What muscles are worked in a squat?
- Quadriceps (KWOD-rih-seps). Four muscles at the front of the thigh sharing one tendon over the kneecap. They straighten the knee: the drive up out of a squat.
- Gluteus maximus (GLOO-tee-us MAK-sih-mus). The biggest muscle in the body, in the buttock. It extends the hip and drives the hips through at the top of a squat.
What happens at the knee and hip in a squat?
Going down into a squat, the knee angle closes, so it is knee flexion. The hips flex too. Driving back up is extension at both.
The femur, the thigh bone from hip to knee, is the longest and strongest bone in the body and takes huge load in squats and deadlifts.
What muscles does a deadlift work?
- Gluteus maximus extends the hip. The top of a squat, deadlift or hip thrust.
- Erector spinae (ih-REK-ter SPY-nee) runs either side of the spine. It extends the spine and holds it upright. Deadlifts, back extensions.
- Hamstrings. Three muscles at the back of the thigh. They bend the knee and extend the hip. Leg curls, Romanian deadlifts.
What muscles do press-ups work?
- Pectoralis major (pek-tuh-RAH-liss MAY-jer) pulls the arm across and in front of the body. Bench press, press-ups, flyes.
- Triceps brachii (TRY-seps BRAY-kee-eye) makes up most of the upper arm's size. It straightens the elbow. Press-ups, dips, the lockout of a bench.
Locking out a press-up is extension: it opens the angle at a joint, back towards anatomical position.
What muscles are used in a pull-up?
- Latissimus dorsi (luh-TISS-ih-mus DOR-sye), the widest muscle of the back. It pulls the arm down and back in a pull-up. Pull-ups, pulldowns, rows.
What do the formal names mean?
| Formal name | Gym name | Parts of the word |
|---|---|---|
| Quadriceps | quads | quadri = four, ceps = heads |
| Gluteus maximus | glutes | gluteus = of the buttock, maximus = biggest |
| Hamstrings | (app gives no gym name) | Ham is old English for the back of the thigh |
| Erector spinae | lower back | erector = holds upright, spinae = of the spine |
| Pectoralis major | pecs | pectoralis = of the chest, major = larger |
| Triceps brachii | tris | tri = three, ceps = heads, brachii = of the arm |
| Latissimus dorsi | lats | latissimus = widest, dorsi = of the back |