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The biceps brachii, commonly known as the biceps, is a large muscle situated on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. The biceps is one of four muscles that make up the upper arm, the others being the brachialis, brachioradialis, and coracobrachialis muscles. The biceps is the only one of these four muscles to cross two joints: the elbow joint and the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint. The biceps is involved in vital tasks such as lifting and gesturing, and is engaged in sports involving throwing and racket use, such as baseball and tennis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Biceps |
| Latin name | Biceps brachii (meaning "two-headed muscle of the arm") |
| Muscle heads | 2 (short head and long head) |
| Muscle mass | Single |
| Muscle belly | Single |
| Muscle function | Flexion and supination (outward rotation) of the forearm |
| Muscle action | Elbow flexion, forearm supination, shoulder forward flexion, abduction, adduction |
| Muscle strength | Not the most powerful flexor of the forearm |
| Muscle size | Large, thick |
| Muscle location | Upper arm, between the shoulder and elbow |
| Muscle side | Ventral portion of the upper arm |
| Muscle joints | Elbow joint, glenohumeral (shoulder) joint |
| Muscle nerves | Musculocutaneous nerve, radial nerve |
| Muscle conditions | Biceps tendinopathy, biceps strains, partial tendon tears, complete tendon tears, "popeye deformity" |
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What You'll Learn
The bicep's role in lifting
The biceps brachii, commonly known as the biceps, is a large muscle situated on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and elbow joints. It is one of the chief muscles of the arm and is involved in various tasks, including lifting objects.
The biceps muscle has two heads, a short head and a long head, that originate on the scapula (shoulder blade) and join to form a single muscle belly, which attaches to the upper forearm. The long head of the bicep crosses both the shoulder and elbow joints, but its primary function is at the elbow, where it helps flex and supinate (rotate outwards) the forearm. This movement is facilitated by the 90-degree rotation of the muscle as it connects to the radius, one of the two bones that make up the forearm.
When lifting an object, the biceps contract and assist the brachialis muscle in flexing (lifting) the forearm. Additionally, the biceps aid the supinator muscle in rotating the forearm upwards, turning the palm to face upwards. This supination movement is particularly important when lifting objects as it helps to stabilise the scapula, allowing us to carry heavy weights with the arm in an extended downward position.
The biceps are also involved in sports that involve throwing and racket use, such as baseball, cricket, badminton, and tennis. The peak muscle stimulation occurs during elbow flexion and forearm deceleration in the throwing motion. However, the biceps are vulnerable to various conditions due to their involvement in vital tasks. Biceps tendinopathy and strains are common, often resulting from physical trauma or repetitive activity.
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Sports and activities that engage the bicep
The biceps brachii is a large muscle that lies on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. It is responsible for flexion of the elbow, which means that any time you bend your arms, your biceps are putting in the work to make the movement.
Sports and activities that require a lot of arm bending will therefore engage the bicep. This includes activities such as rowing, rock climbing, and gymnastics, which all require a lot of pulling movements. Swimming is another great example, particularly front crawl and butterfly, which require the swimmer to pull themselves through the water.
Weightlifting is another activity that engages the bicep. Bicep curls, for example, are a classic exercise that targets the bicep specifically. The biceps are also engaged when lifting any type of load, from luggage to small children.
Other sports that require a lot of pulling movements include wrestling, judo, and other martial arts. These sports require a lot of upper-body strength and engage the biceps when grappling and throwing an opponent.
Finally, sports that require a lot of throwing movements will also engage the biceps. This includes sports such as baseball and softball, where the biceps are engaged during the throwing motion, as well as sports like shot put and javelin, which require a similar motion.
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The bicep's two heads
The biceps muscle, known by its Latin name biceps brachii, meaning "two-headed muscle of the arm", is a large, thick muscle situated on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. The biceps is one of four muscles that make up the upper arm, the others being the brachialis, brachioradialis, and coracobrachialis muscles. The biceps brachii is the only one of these four muscles to cross two joints: the elbow joint and the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint.
The biceps brachii is composed of two heads, the short head and the long head, which are distinguished according to their origin at the coracoid process and supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, respectively. The long head is located on the lateral side of the biceps brachii, while the short head is located on the medial side. The short head originates from the apex of the coracoid process of the scapula, while the long head originates from the supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, also referred to as the glenoid.
Both heads of the bicep brachii unite in the middle upper arm to form a single muscle mass, usually near the insertion of the deltoid, and attach to the radial tuberosity. This fusion of the two heads into one muscle belly defines the unusual structure of the muscle. The biceps brachii is one of the most variable muscles of the human body, with a third head arising from the humerus in 10% of cases.
The biceps brachii functions as a powerful supinator of the forearm, i.e. it turns the palm upwards. This action is aided by the supinator muscle and requires the elbow to be at least partially flexed. The biceps also play a role in flexing the forearm and the elbow, particularly when the forearm is supinated. The main functions of the biceps are flexion and supination (outward rotation) of the forearm, facilitated by the 90-degree rotation of the muscle as it connects to the radius.
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Conditions and injuries of the bicep
The biceps muscle is a large, thick muscle on the front of the upper arm. It has two heads, the short head and the long head, which unite to form a single muscle belly. The biceps tendon attaches the bicep to the top of the shoulder socket, and tears can occur at this point. The long head tendon is more likely to tear than the short head tendon, and this often occurs when the elbow is pushed against a heavy weight. This injury is known as a proximal biceps tendon tear and can cause a complete tear of the tendon, resulting in a loss of strength in the arm and pain when turning the arm from palm down to palm up.
Tendon tears can often be treated non-surgically, with rest and physical therapy. However, in some cases, surgery may be required to reattach the tendon to the bone. Another condition that can affect the biceps tendon is tendonitis, which is the inflammation or irritation of the long head of the bicep tendon. Tendonitis can be caused by normal wear and tear, but it is often made worse by repetitive motions such as tennis or weightlifting. This condition can cause pain and a bulge in the upper arm, as the bicep is no longer held in place.
In addition to tendon tears and tendonitis, other injuries and conditions can affect the biceps muscle. For example, the biceps tendon can also partially tear, resulting in pain when using the muscle. Complete tendon tears can occur when the tendon ruptures and separates from the bone. This can happen at the shoulder or, less commonly, the elbow. Biceps tendinopathy is another common condition seen in the muscle, often occurring as a result of physical trauma or repetitive activity.
Furthermore, the biceps muscle can be affected by conditions related to the shoulder joint, such as rotator cuff injuries, impingement, bursitis, and tendinitis. The biceps muscle assists in forward flexion of the shoulder joint, bringing the arm forward and upwards. It is also involved in lifting, sports involving throwing and racket use, and gesturing. As such, injuries and conditions of the biceps muscle can impact a wide range of activities and movements.
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The bicep's relationship with other muscles
The biceps brachii muscle, commonly known as the biceps, is a large, thick muscle on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. It is one of the three muscles in the anterior compartment of the upper arm, along with the brachialis and coracobrachialis muscles. The biceps and these two muscles share a nerve supply, which is the musculocutaneous nerve. The biceps muscle has two heads, the short head and the long head, distinguished according to their origin at the coracoid process and supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, respectively.
The biceps brachii muscle is one of the chief muscles of the arm. Its origin at the scapula and insertion into the radius means it can act on both the shoulder joint and the elbow joint. The long head of the biceps crosses both the shoulder and elbow joints, but its main function is at the elbow, where it flexes and supinates the forearm. The biceps is a particularly powerful supinator of the forearm due to its distal attachment at the radial tuberosity. When flexed, the biceps pull the radius back into its neutral supinated position, along with the supinator muscle.
The biceps brachii lies superficially to the brachialis and coracobrachialis muscles, forming the anterior side of the arm. The brachialis muscle connects to the ulna and along the mid-shaft of the humerus. The brachioradialis muscle is adjacent to the biceps and also inserts on the radius bone. The biceps brachii muscle is supplied by the musculocutaneous nerve, which arises from the C5 and C6 spinal roots and is a terminal branch of the brachial plexus' lateral cord.
The biceps are involved in tasks such as lifting, sports involving throwing and racket use, and gesturing. The biceps also weakly assist in the forward flexion of the shoulder joint, bringing the arm forward and upwards. When the forearm is in pronation, with the palm facing the ground, the brachialis, brachioradialis, and supinator function to flex the forearm, with minimal contribution from the biceps brachii.
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Frequently asked questions
The biceps, or biceps brachii, is a large muscle on the front of the upper arm. It is one of four muscles in the upper arm, the others being the brachialis, brachioradialis, and coracobrachialis.
The biceps' main function is to flex the elbow and rotate the forearm. It is also involved in lifting, throwing, racket sports, and gesturing.
Common conditions include biceps tendinopathy and partial or complete tendon tears, which can occur due to physical trauma, repetitive activity, or degeneration of the tendon.
