There is more than twenty muscle in your upper arms and forearms (the area between the elbow and your wrist). You use your arm muscles to perform small (fine motor) movements, such as wiggling your fingers and pressing a button. You can also use them to perform large movements like lifting your arms above your head, straightening your elbow and doing push-ups.
Some muscles are deep within your arm. Some muscles are deeper than others, which can be seen when you contract or flex your muscles. Tendons, or soft tissues, attach your muscles to your arm and shoulder bones.
Common injuries include arm muscle strains, which can tear or stretch the muscles too far. These injuries are often caused by overuse or lifting too heavy objects. Avoid injury to your arm muscles by warming up before you start exercising. If you feel pain, stop immediately.
FUNCTION
What’s the purpose of the arm muscles, and why are they important?
Your upper arm and forearm muscles allow you to move your hands, arms, thumbs, and fingers. Muscles are used to perform precise movements such as threading needles or large movements such as throwing a ball.
What’s the purpose of the forearm muscles, and why are they important?
You can use the muscles on your underside as well as the top of the forearm to:
- Flex, bend and extend your wrists and fingers.
- Your hand should be pointing towards your body. Then, move your hand away from the body.
- To face the other side, turn your palm to the left.
The muscles deep within your forearm do multiple jobs.
- You can control the top joints of your fingers.
- Move your thumb joint.
- To face up or down, turn your palm.
What’s the purpose of the upper arms muscles?
Your upper arm muscles help you move your arms. They perform different tasks depending on where they are located. They can help you:
- Bring your arm toward your body.
- Straighten your forearm towards your elbow.
- Place your elbow at your elbow and extend your hand towards your ears.
- Place your upper arm towards your shoulder.
- Raise your arm above your head.
- To face the sky, turn your palm to the right.
ANATOMY
What are the locations of the forearm muscles?
Your forearm, between your wrist and your elbow, has many muscles. Some muscles are at the top, while others are on the underside. The anatomy of your forearm muscles includes:
Superficial forearm muscles
Several muscles under your forearm are superficial and close to your skin. They are located below your elbow and extend up to your wrist. These are:
- Flexor carpi ulnaris.
- Palmaris longus. This muscle is missing in 25% of people.
- Flexor carpi Radialis.
- Flexor digitorum superficialis.
- Pronator teres.
The superficial muscles at the top of your forearm are:
- Anconeus.
- Brachioradialis.
- Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus and Brevis
- Extensor digitorum communis.
- Extensor digit minimi.
- Extensor carpi ulnaris.
Forearm muscles are deep.
These muscles are located under your forearm’s superficial muscles. These muscles are:
- Flexor digitorum profundus.
- Flexor pollicis longus.
- Pronator quadratus.
The muscles are located under your skin, on the top of your forearm.
- Abductor pollicis languages
- Extensor Pollicis Brevis.
- Extensor longus pollicis.
- Extensor indices.
- Supinator.
What are the locations of the upper arm muscles?
Your upper arm is comprised of four muscles. It’s the area between your elbow and your shoulder. The anatomy of your upper arm muscles includes:
- Brachii biceps. You’ll find your biceps muscles in the middle of your upper arm. It is superficial because it is so close to the skin’s surface.
- Brachialis. This muscle is located underneath your biceps.
- Coracobrachialis. This muscle is located under your biceps and connects to your shoulder blade (scapula).
- Triceps brachii. The back of your arm is where your triceps muscles are located, just above your elbow. Your triceps muscles are located below your skin’s surface, like the biceps.
How do your arm muscles look?
Your musculoskeletal includes your arm muscles. These muscles are a type called skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is made up of many individual fibres. This creates a striated or striped appearance.
CONDITIONS & DISORDERS
What are the conditions that affect arm muscles?
A few conditions can affect the arm muscles:
- Muscle strain: When the muscle fibres stretch out too far, it can cause injury to your arm muscles. Your muscles may tear or rupture in severe cases. Lifting heavy objects or engaging in strenuous activities can cause a pull or tear to your arm muscles. Muscle strains can be very common. Overuse can also cause muscle strains.
- Rhabdomyolysis This life-threatening, rare condition occurs when muscle fibres are broken down. Rhabdomyolysis is usually caused by overexercising and strenuous exercise. This is more common in endurance athletes.