Triceps Brachii
Triceps brachii
Muscles on the dorsum of the scapula, and the Triceps brachii.
Latin	Musculus triceps brachii
Gray's	subject #124 444
Origin	Long head: infraglenoid tubercle of scapula lateral head: above the radial sulcus medial head: below the radial sulcus
Insertion	Olecranon process of ulna
Artery	Deep brachial artery
Nerve	Radial nerve and axillary nerve (long head)
Actions	Extends forearm, long head extends shoulder
Antagonist	Biceps brachii 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).

Terminology [edit]

It is sometimes called a three-headed muscle 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). The triceps also make up approximately 2/3 of the muscle mass in the arm.^[1]

Human anatomy [edit]

Origins [edit]

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.^[2]

Triceps muscle

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.^[2]

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.^[2]

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.^[3][4] It has been suggested that each fascicle "may be considered an independent muscle with specific functional roles."^[3]

Innervation [edit]

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]

Insertion [edit]

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)^[7] 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.^[2]

Actions [edit]

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.^[3]

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.^[2]

Variants [edit]

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.^[2]

Training [edit]

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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.

Elbow extension is important to many athletic activities. As the biceps is often worked more for aesthetic purposes, this is usually a mistake for fitness training. While it is important to maintain a balance between the biceps and triceps for postural and effective movement purposes, what the balance should be and how to measure it is disputed. Pushing and pulling movements on the same plane are often used to measure this ratio.

Evolutionary variation [edit]

In the horse, 84%, 15% and 3% of the total muscle weight correspond to the long, lateral and medial heads, respectively.^[8]

Many mammals, such as dogs, cows and pigs, have a fourth head, the accessory head. It lies between the lateral and medial heads.^[3] In humans, the anconeus is sometimes loosely called "the fourth head of the triceps brachii."

Additional images [edit]

Left humerus. Posterior view.  Bones of left forearm. Posterior aspect.  Cross-section through the middle of upper arm.  Posterior surface of the forearm. Superficial muscles.  The scapular and circumflex arteries.  The axillary artery and its branches.  The brachial artery.  The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front.  Suprascapular and axillary nerves of right side, seen from behind.  The suprascapular, axillary and radial nerves.  Triceps brachii muscle (of newborn)  Long head triceps brachii muscle  Lateral head triceps brachii muscle  Triceps brachii muscle  Triceps brachii muscle

See also [edit]

• Triceps reflex

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• LUC tric
• UWASH tricepsbrachii
• 751829070 at GPnotebook
• SUNY Labs 06:11-0100
• Photo at Ithaca College
• Muscles/TricepsBrachii at exrx.net