| Triceps Brachii |
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Triceps brachii seen from behind.
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Triceps brachii seen from behind. Three different colors represent three different bundles which compose triceps.
Long head.
Lateral head.
Medial head.
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| Details |
| Latin |
Musculus triceps brachii |
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Origin
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Long head: infraglenoid tubercle of scapula
Lateral head: above the radial sulcus
Medial head: below the radial sulcus |
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Insertion
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Olecranon process of ulna |
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Artery
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Deep brachial artery |
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Nerve
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Radial nerve and axillary nerve (long head) |
| Actions |
Extends forearm, long head extends,adducts arm, Extends shoulder |
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Antagonist
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Biceps brachii muscle |
| Identifiers |
| Gray's |
p.444 |
Dorlands
/Elsevier |
m_22/12551300 |
| TA |
A04.6.02.019 |
| FMA |
37688 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle |
The triceps brachii muscle (Latin for "three-headed arm muscle") is the large muscle on the back of the upper limb of many vertebrates. It is the muscle principally responsible for extension of the elbow joint (straightening of the arm).
Contents
- 1 Structure
- 1.1 Innervation
- 1.2 Variation
- 2 Function
- 3 Society and culture
- 4 Clinical significance
- 5 History
- 6 Other animals
- 7 Additional images
- 8 See also
- 9 References
- 10 External links
Structure
The long head arises from the infraglenoid tubercle of the scapula. It extends distally anterior to the teres minor and posterior to the teres major.[1]
Horizontal section of upper arm. Triceps muscle shown in green text
The medial head arises distally from the groove of the radial nerve; from the dorsal (back) surface of the humerus; from the medial intermuscular septum; and its distal part also arises from the lateral intermuscular septum. The medial head is mostly covered by the lateral and long heads, and is only visible distally on the humerus.[1]
The lateral head arises from the dorsal surface of the humerus, lateral and proximal to the groove of the radial nerve, from the greater tubercle down to the region of the lateral intermuscular septum.[1]
Each of the three fascicles has its own motorneuron subnucleus in the motor column in the spinal cord. The medial head is formed predominantly by small type I fibers and motor units, the lateral head of large type IIb fibers and motor units and the long head of a mixture of fiber types and motor units.[2][3] It has been suggested that each fascicle "may be considered an independent muscle with specific functional roles."[2]
The fibers converge to a single tendon to insert onto the olecranon process of the ulna (though some research indicates that there may be more than one tendon)[4] and to the posterior wall of the capsule of the elbow joint where bursae (cushion sacks) are often found. Parts of the common tendon radiates into the fascia of the forearm and can almost cover the anconeus muscle.[1]
Innervation
All three heads of the triceps brachii are classically believed to be innervated by the radial nerve.[5] However, a study conducted in 2004 determined that, in 20 cadaveric specimens and 15 surgical dissections on participants, the long head was innervated by a branch of the axillary nerve in all cases.[6]
Variation
A tendinous arch is frequently the origin of the long head and the tendon of latissimus dorsi. In rare cases, the long head can originate from the lateral margin of the scapula and from the capsule of the shoulder joint.[1]
Function
The triceps is an extensor muscle of the elbow joint and an antagonist of the biceps and brachialis muscles. It can also fixate the elbow joint when the forearm and hand are used for fine movements, e.g., when writing. It has been suggested that the long head fascicle is employed when sustained force generation is demanded, or when there is a need for a synergistic control of the shoulder and elbow or both. The lateral head is used for movements requiring occasional high-intensity force, while the medial fascicle enables more precise, low-force movements.[2]
With its origin on the scapula, the long head also acts on the shoulder joint and is also involved in retroversion and adduction of the arm.[1]
Society and culture
Training
The triceps can be worked through either isolation or compound elbow extension movements and can contract statically to keep the arm straightened against resistance.
Isolation movements include cable push-downs, lying triceps extensions and arm extensions behind the back. Examples of compound elbow extension include pressing movements like the push up, bench press, close grip bench press (flat, incline or decline), military press and dips. A closer grip targets the triceps more than wider grip movements.
Static contraction movements include pullovers, straight-arm pulldowns and bent-over lateral raises, which are also used to build the deltoids and latissimus dorsi.
Clinical significance
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This section requires expansion. (February 2014) |
The triceps reflex, elicited by hitting the triceps, is often used to test the function of the nerves of the arm.
History
Etymology
It is sometimes called a three-headed muscle (Latin literally three-headed, tri - three, and ceps, from kaput head), because there are three bundles of muscles, each of different origins, joining together at the elbow. Though a similarly named muscle, the triceps surae, is found on the lower leg, the triceps brachii is commonly called the triceps.
Historically, the plural form of triceps was tricipites, a form not in general use today; instead, triceps is both singular and plural (i.e., when referring to both arms).
Other animals
In the horse, 84%, 15% and 3% of the total triceps muscle weight correspond to the long, lateral and medial heads, respectively.[7]
Many mammals, such as dogs, cows and pigs, have a fourth head, the accessory head. It lies between the lateral and medial heads.[2] In humans, the anconeus is sometimes loosely called "the fourth head of the triceps brachii."
Additional images
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Position of triceps brachii (shown in red). Animation.
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Animation. Close up.
Long head.
Lateral head.
Medial head.
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Still image. Anterior view.
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Muscles on the dorsum of the scapula, and the Triceps brachii.
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Left humerus. Posterior view.
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The suprascapular, axillary and radial nerves.
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Triceps brachii muscle (of newborn)
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Long head triceps brachii muscle (shown in green text)
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Triceps brachii muscle (shown in green text)
See also
- This article uses anatomical terminology; for an overview, see anatomical terminology.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Platzer, Werner (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System (5th ed.). Thieme. ISBN 3-13-533305-1.
- ^ a b c d Lucas-Osma, AM; Collazos-Castro, JE. (2009). "Compartmentalization in the triceps brachii motoneuron nucleus and its relation to muscle architecture". J Comp Neurol 516 (3): 226–39. doi:10.1002/cne.22123. PMID 19598170.
- ^ See the article "Skeletal striated muscle" for a discussion of type I and type II muscle fibers.
- ^ Nigel del a rosa die porte madretis (2006). "Surgical anatomy of the triceps brachii tendon: anatomical study and clinical correlation". Am J Sports Med 34 (11): 1839–43. doi:10.1177/0363546506288752. PMID 16735585.
- ^ Bekler H, Wolfe VM, Rosenwasser MP (2009). "A Cadaveric Study of Ulnar Nerve Innervation of the Medial Head of Triceps Brachii". Clin Orthop Relat Res 467 (1): 235–238. doi:10.1007/s11999-008-0535-6. PMC 2600974. PMID 18850256.
- ^ de Se`ze MP, Rezzouk J, de Se`ze M, Uzel M, Lavignolle B, Midy D, Durandeau A (2004). "Does the motor branch of the long head of the triceps brachii arise from the radial nerve?". Surg Radiol Anat 26 (6): 459–461. doi:10.1007/s00276-004-0253-z. PMID 15365769.
- ^ Watson, JC; Wilson, AM. (2007). "Muscle architecture of biceps brachii, triceps brachii and supraspinatus in the horse". J Anat. 210 (1): 32–40. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00669.x. PMC 2100266. PMID 17229281.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Triceps brachii muscles. |
- Origin, insertion and nerve supply of the muscle at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
- Illustration: upper-body/triceps-brachii from The Department of Radiology at the University of Washington
- 751829070 at GPnotebook
- Anatomy photo:06:11-0100 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Photo at Ithaca College
- Muscles/TricepsBrachii at exrx.net
- "Tricep Exercises". Elite Men's Guide Health.
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Muscles of the human arms
|
|
| Shoulder |
- deltoid
- rotator cuff
- supraspinatus
- infraspinatus
- teres minor
- subscapularis
- teres major
|
|
| fascia: |
- deltoid fascia
- supraspinous fascia
- infraspinous fascia
|
|
|
Arm
(compartments) |
| anterior |
- coracobrachialis
- biceps
- brachialis
|
|
| posterior |
- triceps brachii
- anconeus
- articularis cubiti
|
|
| fascia |
- axillary sheath
- axillary fascia
- brachial fascia
- intermuscular septa
|
|
| other |
- spaces
- quadrangular space
- triangular space
- triangular interval
|
|
|
| Forearm |
| anterior |
| superficial: |
- pronator teres
- palmaris longus
- flexor carpi radialis
- flexor carpi ulnaris
- flexor digitorum superficialis
|
|
| deep: |
- pronator quadratus
- flexor digitorum profundus
- flexor pollicis longus
|
|
|
| posterior |
| superficial: |
- mobile wad
- brachioradialis
- extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis
- extensor digitorum
- extensor digiti minimi
- extensor carpi ulnaris
|
|
| deep: |
- supinator
- anatomical snuff box
- abductor pollicis longus
- extensor pollicis brevis
- extensor pollicis longus
- extensor indicis
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|
|
| fascia |
- bicipital aponeurosis
- common tendons
- antebrachial fascia
|
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| other |
|
|
|
| Hand |
| lateral volar |
- thenar
- opponens pollicis
- flexor pollicis brevis
- abductor pollicis brevis
- adductor pollicis
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| medial volar |
- hypothenar
- opponens digiti minimi
- flexor digiti minimi brevis
- abductor digiti minimi
- palmaris brevis
|
|
| intermediate |
|
|
| fascia |
| posterior: |
- extensor retinaculum
- extensor expansion
|
|
| anterior: |
- flexor retinaculum
- palmar aponeurosis
|
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| Description |
- Anatomy
- head
- neck
- arms
- chest and back
- diaphragm
- abdomen
- genital area
- legs
- Muscle tissue
- Physiology
- Development
|
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| Disease |
- Myopathy
- Soft tissue
- Connective tissue
- Congenital
- abdomen
- muscular dystrophy
- Neoplasms and cancer
- Injury
- Symptoms and signs
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| Treatment |
- Procedures
- Drugs
- anti-inflammatory
- muscle relaxants
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