Know Your Muscles – Chest and Upper Back

Training specific body parts can only be truly effective if you recognize and understand the role of each muscle. This article examines the muscles that make up the chest and upper back.


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muscles, chest and upper back


Getting familiar with the muscles that make up your body has more benefits than just allowing you to chat with your training partners. The more you know about the muscles you are working, the better you will be able to judge what is needed to improve. In this article we will learn about the muscles that make up the chest and upper back.

Although they are two distinct areas, the chest and upper back will be considered together because it is essential to achieve muscular balance between them, especially to maintain good posture. Creating an imbalance between the two is likely to lead to injury.

The main muscles of the chest and upper back are:

1. Pectoralis major - these are the large chest muscles found on either side of the sternum. Its main role is to bring the arm toward the inside of the body, a movement known as horizontal adduction.

2. The latissimus dorsi muscle – this is the largest muscle in the back that extends from the lower back to the upper arm bone. It pulls the arm toward the body and acts as an internal rotator of the arm.

3. Trapezius – this muscle runs from the middle of the spine to the shoulder and then to the neck. Its main role is to facilitate the movement of the shoulder blades.