The human body consists of three types of muscle: smooth, cardiac, and skeletal. Skeletal muscle, also called striated muscle, is the type of muscle that we typically think of when we discuss muscle. It is the type of muscle that is responsible for locomotion and other body movements. There are over 600 skeletal muscles in the body, in various shapes and sizes. The biggest muscles of the body need to be big, because of their location and function.
Gluteus Maximus
The gluteus maximus is generally referred to as the biggest muscle in the human body. It is in fact the most massive muscle of the human body. The glutes, as they are commonly known, are a group of three muscles located at the back of each hip or buttock. The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial muscle of the group. It contributes most of the mass that can be seen as the buttocks. It must be large due to its roles in hip extension and lateral rotation, as well as in keeping the body in an erect position.
Latissimus Dorsi
The latissimus dorsi is the widest muscle in the human body. In fact, the English translation of latissimus dorsi is "wide back." The lats, as they are commonly known, span the back. The latissimus dorsi is a fanlike muscle that begins at the spine, running from the thoracic vertebrae to the sacrum, and attaches on the upper arm. The lats are responsible for adduction, and they are among the muscles responsible for keeping the arm attached to the trunk.
Sartorius
The sartorius is the longest muscle in the human body. The sartorius is a superficial muscle that begins at the outside of the hip and runs down the upper leg and ends at the inside of the knee. The name sartorius means "tailor," and the muscle receives this name because it is responsible for crossing the legs. Crossing the legs was traditionally a common position assumed by tailors, because they could hold their sewing in their lap while they sat and sewed by hand.
References
- "The Anatomy Answer Book;" W.K. Metcalf; 2006
- "Anatomy and Physiology;" Rod Seeley, Trent Stephens, Philip Tate; 1998
- Emporia State University-Muscle Names
