Dominic Stone
The latissimus dorsi muscles, commonly known as the 'lats', are large, flat muscles located below the shoulder blade. They are considered one of the largest muscles of the back and are essential for upper extremity movement. The lats help stabilise the back while extending the shoulders, enabling movements such as pull-ups, climbing and swimming. The lats also play a role in breathing, enhancing the movement of the trunk during inhalation and exhalation. Training the lats can provide benefits for everyday movement and activities such as chin-ups, rock climbing and swimming. However, injuries to the lats can occur, especially in sports such as baseball, swimming and golf, causing pain across the back, shoulders and arms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Latissimus Dorsi, Lats |
| Location | Lower posterior thorax, below the shoulder blade, left and right of the spine, extending to the pelvis |
| Function | Upper extremity movement, accessory respiratory muscle, aids forceful exhalation, and deep inhalation |
| Attachments | Vertebral processes of spinal levels T6-T7 to L5, thoracolumbar fascia, posterior iliac crest, lower three or four ribs, inferior angle of the scapula |
| Innervation | Thoracodorsal nerve (C6-C8), subscapular artery |
| Exercises | Pull-ups, Chin-ups, bent-over rows, swimming, climbing, rowing, weightlifting, dumbbell rows |
| Injuries | Overuse, poor posture, sports injuries (golf, baseball, swimming, skiing, tennis), muscle belly injuries, tendon avulsion injuries |
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What You'll Learn
- The latissimus dorsi muscle, or 'lats', is one of the largest muscles in the back
- It is a broad, flat muscle that occupies the lower posterior thorax
- The muscle assists with breathing and is active during coughing and sneezing
- Lats help to stabilise the back while extending the shoulders
- Exercises that engage the lats include pull-ups, chin-ups, and swimming
The latissimus dorsi muscle, or 'lats', is one of the largest muscles in the back
The latissimus dorsi muscle, or lats, is one of the largest muscles in the back, stretching across the lower posterior thorax. Its primary function is in upper extremity movement, but it also serves as a respiratory accessory muscle. The muscle is innervated by the thoracodorsal nerve, originating from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus (i.e., C6-8). Blood flow to the latissimus dorsi stems from the thoracodorsal branch of the subscapular artery, a branch of the axillary artery.
The latissimus dorsi is a broad, flat muscle that occupies the majority of the lower posterior thorax. The muscle fibres are situated in various orientations, with the uppermost fibres being almost horizontally oriented and the lower fibres much more vertically oriented on the thorax. The latissimus dorsi is located in the lower posterior thorax, originating from several locations, including the spinous processes of vertebrae T7-L5, the thoracolumbar fascia, posterior iliac crest, lower third or fourth ribs, and the inferior angle of the scapula.
The latissimus dorsi is responsible for extension, adduction, transverse extension (also known as horizontal abduction or horizontal extension), flexion from an extended position, and medial internal rotation of the shoulder joint. It also has a synergistic role in the extension and lateral flexion of the lumbar spine. The latissimus dorsi works with the teres major and pectoralis major muscles to depress the arm and adduct, extend, and internally rotate the shoulder at the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint).
The latissimus dorsi is active in moving the trunk forward and upward when the upper extremities are fixed overhead, as in climbing or performing a pull-up. This muscle can also be injured during exercise, specifically when performing pull-ups and bench presses. It is important for everyday movement and everyday life, and its proper function and coordination with the teres major and pectoralis major muscles are essential for smooth and fluid movements of the upper extremity.
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It is a broad, flat muscle that occupies the lower posterior thorax
The latissimus dorsi muscle, commonly known as the 'lats', is a large, flat, triangular muscle that occupies the lower posterior thorax. It is one of the largest muscles of the back, stretching across the back below the shoulder blades and to the left and right of the spine, all the way down to the pelvis. The uppermost fibres of the latissimus dorsi are oriented horizontally, while the lower fibres are oriented more vertically. The muscle is innervated by the thoracodorsal nerve, originating from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus (i.e. C6-8).
The latissimus dorsi is a climbing muscle. With the arms fixed above the head, it can raise the trunk upwards, together with the help of the pectoralis major. It is an important muscle in rowing, swimming (especially during the downstroke), and chopping. It is also active during deep inspiration and with forceful respiratory functions such as coughing and sneezing. It is considered an accessory breathing muscle, which means it enhances the movements of the trunk during inhalation and exhalation.
The latissimus dorsi is a potential source of muscle for breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy or to correct pectoral hypoplastic defects such as Poland's syndrome. It can be injured during exercise, particularly in sports such as golf, baseball, skiing, rowing, tennis, and swimming. A tight latissimus dorsi muscle has been shown to be a contributor to chronic shoulder and back pain.
The power/size/strength of the latissimus dorsi can be trained with a variety of different exercises. Some of these include vertical pulling movements such as pull-downs and pull-ups (including chin-ups), horizontal pulling movements such as bent-over rows, and shoulder extension movements with straight arms such as straight-arm lat pulldowns.
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The muscle assists with breathing and is active during coughing and sneezing
The latissimus dorsi, commonly known as the 'lats', are triangular back muscles located below the shoulder blade and to the left and right of the spine. They are considered an accessory muscle of respiration, enhancing the movements of the trunk during inhalation and exhalation.
The lats assist with breathing by lifting and expanding the circumference of the rib cage when you inhale, which may increase the volume of air that enters your lungs. During exhalation, the latissimus dorsi muscle helps decrease the circumference of the trunk, which may have the effect of squeezing more air out.
The lats are active during forceful respiratory functions such as coughing and sneezing. They are also important for climbing, swimming, and activities such as chin-ups and pull-ups, where they help to move the trunk forward and upward when the upper extremities are fixed overhead.
The latissimus dorsi muscles are the largest muscles on the back, stretching across the lower posterior thorax. They are broad, flat muscles that originate from several locations, including the spinous processes of vertebrae T7-L5, the thoracolumbar fascia, posterior iliac crest, lower third or fourth ribs, and the inferior angle of the scapula.
The lats play a role in the extension and lateral flexion of the lumbar spine, as well as the internal rotation, adduction, and extension of the arm. They are also involved in shoulder depression and side bending (lateral flexion).
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Lats help to stabilise the back while extending the shoulders
The latissimus dorsi muscles, commonly known as the 'lats', are triangular back muscles located below the shoulder blade and to the left and right of the spine. They are large, flat muscles that extend from the shoulder blades, across the back, and down to the pelvis.
The lats play a crucial role in stabilising the back while allowing for shoulder extension and movement. This is achieved through their attachment to the spine and the ability to influence the movement of the scapulae (shoulder blades). The lats can pull the scapulae downward, which helps to stabilise the back and shoulders during movements such as pull-ups, climbing, and swimming.
The lats are involved in several important functions, including upper extremity movement and respiratory functions. They assist in the depression of the arm, adduction, extension, and internal rotation of the shoulder joint. This allows for a wide range of motions, such as pulling the body weight up during a chin-up or rock climbing.
Additionally, the lats play a role in the extension and lateral flexion of the lumbar spine, and they are active during deep inspiration and forceful respiratory functions such as coughing and sneezing. They are considered accessory muscles of respiration, enhancing the movement of the trunk during inhalation and exhalation.
The lats are a crucial muscle group for overall back stability and shoulder mobility. Strengthening the lats through exercises such as pull-downs, pull-ups, and rowing can improve performance in various athletic activities and everyday movements. However, it is important to maintain proper form during exercise to prevent injuries, which can cause chronic back and shoulder pain.
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Exercises that engage the lats include pull-ups, chin-ups, and swimming
The latissimus dorsi, or "lats", are broad, flat muscles that occupy the majority of the lower posterior thorax. They originate from the spine and extend down to the lower ribs and pelvis. Their primary function is to produce movements in the shoulder joint, such as internal rotation, adduction, and extension of the arm. They are also active during deep inspiration and forceful respiratory functions like coughing and sneezing.
Chin-ups are another effective exercise for engaging the lats. To maximize lat activation during chin-ups, it is crucial to use proper form and technique. This includes initiating the pull with your lats, actively squeezing your lats together as you pull yourself up, and maintaining control during the lowering phase. An overhand grip and widening your grip on the bar can further emphasize lat engagement. Assisted chin-up machines or resistance bands can be used if regular chin-ups are too challenging.
Swimming is also a great way to engage the lats. The lats are active during the downstroke of the swimming stroke. Stretch cords and resistive bench exercises can be used to develop the lats and simulate the muscle groups used in swimming. Additionally, in-water drills such as the breaststroke with a flutter kick and the Paddle Push Drill can help reinforce proper swimming form while engaging the lats.
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Frequently asked questions
Colloquially known as the 'lats', the latissimus dorsi muscles are large, flat, triangular back muscles located below the shoulder blade and to the left and right of the spine. They are one of the largest muscles of the back, stretching across the lower posterior thorax.
The primary function of the latissimus dorsi is to move the upper extremity. They are also accessory muscles of respiration, assisting with the breathing process by enhancing the movements of the trunk during inhalation and exhalation. The latissimus dorsi also help with shoulder extension and internal rotation, adduction, and transverse extension.
There are several exercises that can help train the latissimus dorsi, including pull-downs, pull-ups, chin-ups, bent-over rows, and straight-arm lat pulldowns. Sports such as rock climbing, swimming, and rowing can also help strengthen the lats.
