Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyLocationFunctionCauses of PainRehabilitation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Location
Function
Causes of Pain
Rehabilitation
The triceps muscle is a main muscle of the upper arm, running from the top of the shoulder to the elbow at the back of the arm. When the triceps muscle contracts (shortens or tightens), it causes the elbow to straighten.
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The triceps, or tricepsbrachii, is the large muscle found at the back of the upper arm. Along with the other muscles of the arms and legs, the triceps muscle is a voluntary muscle, meaning it’s a muscle you choose to move. The triceps are made up of skeletal muscle fibers that contract under conscious control. It is a fusiform, or spindle-shaped, muscle that is wider in the middle and narrower at each end.
“Triceps” means “three heads,” which refers to the subdivision of the triceps muscle into three different segments called heads. These include the following:
All skeletal muscles connect to bones viatendons. Each head of the triceps has a separate short tendon that attaches the muscle heads to the shoulder blade and arm bones where they originate. All three heads merge together and form one thicker and longer tendon that attaches the entire muscle to the elbow.
The three muscle segments of the triceps include the long head, lateral head, and medial head.
The triceps is located at the back of the upper arm and covers the majority of the backside of the humerus (upper arm bone). Each of the three heads of the triceps originates at a different location.
The long head originates at theinfraglenoid tubercle, a ridge along the outermost portion of the shoulder blade that connects with the humerus to form the shoulder joint. The medial head and lateral head start at the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides of the upper portion of the humerus.
All three muscle heads of the triceps run down the back of the arm and join close to the elbow to form one common tendon. This triceps tendon attaches to the olecranon process, the pointy projection at the end of theulna boneof the forearm that forms the elbow.
The main function of the triceps is to extend the forearm at the elbow joint to straighten the elbow. Extension, or straightening, of the elbow is a necessary everyday movement needed for reaching, getting dressed, and pushing off from armrests to stand up from a chair.
The triceps is also one of the few muscles that demonstrates a distinct reflex. When the triceps tendon is sharply hit near the elbow when the arm is lifted up to shoulder height with the elbow bent, the forearm will involuntarily extend. The presence of this reflex indicates normal functioning of the C7 spinal nerve root.
What Causes Triceps Muscle Pain?
The most common conditions affecting the triceps include:
Rehabilitation for triceps injuries initially involves:
Depending on the type of injury, other treatments may include:
Triceps Strengthening ExercisesIf you are looking for the most effective triceps workout, look for one that will hit all three heads of the triceps muscle. Exercises may include:Diamond push-upsKickbacksDipsOverhead triceps extensionsTriceps rope pushdownsTriceps bar pushdownsLying triceps extensionsClose grip bench press
Triceps Strengthening Exercises
If you are looking for the most effective triceps workout, look for one that will hit all three heads of the triceps muscle. Exercises may include:Diamond push-upsKickbacksDipsOverhead triceps extensionsTriceps rope pushdownsTriceps bar pushdownsLying triceps extensionsClose grip bench press
If you are looking for the most effective triceps workout, look for one that will hit all three heads of the triceps muscle. Exercises may include:
Summary
The triceps are the large muscles that encompass most of the back of the upper arm. The triceps has three different heads, or muscle segments, that all attach to the elbow. These include the medial, lateral, and long heads.
When contracted, all heads of the triceps extend, or straighten, the elbow, while the long head assists with extending the arm back behind the body at the shoulder joint. Triceps tendonitis, or inflammation of the triceps tendon, is the most common condition affecting the triceps. It can be treated with ice, rest, and physical therapy that uses stretching and strengthening exercises.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Landin D, Thompson M, Jackson M.Functions of the Triceps Brachii in Humans: A Review.J Clin Med Res.2018 Apr;10(4):290-293. doi: 10.14740/jocmr3340w.Demirhan M, Ersen A.Distal triceps ruptures.EFORT Open Rev.2017 Mar 13;1(6):255-259. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000038.Lin-Wei O, Xian LLS, Shen VTW, Chuan CY, Halim SA, Ghani ARI, Idris Z, Abdullah JM.Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know.Malays J Med Sci.2021 Apr;28(2):48-62. doi: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.5.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.American Council on Exercise.ACE-sponsored research: Best triceps exercises.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Landin D, Thompson M, Jackson M.Functions of the Triceps Brachii in Humans: A Review.J Clin Med Res.2018 Apr;10(4):290-293. doi: 10.14740/jocmr3340w.Demirhan M, Ersen A.Distal triceps ruptures.EFORT Open Rev.2017 Mar 13;1(6):255-259. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000038.Lin-Wei O, Xian LLS, Shen VTW, Chuan CY, Halim SA, Ghani ARI, Idris Z, Abdullah JM.Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know.Malays J Med Sci.2021 Apr;28(2):48-62. doi: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.5.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.American Council on Exercise.ACE-sponsored research: Best triceps exercises.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Landin D, Thompson M, Jackson M.Functions of the Triceps Brachii in Humans: A Review.J Clin Med Res.2018 Apr;10(4):290-293. doi: 10.14740/jocmr3340w.Demirhan M, Ersen A.Distal triceps ruptures.EFORT Open Rev.2017 Mar 13;1(6):255-259. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000038.Lin-Wei O, Xian LLS, Shen VTW, Chuan CY, Halim SA, Ghani ARI, Idris Z, Abdullah JM.Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know.Malays J Med Sci.2021 Apr;28(2):48-62. doi: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.5.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.American Council on Exercise.ACE-sponsored research: Best triceps exercises.
Landin D, Thompson M, Jackson M.Functions of the Triceps Brachii in Humans: A Review.J Clin Med Res.2018 Apr;10(4):290-293. doi: 10.14740/jocmr3340w.
Demirhan M, Ersen A.Distal triceps ruptures.EFORT Open Rev.2017 Mar 13;1(6):255-259. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000038.
Lin-Wei O, Xian LLS, Shen VTW, Chuan CY, Halim SA, Ghani ARI, Idris Z, Abdullah JM.Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know.Malays J Med Sci.2021 Apr;28(2):48-62. doi: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.5.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.
American Council on Exercise.ACE-sponsored research: Best triceps exercises.
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