HUMAN MAJOR MUSCLE GROUPS

You may be aware that there are more than 600 muscle in the human body but what are considered the major
muscle groups from that list?

About 35-42 percent of your body weight is made up of muscle tissue and muscle is either cardiac, smooth or
skeletal.

Muscle fibers are classified as either slow twitch fibers or fast twitch fibers based on their contraction times.

Major muscle groups

Deltoid

The deltoids are your shoulder muscles. They are technically divided into three different muscles, but all of
them do more or less the same job. The shoulder muscles are essential when it comes to any motion that
involves raising your arms upward. These muscles also play a significant role in rotational movements, as these
nearly always start at the shoulder.

Biceps

The biceps are the muscles that everyone wants. These impressive muscles play an important role in the
extension and contraction of the arms, as they are heavily used each time you bend the arms. Interestingly,
this is a muscle that can have anywhere from two to seven heads.
Triceps

The triceps are also very important for those who want big and impressive guns. They are the backside of your
biceps, and they are used for very similar motions. Like the bicep, you exert this muscle during flexion and
extension of the arm. This muscle is particularly important for rapid extensions and contractions such as those
experienced when playing tennis.

Quadriceps

The quadriceps are a group of muscles located on the front part of the upper legs. Those big leg muscles are
the primary drivers of human bipedal movement. You use your quads when running, walking, jumping, or
squatting. Without this muscle, you would not be able to control the extension of your legs, and every step
would come down at the speed of gravity.

Hamstring

The hamstrings are three different muscles located on the backside of your upper leg. These are the backsides
of your quads, and they complement the actions of the quads. All of these muscles are involved in the
extension and contraction of the legs. However, the hamstrings play a more significant role in explosive
motions like sprinting.

Gastrocnemius/ calves

This muscle group consists of several sections, of which the gastrocnemius is the largest. These muscles mainly
govern the workings of the ankle and lower knee. Thus, they are just as important as any other part of the leg.

Pectoralis/Chest

The pectorals are the two big muscles of your chest. These are some of the muscles that confer the greatest
amount of bragging rights when they are good and ripped. You use these muscles for any motion that involves
spreading the arms and (to a lesser extent) for many movements of the shoulder and torso.

Abdominals

The abdominals are some of the most elusive of muscles. While every fitness enthusiast wants that well-
defined “six-pack,” not a lot of people truly achieve those results. The primary purpose of the abdominal
muscle is to reinforce the spine and provide it with a means of controlled flexion.
Obliques

The external obliques are the two big muscles on either side of your torso. These are some of the longest and
largest of the body’s muscles. They are involved in many different motions. Mainly, you use these muscles for
lateral twisting of the trunk. Every time you twist around to look behind you while backing up your car, these
are the muscles you use. The obliques also act as stabilizers, keeping the spine and ribs in proper alignment.

Latissimus dorsi

The latissimus dorsi muscles (called “lats” for short) are some of the most massive muscles in your back. When
you develop them to their maximum, they make you look like you’ve got wings of pure muscle grafted to your
back. These muscles are located on either side of the spine at about the mid-point of the back. You mainly use
these muscles for movements of the upper arm. However, they also play a role in the straightening and
bending of the spine.

Rhomboids

The rhomboid muscles are what you might call structural reinforcement. Their primary purpose is to connect
the shoulder blades (scapulae) with the ribcage. Although these muscles interact in other ways, the rhomboids
give them a more intimate relationship that results in better coordination. At least one study found a link
between strong rhomboid muscles and a better golf swing.

Trapezius

The trapezius muscle (called “traps” for short) is a broad muscle of the upper back that goes from shoulder to
shoulder. Perhaps the most crucial function of this muscle is to support the neck. Together with your lats, they
form a “wall of meat” that helps to keep the neck and spine straight. We can also see from the evidence that
this muscle is used a lot when it comes to circular motions of the arms, especially those beginning at the
shoulder.

Erector Spinae

The erector spinae muscles comprise the intermediate layer of the deep (intrinsic) muscles of the back. They
extend on either side of the vertebral column, between the base of the cranium superiorly and pelvis
inferiorly. The erector spinae are divided into three groups, from medial to lateral: Spinalis muscles.

Gluteus Maximus

The gluteus maximus is the main extensor muscle of the hip. It is the largest and outermost of the
three gluteal muscles and makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of each side of the hips. Its thick
fleshy mass, in a quadrilateral shape, forms the prominence of the buttocks. The other gluteal muscles are
the medius and minimus, and sometimes informally these are collectively referred to as the "glutes".
Its large size is one of the most characteristic features of the muscular system in humans, [1] connected as it is
with the power of maintaining the trunk in the erect posture. Other primates have much flatter hips and can
not sustain standing erectly.