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rom Shoulders to Elbows: How Do Triceps Coordinate Every Movement You Make
The triceps, also known as triceps brachii, is a large muscle on the back of the upper limb of mammals. This muscle consists of three parts: the medial head, the lateral head, and the long head. It is primarily responsible for elbow extension, which is the straightening of the arm. This article will explore in depth the structure, function, training methods and clinical significance of the triceps.
Structure
The long head originates from the inferior glenoid process of the scapula and extends inferiorly to lie anterior to the teres minor and posterior to the teres major. The medial head originates high relative to the humerus, below the radial nerve groove, and begins on the dorsal surface of the humerus. The lateral head arises from the dorsal aspect of the humerus, lateral to and superior to the radial nerve groove. Each muscle fascicle is thought to have a unique functional role.
"Each muscle bundle can be considered an independent muscle with a specific functional role."
Nerve innervation
All three heads of the triceps are traditionally considered to be innervated by the radial nerve. However, recent studies have shown that in approximately 14% of individuals, the long head is innervated by the axillary nerve, and in 3% of cases, the long head receives dual innervation from both the radial and axillary nerves.
Function
The triceps acts as an extensor of the elbow joint and is the antagonist of the biceps and brachialis. It stabilizes the elbow joint when the forearm and hand make subtle movements. Additionally, the long head is particularly important in situations where sustained force is required, or when coordinated control of the shoulder and elbow is required. The lateral head is mainly used for high-intensity, short-duration movements, while the medial head can perform more delicate and low-intensity movements.
"The long head is extremely important for the stability of the shoulder joint, especially at the top of the humerus."
Training Methods
Triceps training can be achieved through isolation or compound elbow extension exercises that also perform static contractions against external forces. Common isolation exercises include the pull-up bar pushdown, lying triceps extension, and behind-the-back arm extension. Compound exercises such as push-ups, bench press, close-grip bench press, and military press are also effective in working the triceps. Recent studies have found that static contraction exercises can also promote the strengthening of triceps. These movements include pull-up bars and lateral raises, which are also commonly used to strengthen the shoulder and back muscles.
Clinical significanceThe triceps reflex, usually tested by tapping the triceps muscle, is a common way to check the function of the nerves in the arm. It mainly tests the function of the spinal nerves C6 and C7, especially the function of C7.
History and Nouns
The name triceps comes from the Latin word for "three heads" because this muscle is made up of three muscle bundles that originate from different sources. Although there are muscles called "triceps" in the lower limbs, the most common name for the upper limbs is "triceps".
"The name of the triceps muscle emphasizes its three independent structures and demonstrates its complex physiological function."
Triceps of other animals
In the horse's body structure, the long head, lateral head and medial head account for 84%, 15% and 3% of the weight of the triceps respectively. Many mammals, such as dogs, cows, and pigs, also have an extra head, called the auxiliary head, located between the lateral and medial heads.
The unique structure and function of the triceps are not only important in humans, but also play a key role in other animals. Did this make you think about how much you know about your triceps?
