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The triceps, or triceps brachii, is a muscle located on the back of the upper arm in humans and other vertebrates. It is called 'tri' because it consists of three heads (or points of origin): the medial (middle), lateral (side), and long head. The triceps brachii is the larger muscle group in the upper arm and is responsible for arm extension, or the extension of the elbow joint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A muscle with three heads or points of origin, particularly the large extensor along the back of the upper arm in humans |
| Other Names | Triceps brachii, three-headed muscle of the arm |
| Location | Back of the upper limb |
| Composition | Three bundles of muscles, each of different origins, joining at the elbow |
| Heads | Medial head, lateral head, long head |
| Innervation | Radial nerve, axillary nerve |
| Function | Extension of the elbow joint, antagonist of the biceps and brachialis muscles, fixate the elbow joint, support body weight on the hands with the elbows semi-flexed |
| Training | Isolation movements (lying triceps extensions, behind-the-back arm extensions, cable push-downs, and standing triceps "kickbacks"), compound exercises (pressing movements like push-ups, bench press, close grip bench press, tricep dips, and military presses) |
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What You'll Learn
- The triceps brachii is a large muscle on the dorsal part of the upper arm
- It is made up of three heads: medial, lateral, and long
- The triceps is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint
- The triceps brachii gets its name from the Latin for three-headed muscle of the arm
- The triceps are best targeted with variations of the pushdown and overhead extension
The triceps brachii is a large muscle on the dorsal part of the upper arm
The medial head of the triceps is located on the inside of the arm, adjacent to the biceps brachii muscle. The space between the medial head of the triceps and the biceps brachii forms the medial bicipital groove, which provides a passageway for the brachial artery and median and ulnar nerves. The medial head is active in all forms of forearm extension and enables more precise, low-force movements.
The long head of the triceps originates from the rear of the shoulder blade, or the scapula, and crosses the shoulder joint. Because it attaches to the scapula, the long head not only extends the elbow but also has a small action on the glenohumeral or shoulder joint. The long head is involved in retroversion and adduction of the arm and helps stabilize the shoulder joint at the top of the humerus. It is employed when sustained force generation is required or when there is a need for synergistic control of the shoulder and elbow.
The lateral head originates from a narrow, linear ridge on the posterior surface of the humerus, just above the radial groove. The lateral head is also active during forearm extension at the elbow joint. It is used for movements requiring occasional high-intensity force.
The triceps brachii is a thick muscle that often appears in the shape of a horseshoe on the posterior aspect of the arm. The muscle originates from the dorsal muscle mass of the upper limb bud and is derived from the paraxial mesodermal leaflet. The triceps can be trained through a variety of exercises, including isolation and compound elbow extension movements.
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It is made up of three heads: medial, lateral, and long
The triceps, or triceps brachii, is a large muscle on the back of the upper arm in humans and other vertebrates. The name 'triceps' comes from the Latin for 'three-headed muscle of the arm'. The triceps brachii is made up of three heads: the medial, lateral, and long head.
The medial head arises proximally in the humerus, just inferior to the groove of the radial nerve, from the dorsal surface of the humerus, and from the medial intermuscular septum. Its distal part also arises from the lateral intermuscular septum. The medial head is overlapped by the long and lateral head of the triceps. It has a broad origin along the entire posterior surface of the humerus inferior to the radial groove.
The lateral head originates from a narrow, linear ridge on the posterior surface of the humerus, just superior to the radial groove. A portion of the muscle fibres also arises from the lateral intermuscular septum. Its attachment ascends obliquely, beginning from the lateral border of the humerus behind the deltoid tuberosity, and extends to the surgical neck of the humerus, medial to the insertion of the teres minor, and above the attachment for the medial head of the triceps.
The long head arises from the infra-glenoid tubercle of the scapula, which is a rough area at the inferior margin of the glenoid fossa. Its attachment extends slightly above to the adjacent glenoid labrum and blends with the glenohumeral capsule of the shoulder joint, contributing to its stability. Because it attaches to the scapula, the long head not only extends the elbow but also has a small action on the shoulder joint.
All three heads of the triceps brachii converge onto a common tendon, which inserts onto the olecranon process of the ulna, and to the posterior wall of the capsule of the elbow joint. The triceps muscle contracts when the elbow is straightened and expands when the elbow is bent.
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The triceps is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint
The triceps, or triceps brachii, is a muscle located on the back of the upper arm in humans. It is called 'tri' because it is made up of three distinct heads: the medial (middle), lateral (side), and long head. The triceps is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint. It is the muscle principally responsible for the extension of the forearm at the elbow joint, or the straightening of the arm. This is in opposition to the biceps brachii, which is responsible for arm flexion.
The triceps brachii gets its name from the Latin 'three-headed muscle of the arm'. The three heads of the triceps brachii are innervated by the four branches of the radial nerve (C7, C8). However, according to some studies, the medial head is innervated by the ulnar nerve, and the long head by the axillary nerve. The muscle is supplied with oxygen and nutrients from the branches of the deep brachial artery.
The triceps muscle contracts when the elbow is straightened and expands when the elbow is bent. The long head gets a further contraction when the arm is behind the torso, as it crosses the shoulder joint. The long head arises from the infraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, which is a rough area at the inferior margin of the glenoid fossa. The lateral head originates from a narrow, linear ridge on the posterior surface of the humerus, just superior to the radial groove. The medial head arises proximally in the humerus, just inferior to the groove of the radial nerve, and from the dorsal (back) surface of the humerus.
The triceps brachii is the larger muscle group compared to the biceps and is best targeted with pushing or extension movements. Ruptures of the triceps muscle are rare and typically only occur in anabolic steroid users. The triceps reflex, elicited by sharply striking the triceps tendon, is often used to test the function of the nerves of the arm.
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The triceps brachii gets its name from the Latin for three-headed muscle of the arm
The triceps, or triceps brachii, is a muscle located on the back of the upper arm in humans and other vertebrates. It is a large muscle with three distinct heads: the medial head, the lateral head, and the long head. The name "triceps" comes from the Latin "tri" for three and ceps or "caput" for head, reflecting its three-headed structure.
The triceps brachii is a thick muscle that often appears in the shape of a horseshoe on the dorsal or back part of the upper arm. It is the main muscle responsible for the extension of the elbow joint, allowing for movements like pushing or thrusting and supporting body weight on the hands with semi-flexed elbows. For example, when using your arms to lift yourself up from a chair. The triceps brachii also has a minor role in the glenohumeral or shoulder joint movement due to its attachment to the scapula or shoulder blade.
Each of the three heads of the triceps brachii has a different origin and function. The long head arises from the infraglenoid tubercle of the scapula and crosses the shoulder joint, resulting in additional contraction when the arm is behind the torso. It is involved in retroversion and adduction of the arm and helps stabilize the shoulder joint. The lateral head originates from a narrow, linear ridge on the posterior surface of the humerus, just above the radial groove. It is active during forearm extension at the elbow joint and is used for movements requiring high-intensity force. The medial head arises proximally in the humerus, just below the groove of the radial nerve, and from the dorsal surface of the humerus. It is active in all forms of forearm extension and enables more precise, low-force movements.
The triceps brachii is innervated by the radial nerve, which provides separate branches for each head. The C6 root value innervates the lateral head, C7 the long head, and C8 the medial head. However, studies have found that the long head may be innervated by the axillary nerve in some individuals, and in rare cases, it receives dual innervation from both the radial and axillary nerves. The muscle receives oxygen and nutrients from the branches of the deep brachial artery.
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The triceps are best targeted with variations of the pushdown and overhead extension
The triceps muscle, or triceps brachii, is a large muscle on the back of the upper arm in many vertebrates, including humans. It is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint and is composed of three heads: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. The triceps are responsible for extension of the forearm at the elbow joint and play a crucial role in pushing or thrusting movements. Additionally, they provide support when using the hands for fine movements, such as writing.
To effectively target the triceps, variations of the pushdown and overhead extension exercises are highly recommended. The overhead tricep extension is particularly effective at targeting the long head of the tricep, which is the largest of the three tricep heads. By performing this exercise, you can achieve significant tricep activation and growth compared to neutral elbow positions. The overhead tricep extension involves keeping your elbows at your sides using a neutral grip, which isolates the lateral head of the triceps.
Additionally, skull crushers are another overhead movement that targets the long head of the triceps. This exercise is performed with the elbows out in front or up behind the body, lengthening the long head significantly. For those seeking to increase their bench press or improve their push-ups, incorporating these exercises will be highly beneficial.
Furthermore, the pushdown exercise is a valuable variation for targeting the triceps. This exercise can be performed using a variety of grips, including a neutral grip, to emphasize the lateral head, and a reverse grip, which shifts the focus to the medial head. By incorporating these different grips, you can effectively target all three heads of the triceps, leading to well-rounded development.
In conclusion, by incorporating variations of the pushdown and overhead extension exercises into your workout routine, you can effectively target the triceps and stimulate their growth. These exercises activate the different heads of the triceps, leading to increased muscle mass, improved compound lifts, and enhanced elbow and shoulder stability. Remember to include a variety of tricep exercises to emphasize different parts of this muscle group and achieve optimal results.
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Frequently asked questions
Tri muscles, or triceps, are muscles with three heads or points of origin. The name derives from the Latin 'tri' meaning three, and 'ceps' meaning head.
The triceps are located on the dorsal part of the upper arm. They often appear in the shape of a horseshoe on the posterior aspect of the arm.
The three heads of the triceps are the medial head (middle), the lateral head (side), and the long head.
The triceps are primarily responsible for the extension of the elbow joint, or straightening of the arm. They are also involved in stabilising the shoulder joint.
The triceps can be trained through various exercises such as pushdowns, overhead extensions, pressing movements, and compound pushing movements like the bench press.
