Dominic Stone
There are many contenders for the title of the strongest muscle in the human body, and it is difficult to determine a winner as muscles rarely work alone. The strongest muscle is also dependent on how strength is measured. The jaw muscle, or masseter, is the strongest by weight, but the soleus, or calf muscle, exerts the most force. The gluteus maximus, or buttocks, is the largest muscle and helps keep the body straight and balanced. The myometrium, or uterine muscle, is also a contender due to its ability to contract and relax, making human birth possible.
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What You'll Learn
Jaw muscle (masseter)
The strongest muscle in the human body is a highly debatable topic. Some physiologists believe that the jaw muscle, or the masseter, is the strongest. The masseter is a complex muscle in the jaw region that functions to elevate the mandible and close the jaw. It is a thick, quadrilateral muscle, consisting of three heads: superficial, deep, and coronoid. The masseter gets its strength from a "multipennate" arrangement of fibres that converge diagonally on several internal tendons, similar to a complex feather. This structure favours torque over speed, making the masseter a "low gear" muscle that is slow yet powerful and efficient.
The masseter muscle is one of the muscles of mastication, or chewing, and is particularly powerful in herbivores to facilitate the chewing of plant matter. In humans, the masseter is the most obvious muscle of mastication as it is the most superficial and one of the strongest. The masseter can exert very high forces on the teeth, jaw, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can lead to micro- and macrotrauma and contribute to complex pain and degenerative syndromes. This pain, muscle spasm, and dysfunction are collectively referred to as myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) or temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD).
The masseter muscle can become enlarged in individuals who habitually clench or grind their teeth, a condition known as bruxism. This enlargement is known as masseteric hypertrophy and can result in a thickened lower face. While masseteric hypertrophy is typically asymptomatic, it can cause asymmetry of the face due to unequal enlargement of the muscles. Additionally, the masseter is a common location for trigger points, which can refer pain to the eyebrow, jaw, ear, and even a tooth. Tension in the masseter muscle has also been linked to tension headaches and earaches.
The masseter muscle is easily accessible for self-massage, which can help to relieve pain and stiffness. Singers often experience masseter tension, which can be treated with transdermal massages or stretches as part of their vocal warm-up routine. Overall, the masseter muscle is a strong and complex muscle that plays a crucial role in jaw function, but it can also contribute to various pain-related conditions if not properly managed.
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Gluteus maximus (buttocks)
The gluteus maximus, commonly known as the buttocks or "rear end", is considered by some physiologists to be the strongest muscle in the human body. It is certainly the largest muscle in the human body. The gluteus maximus is the outermost muscle of the buttocks and is involved in several sports, from running to weightlifting.
The gluteus maximus is responsible for keeping your body straight and balanced when you move around. It also plays a crucial role in climbing stairs and running. If the gluteus maximus is weak or dysfunctional, it can result in hip adduction and internal rotation.
The muscle can be palpated during a standing hip extension, a step-up, or while standing and raising the medial borders of the foot. Functional assessments, such as the 30-second chair-to-stand test and the piriformis test, can be used to evaluate injuries to the gluteus maximus and surrounding muscles.
To strengthen the gluteus maximus, individuals can perform exercises such as squats, lunges, step-ups, and other dynamic, multi-joint movements. These exercises not only target the gluteus maximus but also recruit muscles in the abdomen and back, leading to overall improved strength and muscle development.
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Rectus femoris (quadricep)
The rectus femoris is one of the four muscles that make up the quadriceps femoris muscle group, commonly known as the quad muscle. The other three muscles are vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and vastus intermedius. The rectus femoris is the only muscle in the quadriceps group that crosses the hip and knee joints, which gives it a unique advantage in terms of strength and functionality.
The rectus femoris is located in the anterior or front compartment of the thigh, running straight down the thigh from the ilium or hip bone to the base of the patella or kneecap. It is a fusiform or bipennate muscle, which means it has two heads or origins. The "direct head" originates from the anterior inferior iliac spine, while the superior acetabular ridge is the origin of the "indirect head." These two heads unite to form a common muscle belly that covers the anterior or front aspect of the thigh region.
The rectus femoris is a powerful muscle that plays a crucial role in various movements. Its main functions are to extend the leg at the knee joint and to flex the thigh at the hip joint. This makes it an essential muscle for activities such as kicking, running, and jumping. During gait or walking, the rectus femoris acts as a hip flexor and helps in the "toe-off" phase. It also assists in stabilizing the knee joint, making it an important muscle for maintaining balance and posture.
The rectus femoris is considered one of the strongest muscles in the human body, especially when it comes to the force it can exert. Its strength is attributed to its ability to generate force during the loading or foot-flat phase of gait. This muscle is often targeted in strength training and rehabilitation programs due to its significant contribution to lower body stability and movement. Exercises such as squats, lunges, and leg presses are commonly recommended to strengthen the rectus femoris and the overall quadriceps muscle group.
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Soleus (calf muscle)
The soleus muscle is a powerful lower limb muscle, situated deep within the calf. It is a complex, multi-pennate muscle that runs from the back of the knee to the heel. The soleus is closely connected to the gastrocnemius muscle, with some anatomists considering them a single muscle, the triceps surae.
The soleus is a vital muscle for walking, running, and keeping balance. It is also a major postural muscle, responsible for maintaining standing posture and preventing the body from falling forward. The soleus is the most effective muscle for plantar flexion in a bent-knee position, and its slow-twitch fibres resist fatigue during regular movement.
The soleus muscle has a significant impact on metabolic health. Research by Professor Marc Hamilton of the University of Houston has shown that activating the soleus through his developed "soleus pushup" (SPU) technique can elevate muscle metabolism for hours, even while sitting. This discovery could provide a solution to various health problems caused by inactivity and low muscle metabolism, such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
The soleus muscle receives its blood supply from the peroneal artery proximally and the posterior tibial artery distally. Its vasculature bifurcates into a bipenniform segmental pattern.
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Myometrium (uterine muscle)
It is difficult to determine which muscles are the strongest in the human body. This is partly because muscles rarely work in isolation, and biomechanical factors such as muscle length and attachment points on bones also come into play.
The myometrium, or uterine muscle, is a smooth muscle with a molecular structure similar to that of other smooth muscles in the body. Its predominant proteins are myosin and actin, the latter being approximately six times more abundant than the former.
During pregnancy, the myometrium stretches to accommodate the growing uterus, which can increase to several times its original size. The uterine smooth muscle exhibits a phasic pattern, alternating between contractions and maintenance of a resting tone. This resting tone is characterised by discrete, intermittent contractions that vary in frequency, amplitude, and duration.
The excitation-contraction coupling of the uterine smooth muscle is comparable to that of other smooth muscles, with an increase in intracellular calcium leading to contraction. A shift in myosin expression may contribute to changes in the direction of uterine contractions during the menstrual cycle. For example, after delivery, the myometrium contracts to expel the placenta, and the middle layer's crisscrossing fibres compress blood vessels to minimise blood loss.
In summary, while the myometrium, or uterine muscle, exhibits unique properties and functions, it is challenging to definitively state its relative strength compared to other muscles in the human body.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many contenders for the strongest muscle in the human body, depending on how strength is defined. If the strongest muscle is defined as the one that can exert the most force, the winner would be the soleus, or the calf muscle. The tongue is also a contender for its versatility, while the gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body.
There are three types of muscles in the human body: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal. Cardiac muscle makes up the wall of the heart, smooth muscles make up the walls of the intestine, the uterus, blood vessels, and internal muscles of the eye, and skeletal muscles are attached to the bones.
The masseter muscle is responsible for chewing and biting and is considered the strongest muscle in the jaw. According to the Guinness World Records, it can exert a bite force of up to 4,337 Newtons (975 pounds of force).
The rectus femoris, part of the quadriceps group, is considered one of the strongest muscles in the thigh. It is crucial for leg movement, jumping, and running.
To strengthen the gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and calf muscles, you can perform dynamic, multi-joint exercises such as squats, leg presses, stair climbing, and lunges. For the heart, cardiovascular exercises and pre-workout supplements can improve endurance and recovery.
