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Triceps
Triceps brachii seen from behind.
Triceps brachii seen from behind. Three different colors represent three different bundles which compose triceps.  Long head.  Lateral head.  Medial head.
Details
Origin	Long head: infraglenoid tubercle of scapula Lateral head: above the radial groove Medial head: below the radial groove
Insertion	Olecranon process of ulna
Artery	Deep brachial artery, posterior circumflex humeral artery (long head only)
Nerve	Radial nerve
Actions	Extends forearm, long head extends, adducts arm, extends shoulder
Antagonist	Biceps brachii muscle
Identifiers
Latin	musculus triceps brachii
TA98	A04.6.02.019
TA2	2471
FMA	37688
Anatomical terms of muscle[edit on Wikidata]

The triceps, or triceps brachii (Latin for "three-headed muscle of the arm"), is a large muscle on the back of the upper limb of many vertebrates. It consists of three parts: the medial, lateral, and long head. It is the muscle principally responsible for extension of the elbow joint (straightening of the arm).

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.

• The medial head arises proximally in the humerus, just inferior to 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.

• 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.

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. It has been suggested that each fascicle "may be considered an independent muscle with specific functional roles."

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) and to the posterior wall of the capsule of the elbow joint where bursae (cushion sacks) are often found. Parts of the common tendon radiate into the fascia of the forearm and can almost cover the anconeus muscle.

Innervation

All three heads of the triceps brachii are classically believed to be innervated by the radial nerve. However, more recent studies observed that in around 14% of individuals, the long head of the triceps brachii was innervated by the axillary nerve, and in 3% it received dual innervation from both the radial nerve and axillary nerve.

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.

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.

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. It helps stabilise the shoulder joint at the top of the humerus.

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.

Ruptures of the triceps muscle are rare, and typically only occur in anabolic steroid users.

Clinical significance

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2014)

The triceps reflex, elicited by hitting the triceps, is often used to test the function of the nerves of the arm. This tests spinal nerves C6 and C7, predominantly C7.

History

Etymology

It is sometimes called a three-headed muscle (Latin literally three-headed, tri - three, and ceps, from caput - head), because there are three bundles of muscles, each of different origins, joining 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.

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

Additional images

• Animation. Close up.  Long head.  Lateral head.  Medial head.
• Still image. Anterior view.
• Muscles on the dorsum of the scapula, and the triceps brachii.
• Movement of biceps and triceps when the arm is flexing
• Inner surface of the Musculus triceps brachii after the humerus was taken away. Note the atypical insertion of the Caput mediale at the Epicondylus medialis humeri.

See also

• Biceps

References

1. Casadei, Kyle; Kiel, John; Freidl, Michael (2020). "Triceps Tendon Injuries". Current Sports Medicine Reports. 19 (9): 367–372. doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000749. PMID 32925376. S2CID 221567814.
2. ^ Platzer W (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System (5th ed.). Thieme. ISBN 3-13-533305-1.
3. ^ Lucas-Osma AM, Collazos-Castro JE (September 2009). "Compartmentalization in the triceps brachii motoneuron nucleus and its relation to muscle architecture". The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 516 (3): 226–39. doi:10.1002/cne.22123. PMID 19598170. S2CID 25918513.
4. See the article "Skeletal striated muscle" for a discussion of type I and type II muscle fibers.
5. Madsen M, Marx RG, Millett PJ, Rodeo SA, Sperling JW, Warren RF (November 2006). "Surgical anatomy of the triceps brachii tendon: anatomical study and clinical correlation". The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 34 (11): 1839–43. doi:10.1177/0363546506288752. PMID 16735585. S2CID 11671310.
6. Bekler H, Wolfe VM, Rosenwasser MP (January 2009). "A cadaveric study of ulnar nerve innervation of the medial head of triceps brachii". Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 467 (1): 235–8. doi:10.1007/s11999-008-0535-6. PMC 2600974. PMID 18850256.
7. Wade, Michael D.; McDowell, Arthur R.; Ziermann, Janine M. (2018). "Innervation of the Long Head of the Triceps Brachii in Humans-A Fresh Look: INNERVATION OF THE LONG HEAD OF THE TRICEPS BRACHII". The Anatomical Record. 301 (3): 473–483. doi:10.1002/ar.23741. PMID 29418118. S2CID 3676096.
8. Erhardt, Alexandra J.; Futterman, Bennett (2017-01-01). "Variations in the Innervation of the Long Head of the Triceps Brachii: A Cadaveric Investigation". Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 475 (1): 247–250. doi:10.1007/s11999-016-5146-z. ISSN 1528-1132. PMC 5174069. PMID 27830483.
9. Keener JD, Sethi PM (November 2015). "Distal Triceps Tendon Injuries". Hand Clinics. 31 (4): 641–50. doi:10.1016/j.hcl.2015.06.010. PMID 26498552.
10. "The Precise Neurological Exam: Deep Tendon Reflexes". New York University School of Medicine.
11. Watson JC, Wilson AM (January 2007). "Muscle architecture of biceps brachii, triceps brachii and supraspinatus in the horse". Journal of Anatomy. 210 (1): 32–40. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00669.x. PMC 2100266. PMID 17229281.

External links

• Illustration: upper-body/triceps-brachii from The Department of Radiology at the University of Washington
• Anatomy photo:06:11-0100 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center

• Elbow extensors
• Muscles of the upper limb
• Shoulder extensors