It is estimated that there are over 650 named skeletal muscles in your body, far too many to think about on an individual basis but it does beg the question “what are the major muscle groups in the human body and what do they do?”

It is estimated that there are over 650 named skeletal muscles in your body, far too many to think about on an individual basis but it does beg the question “what are the major muscle groups in the human body and what do they do?”

Many fitness professionals often consider the following simplified list to be the major muscle groups of the body:

CHEST: Pectoralis major, Pectoralis minor, Serratus anterior - used to pull the arms across the body and to pull arms down when                          extended straight above the head.

BACK:    Upper: Trapezius, Latissimus dorsi, Rhomboids.

               Lower: Multifidus, Longissimus, Spinalis and Quadratus Lumborum.

               These muscles provide movement of the spine, stability to the trunk and coordination of movement between the limbs and the                 trunk.

ARMS: Upper: Triceps brachii, Biceps brachii,

             Lower: Flexors, Extensors, Supinators

             Used to bend and extend arm at the elbow joint, flex, extend and rotate the forearms.

ABDOMINALS: Transversus abdominis, Rectus abdominis, Internal & External obliques

              The abdominals and back work together to support the spine when we sit, stand, bend over, pick things up, exercise and more.

LEGS:     Upper front: Quadriceps (Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis, Vastus medialis, Vastus intermedius),

                Upper rear: Hamstrings (Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus), Glutes

                Lower: Calves (Gastrocnemius & Soleus), Tibialis posterior, Tibialis anterior

               Used primarily to bend and flex at the knee joint, swing the leg back and forth, lower and raise the foot, externally and                             internally rotate the leg and foot.

SHOULDERS: Anterior, Lateral and Posterior deltoids, rotator cuff (subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus and Teres minor)

               Used to raise and rotate arms.

When some muscle groups work together (a compound movement) they combine to perform a different movement. So when some of the chest, shoulder and tricep muscles work together they push away from the chest - this is how we perform a press up or bench press.

So are you pulling (or pushing) your weight?