Fitness Volt
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Strongman
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Exercise Guides
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
  • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Diet
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
  • More
    • CrossFit
    • News
      • Results
      • Mr. Olympia 2022
      • 2022 WSM
      • Arnold Classic
    • Fitness Calculator
    • Food Facts
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
    • Deals
  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Strongman
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Exercise Guides
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
  • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Diet
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
  • More
    • CrossFit
    • News
      • Results
      • Mr. Olympia 2022
      • 2022 WSM
      • Arnold Classic
    • Fitness Calculator
    • Food Facts
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
    • Deals
  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
No Result
View All Result
Muscle Talk

Muscle Talk: The Back Muscles

Justin Robertson

Written by Justin Robertson

Last Updated onFebruary 25, 2018

July 2012Hello and welcome back to the Tuesday and Thursday series that finally has a name. The name of the game on these days is the description of the muscles and their function, followed by the training and care of said muscles. We are basically talking muscles in these articles, hence the name Muscle Talk. This being the first ship to set sail bearing the flag of Muscle Talk, it is appropriate that I introduce you all to a new member to our crew. Carlos Flores is heading up the department of research at the good ship FitnessVolt, so the muscles and their functions have and will all be researched by him. Much like the welcoming aboard of Mrs Toronto has raised the quality of the recipes you now can find here, I expect the same jump in quality regarding any and all muscle articles due to the extra pair of experienced hands on deck. Now that I’ve taken that nautical analogy and beaten it to death, it’s time to get on with the article.

One thing you are going to learn about Carlos Toronto is that he is thorough. Maybe a little bit too thorough with his information, which isn’t a bad thing at all when you are dealing with research. When I asked him to give me the specifics dealing with the large muscle of the back, he gave me every muscle that has any function at all in the back, no mater how small. Not to mention every point of origin and insertion. As such, I may be glossing over some of the smaller muscles that we don’t train directly, but are still worthy of mention in the interests of remaining complete.

The two muscles everyone knows when it comes to the back are the lats and the traps. As you know, the newly named Muscle Talk likes to go a little deeper than just saying the abbreviated names of only two of the muscles. So if you are ready, lets begin.

The trapezius muscle is the most superficial muscle of the posterior thorax. It is flat, and triangular in its shape. Its upper fibers run inferiorly to the scapula, the middle fibers run horizontally to the scapula, and the lower fibers run superiorly to the scapula. The main functions of the trapezius is to stabilize, raise, retract and rotate the scapula. The middle fibers retract the scapula, and the superior fibers elevate the scapula, or can extend the head when the scapula is fixed. The inferior fibers depress the scapula. This is all another way of saying that the traps stabilize, rotate, raise and push down our shoulder blades.

The latissimus dorsi is the broad, flat, triangular muscle of the lumbar region (lower back). It has extensive superficial origins and it covered by the trapezius superiorly. It contributes to the posterior wall of axilla as well. This muscle is the main muscle involved in extending our arm. It is involved in the adduction and medial rotation at the shoulder, and plays an important role in bringing the arm down in a power stroke, such as hammering or swimming. When our arms are overhead, the latissimus dorsi pulls the rest of our body upward and downward. The terse major also should be mentioned here as it is a synergist of the lats. This is a thick, rounded muscle located inferior to the teres minor, and helps to form the posterior wall of the axilla along with the lats and the subscapularis.

Once we move past those two main muscles (and the teres minor, as well as the subscapularis), there are many smaller ones that of course serve important roles in the function of our back musculature. I’m going to group a few together here as either they are not necessarily a muscle that we directly train, or they are in theory part of the back, but in reality a separate set of muscles to be discussed another day.

Carrying on with that last thought are the deltoid muscles, the infraspinatus, the supraspinatus, and the teres minor. The reason that the deltoids are part of this conversation is because these shoulder muscles are the joint that without their contribution, the back muscles wouldn’t be usable. They are like a busy intersection for all the actions of our muscle that involve or arms, to varying degrees. The infraspinatus, the supraspinatus and the teres minor are all partially covered by the deltoids and or the trapezius, and are rotator cuff muscles. These muscles stabilize the shoulder joint amongst other functions and therefore play a role in back muscle function in more of a synergistic role.

To group another couple of muscles together due to their functions involving the scapula, are the rhomboids and the levator scapula. The rhomboids are two rectangular muscles lying deep to the trapezius and inferior to the levator scapula. The rhomboid minor is the more superior muscle. The rhomboids main function is to stabilize the scapula. They act together with the middle trapezius fibers to retract the scapula, and pull our shoulders back. They also rotate the scapula downward such as when the arm is lowered against resistance, such as paddling a canoe. The levator scapula is located at the back side of the neck, deep to the trapezius. It is a thick, strap-like muscle. The function of these muscles are to elevate the scapula in conjunction with the superior fibers of the trapezius. It has the same role in rotating the scaplula downward as the rhomboids. When the scapula is fixed, it also flexes the neck to the same side.

That concludes the kinesiology and biomechanics portion of Muscle Talk. Of course the real fun begins in the next edition, as we get to get into the exercises that are best suited to both enhance function and of course strength and muscle mass. I will be working with the FitnessVolt Research Department on this as well, and the putting together of our knowledge should make for an advantageous complement to your current training.

Up next however, is the day devoted to the discovery and dissection of Super Foods. Whether your particular field of interest is building muscle, fat loss, anti-aging, nutrition, or any of the various subjects covered here, learning more about Super Foods benefits all of the aforementioned pursuits. These foods not only provide superior fuel and recovery, they are always low carb in nature and have benefits that will definitely go a long way to increasing your enjoyment of life as well as attaining your training goals. It’s really is a win/win situation. I hope to see you all here tomorrow, especially seeing as a very unusual source of Omega 3 will be making a contribution,

Happy Lifting!

Published: 17 July, 2012 | 12:00 AM EDT

For the latest news and updates please follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Flipboard LinkedIn
Categories: Muscle Talk
Previous Post

Natural Bodybuilding with JC: My First DNP

Next Post

Muscle: Saroplasmic Hypertrophy

Justin Robertson

Justin Robertson

Recommended For You

Muscle Talk: Calf Muscles

Muscle Talk: Calf Muscles

All About Calf Muscles The calf muscles consist of three compartments. The anterior, lateral and posterior compartment. The anterior compartment...

Muscle Talk: Biceps and Triceps 2

Muscle Talk: Biceps and Triceps 2

Hello, and welcome my friends to another great day in the land of weight training, muscle-building, and strength gains. Really,...

Muscle Talk: The Shoulder Muscles

Muscle Talk: The Shoulder Muscles

It’s time to for most everyone’s favorite subject again – muscles! What is it about muscles that makes us all want...

Muscle Talk: The Back Muscles 2

Muscle Talk: The Back Muscles 2

Hello, and welcome to another day of our amazing lives. It has been said that life is for the living,...

Muscle Talk: Quadriceps 2

Muscle Talk: Quadriceps 2

As we know the word quad means four, and therefore we know that the quadriceps consists of four muscles. They...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

French Contrast Method

French Contrast Method for Strength and Power

Best Hmb Supplements

12 Best HMB Supplements You Can Buy in 2022

Liver King On Joe Rogan Steroid Allegations

Video: Liver King Says Joe Rogan’s Steroid Allegations Are ‘Dangerous’: “I’ve Never Done the Stuff”

Recent Reviews

Best Hmb Supplements

12 Best HMB Supplements You Can Buy in 2022

Best Cacao Nibs

10 Best Cacao Nibs of 2022

Ghost Legend Pre-Workout Review

Ghost Legend Pre-Workout Review

Fitness Volt

At FitnessVolt.com Our mission is to help our readers to achieve their fitness goals, regardless of where you’re at on your journey, we are on a mission to educate You with the latest from strength and fitness space. Read more.

Email: sm(at)fitnessvolt.com

Disclosure: FitnessVolt.com has an affiliate relationship with different brands and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. However, our reviews are based on well research backed analysis.

Follow Us

Trending Topics

  • Mr. Olympia
  • Bodybuilding
  • Strongman
  • Powerlifting
  • CrossFit
  • At Home Workouts
  • Bodyweight Exercises
  • Best Pre-workouts
  • Best Fat Burners
  • Bodybuilding Diet
  • Bicep Workouts
  • Triceps Workouts
  • Chest Exercises
  • Back Workouts
  • Leg Workouts
  • Front Squat Guide
  • Calf Workouts & Exercises
  • Forgotten Exercises
  • Jefferson Deadlift

Calculators

  • Calorie Burning Calculators
  • IF Calculator
  • TDEE Calculator
  • Calorie Calculator
  • Keto Calculator
  • RMR Calculator
  • Macronutrient Calculator
  • Creatine Calculator
  • Wilks Calculator
  • EER Calculator
  • FFMI Calculator
  • IBW Calculator
  • LBM Calculator
  • Fat Intake Calculator
  • Calories Burned Swimming
  • Calories Per Meal Calculator

  • Food Nutrition Analysis
  • Carb Cycling Calculator
  • Weight Gain Calculator
  • Weight Loss Calculator
  • Calories Burned Calculator
  • Strength Standards
  • One Rep Max Calculator
  • Body Fat Calculator
  • EER Calculator
  • Weight Loss Percentage
  • Treadmill Calorie Calculator
  • Body Surface Area Calculator
  • Running Pace Calculator
  • Bench Press Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Water Intake Calculator
  • Body Type Quiz
  • Steps to Miles Calculator
  • Calorie Deficit Calculator
  • Home
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Accessibility
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Syndication
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Copyrights
  • Terms
  • Privacy

© Copyright 2010 - 2022 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Strongman
  • CrossFit
  • Workouts
  • Mr. Olympia
  • Exercise Guides
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Shoulders
  • Training
  • Nutrition
  • Reviews
  • More
    • 2022 WSM
    • Diet
    • News
    • Arnold Classic
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • Food Facts
    • Deals
    • Fitness Calculator

© Copyright 2010 - 2022 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.