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The triceps brachii, commonly referred to as the triceps, is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm in vertebrates, including humans. It is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint and is the principal muscle responsible for the extension of the forearm upon the elbow joint, opposing the biceps brachii. The triceps is composed of three parts: the medial, lateral, and long head. All three heads cross the elbow joint, but the long head also crosses the shoulder joint. The triceps brachii is a crucial muscle for daily functional activities and athletic performance, playing a key role in arm extension and stabilization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Back of the upper arm |
| Composition | Three heads: long, lateral, and medial |
| Function | Extension of the elbow joint, straightening of the arm, stabilization of the shoulder joint |
| Blood supply | Deep brachial artery |
| Innervation | Radial nerve |
| Exercises | Tricep dips, cable push-downs, lying tricep extensions, arm extensions behind the back |
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What You'll Learn
The tricep is a three-headed muscle
The tricep, or triceps brachii, is a large muscle on the back of the upper arm in humans and other vertebrates. The name 'triceps' means 'three heads', referring to the subdivision of the muscle into three distinct segments: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. Each of these three heads originates at a different location.
The long head of the tricep originates at the infraglenoid tubercle, a ridge along the outermost portion of the shoulder blade (scapula) that connects with the humerus (upper arm bone) to form the shoulder joint. The medial head and the lateral head originate at the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides, respectively, of the upper portion of the humerus.
All three heads of the tricep muscle come together to form a single tendon that inserts onto the olecranon process of the ulna, the bone of the forearm that forms the elbow. The tricep tendon attaches to the pointed projection at the end of the ulna, with parts of the tendon radiating into the fascia of the forearm.
The tricep muscle is responsible for extending the forearm at the elbow joint, causing the elbow to straighten. The long head of the tricep also crosses the shoulder joint, allowing the arm to extend back behind the body. The tricep muscle is innervated by the radial nerve, although some studies have found that in a small percentage of individuals, the long head may be innervated by the axillary nerve instead.
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It is located at the back of the upper arm
The triceps muscle is located at the back of the upper arm. It is a major muscle, running from the top of the shoulder to the elbow at the back of the arm. It is called 'triceps' because it is a three-headed muscle, with three points of origin, or three muscle segments. These are the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. The triceps brachii is the scientific name for the muscle, with 'triceps' coming from the Latin for 'three-headed' and 'brachii' meaning 'of the arm'.
The triceps is an extensor muscle, which means it is responsible for the extension, or straightening, of the elbow joint. When the triceps contract, the forearm extends and the elbow straightens. This is an important movement in everyday life, allowing us to reach, get dressed, and push off from armrests to stand up. The triceps also serve to stabilise the shoulder joint at the top of the humerus (the upper arm bone). The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body, but this means it is relatively unstable, so the triceps play an important role in keeping it stable.
The triceps is a voluntary muscle, which means it is under conscious control. It is made up of skeletal muscle fibres that contract when we choose to move it. The triceps is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle, wider in the middle and narrower at each end. The 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 (scapula) 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.
The triceps is a strong and resilient muscle, but it can occasionally get hurt. To rehabilitate the triceps and aid recovery, movement is important as it increases blood flow and improves muscle strength and flexibility.
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The three heads are the long, lateral, and medial head
The triceps muscle is a large muscle found at the back of the upper arm in humans. It is also called the triceps brachii, which means "three-headed muscle of the arm" in Latin. The three heads of the tricep are the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. Each of these heads originates at a different location and has distinct functions and anatomical characteristics.
The long head of the triceps originates at the infraglenoid tubercle, a ridge along the outermost portion of the shoulder blade (scapula) that connects with the humerus to form the shoulder joint. This attachment to the scapula allows the long head to have a small action on the glenohumeral or shoulder joint. It assists with the extension and adduction of the arm at the shoulder joint and helps to stabilise it. Additionally, the long head is involved in retroversion and adduction of the arm. It is suggested that the long head fascicle 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 of the triceps is located on the outer side of the back of the arm. It originates at the dorsal humerus and is superior to the radial groove, where it fuses with the lateral intermuscular septum. The lateral head is considered the strongest of the three heads. It is active during the extension of the forearm at the elbow joint, particularly when the forearm is supinated or pronated. Research suggests that the lateral head is used for movements requiring occasional high-intensity force.
The medial head of the triceps arises proximally in the humerus, just below the groove of the radial nerve. It originates from the dorsal (back) surface of the humerus and connects to the medial intermuscular septum. Unlike the long head, the medial head does not attach to the scapula, so it has no action on the glenohumeral joint. The medial head is formed predominantly by small type I muscle fibres and motor units, enabling it to facilitate more precise, low-force movements.
All three heads of the triceps converge into a single tendon, which attaches to the olecranon process, the bony projection at the end of the ulna bone of the forearm, forming the elbow. The triceps' primary function is extending the forearm at the elbow joint, which results in the straightening of the elbow.
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The tricep is responsible for the extension of the elbow joint
The triceps is a thick, large muscle on the dorsal part of the upper arm. It often appears in the shape of a horseshoe on the posterior aspect of the arm. The triceps is divided into three segments, or 'heads': 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 inner and outer sides, respectively, of the upper portion of the humerus. All three muscle heads of the tricep 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 triceps is the muscle principally responsible for the extension of the elbow joint, or the straightening of the arm. When the triceps muscle contracts, the forearm extends and the elbow straightens. The triceps tendon can become irritated and inflamed without adequate rest from repeated activities that involve extending the elbow, resulting in pain, tenderness, swelling, and muscle weakness in the triceps. This is commonly associated with sports like baseball and tennis, or in people who lift weights.
The triceps can be strengthened through isolation or compound elbow extension movements. Isolation movements include cable push-downs, lying triceps extensions, and arm extensions behind the back. Examples of compound movements include pressing movements like the push-up, bench press, and dips.
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It is an antagonist of the bicep and brachialis muscles
The triceps muscle is a large muscle on the back of the upper arm in humans. It is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint and an antagonist of the bicep and brachialis muscles. This means that when the bicep contracts, the tricep relaxes or lengthens, and vice versa. For example, when you perform a bicep curl, the bicep contracts to lift the weight, while the tricep relaxes to allow the movement.
The triceps, or triceps brachii, is made up of three muscle segments, or "heads": 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 (upper arm bone) to form the shoulder joint. The medial head and lateral head start at the inner and outer sides, respectively, 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 triceps brachii is so-called because it has three heads, or points of origin. The triceps is the muscle principally responsible for the extension of the forearm at the elbow joint to straighten the elbow.
The triceps also serve to stabilize the shoulder joint at the top of the humerus. The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body, but this means that it is a relatively unstable joint. The triceps plays an important role in stabilizing it. The distal portions of the triceps are also involved in retracting the capsule of the elbow joint when the forearm extends, allowing the elbow joint to be straightened successfully.
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Frequently asked questions
The tricep, or tricep brachii, is a three-headed muscle found in the posterior compartment of the arm.
The three heads of the tricep are the medial, lateral, and long head.
The tricep is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint. It is responsible for the extension of the forearm at the elbow joint, and the straightening of the arm.
To feel the tricep muscle, or palpate it, you can try to find it on the back of your upper arm, just above the elbow.
Exercises that target the tricep include push-ups, bench presses, tricep dips, and pullovers.
