerus to form the shoulder joint. The medial and lateral heads start at the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides of the upper portion of the humerus.
Each head of the triceps has a distinct function. The long head is responsible for shoulder extension and adduction, while the lateral and medial heads are involved in elbow extension and forearm supination. The triceps work together with the biceps to allow for a full range of motion in the arm.
The triceps is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end. All three muscle heads of the triceps run down the back of the arm and join close to the elbow to form one common tendon. This tendon attaches to the olecranon process, the pointy projection at the end of the ulna bone of the forearm that forms the elbow. The main function of the triceps is to extend the forearm at the elbow joint, straightening the elbow.
Muscle Nubs: Diagnosis Methods and Identification Techniques
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$29.95

The triceps is a voluntary muscle, meaning it is a muscle you choose to move
The triceps is a voluntary muscle, meaning it is a muscle that you choose to move. The triceps is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. It is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end. The name 'triceps' means 'three heads', which refers to the subdivision of the triceps muscle into three different segments, or heads: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. These three heads originate at different locations. The long head originates at the infraglenoid tubercle, a ridge along the outermost portion of the shoulder blade that connects with the humerus to form the shoulder joint. The medial head and the lateral head start at the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides of the upper portion of the humerus. All three heads of the triceps run down the back of the arm and join close to the elbow to form one common tendon. This triceps tendon attaches to the olecranon process, the pointy projection at the end of the ulna bone of the forearm that forms the elbow. The main function of the triceps is to extend the forearm at the elbow joint to straighten the elbow.
Muscle Testing: Understanding the Procedure and Benefits
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$23.19 $26.95

The triceps is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end
The triceps is subdivided into three different segments, or 'heads', which is where the name 'triceps' comes from. These three heads are the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. The long head runs from the shoulder blade down along the length of the humerus (upper arm bone). The lateral head is located on the outer side of the back of the arm, and the medial head is located on the inner side of the back of the arm. All three heads of the triceps originate at different locations. The long head originates at the infraglenoid tubercle, a ridge along the outermost portion of the shoulder blade that connects with the humerus to form the shoulder joint. The medial head and lateral head start at the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides of the upper portion of the humerus.
The triceps is the only muscle in the posterior compartment of the upper arm, which is located between the shoulder joint and elbow joint. The upper arm contains four muscles in total, with the other three being in the anterior compartment.
Muscle Repair Mechanisms: Understanding the Body's Healing Process
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$28.99

The triceps is located at the back of the upper arm and covers the majority of the backside of the humerus (upper arm bone)
The triceps is a voluntary muscle, meaning it is a muscle that you choose to move. It is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end. The triceps is the only muscle in the posterior compartment of the upper arm, which is located between the shoulder joint and the elbow joint. The main function of the triceps is to extend the forearm at the elbow joint to straighten the elbow.
Understanding Muscle Sprains: Causes and Prevention
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The triceps tendon attaches to the olecranon process, the pointy projection at the end of the ulna bone of the forearm that forms the elbow
The triceps is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. It is made up of three muscle segments, or 'heads', which include the long head, the lateral head and the medial head. Each of these three heads originates at a different location. The long head originates at the infraglenoid tubercle, a ridge along the outermost portion of the shoulder blade that connects with the humerus to form the shoulder joint. The medial head and lateral head start at the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides of the upper portion of the humerus. All three muscle heads of the triceps run down the back of the arm and join close to the elbow to form one common tendon.
This triceps tendon attaches to the olecranon process, the pointy projection at the end of the ulna bone of the forearm that forms the elbow. The olecranon process is the bony protrusion that can be felt at the tip of the elbow. The triceps tendon attaches to this projection, allowing the triceps muscle to extend the forearm at the elbow joint and straighten the elbow. This movement is essential for many everyday activities, such as reaching for objects or pushing something away.
The triceps tendon is a strong, fibrous band of connective tissue that connects the triceps muscle to the olecranon process. It is crucial for the stability and function of the elbow joint. The tendon can withstand significant force and tension during activities that involve elbow extension, such as pushing, throwing or lifting objects. However, excessive stress or repetitive motions can lead to tendon injuries, such as tendonitis or tendon tears.
In summary, the triceps tendon plays a vital role in elbow movement and stability by attaching the triceps muscle to the olecranon process of the ulna bone. This connection enables the triceps muscle to extend and straighten the forearm at the elbow joint, facilitating various upper body movements and everyday tasks.
The Evolution of Muscles: Understanding Their Development
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are three muscles in the tricep.
The three muscles in the tricep are called the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head.
The three muscles in the tricep are located at the back of the upper arm.
The three muscles in the tricep work together to extend the forearm at the elbow joint and straighten the elbow.











































