
The triceps brachii is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. It makes up 70% of an arm's total mass and is composed of three heads: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. Each of these three heads originates at a different location. The triceps is a voluntary muscle, meaning it is a muscle that you choose to move.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 3 |
| Muscle name | Triceps brachii |
| Muscle shape | Fusiform or spindle-shaped |
| Muscle location | Back of the upper arm |
| Muscle function | Extension of the elbow joint |
| Muscle mass | 70% of an arm's total mass |
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What You'll Learn

The triceps is made up of three heads, or muscle segments
The triceps is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. It makes up 70% of an arm's total mass, giving it its characteristic shape. The triceps is made up of three heads, or muscle segments. These are 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. 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 primary function of the triceps is the extension of the elbow joint.
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The three heads are the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head
The triceps is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. It is a voluntary muscle, meaning it's a muscle you choose to move. The name 'triceps' means 'three heads', referring to the subdivision of the tricep muscle into three different segments, or heads. These 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. Each of the three heads of the triceps 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.
The triceps make up 70% of an arm's total mass, and its primary function is the extension of the elbow joint. It is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end.
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The triceps is a voluntary muscle
The triceps is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end. All three heads of the triceps originate 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.
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The triceps makes up 70% of an arm's total mass
The triceps is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. It makes up 70% of an arm's total mass. The triceps is made up of three heads, or points of origin, which is where it gets its name ('tri' meaning three). These 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. All three heads originate at different locations. 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 primary function of the triceps is the extension of the elbow joint.
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The triceps is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle
The triceps, or triceps brachii, is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle. It is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm, making up 70% of an arm's total mass. The triceps is composed of three heads, or points of origin, which is where its name comes from ('tri' meaning three). These three segments are the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. Each of these 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. The triceps is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint and an antagonist of the biceps and brachialis muscles. It is the sole muscle occupying the posterior compartment of the upper arm.
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Frequently asked questions
The triceps is made up of three muscle segments.
The three muscle segments of the triceps are the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head.
'Triceps' means 'three heads', referring to the three segments of the muscle.
The triceps is responsible for the extension of the elbow joint.










































