So I have come to discover most people do not know basic human anatomy. I have heard "you are working you hamstring when you do push-ups". Now you may laugh, but is it true, I have heard it. So here is a basic human anatomy mixed with personal trainer jargon.
Here is an artist rendition of the human body without skin front (anterior) and back (posterior). The main muscles are shown and labeled. While you read through these, look at the picture, say the name of the muscle and touch it on your own body. (It is hilarious in a Human Anatomy class in college where you have students taking a written test and point or moving body parts in the middle of the test. They even give you permission to stand and move to figure some questions out. Thanks UVU professors!) I will put them in trainer jargon for you to understand so when they say, this works your tricep, you don't point at your leg.
- Trapezius---Traps
- They are the muscles that make you shrug. They attach your neck to your body. They are mostly on the back. Called Trapezius because they are shaped like a trapezoid.
- Deltoid---Delts
- They are on the top of your arm and to the outside of your body.
- Pectoralis---pects (also seen spelled as pecks)
- They are your chest muscles in the front of your body. (they are the ones that you see on Hugh Jackman as Wolverine that make you go oooooohhhhhhh)
- Triceps---tri's
- They are the back of your arms when you hold your palms to the front of your body.
- Biceps---bi's
- They are the muscles that go from your shoulder to your elbow in the front when you have your palms facing forward.
- Latissimus---Lat's
- They are the muscles that run along your side, along your rib cage from your armpit to your hip.
- Abdominal---abds/abs
- They are the tummy muscles. (You see them often if you watch Twilight)
- Gluteus Maximus---Glutes
- They are your butt muscles. (You see those in the movie Romeo and Juliet they make you suffer through in high school)
- Quadriceps---Quads
- They are the front of your legs from your hip to your knee. (They call these Quadriceps because four muscles make up the group)
- Hamstrings--Hammy's
- They are the muscles behind your leg from your butt to the back of your knee.
- Gastrocnemius---Gastorc's/Calves
- These muscles go from your knee to your heel.
