Muscle Building Information

Know Your Muscles - The Lower Body


Becoming familiar with the muscles that make up your body has more benefits than simply allowing you to talk shop with your training partners. The more familiar you are with the muscles you're working, the better you'll be able to judge what's needed to make improvements. In this article we'll get to know the muscles that make up the lower body.

This is where you'll find the big, strong muscles that allow us to get around. The main muscles found below the waist are as follows:

1. Quadriceps femoris - this is a group of four muscles found at the front of the thigh. These are the vastus lateralis on the outside, the vastus medialis on the inside, the vastus intermedius between them, and the rectus femoris above them. The role of these muscles is to extend the leg from a bent position.

2. Hamstrings - these are found to the rear of the leg and consist of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus. The hamstrings are used to flex the knee in the act of pulling the heel towards the buttocks.

3. Gluteals - these make up the buttocks and consist of the gluteus maximus covering the hip joint and the gluteus medius and minimus on the outside of the hip. The gluteus maximus facilitates hip extension while the other two lift the leg to the side in an action called hip abduction.

4. Hip flexors - these are found opposite the glutes on the front of the pelvis. Consisting of the psoas major and iliacus they raise the leg to the front.

5. Calves - these consist of the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Their role is to extend the foot at the ankle.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.


MORE RESOURCES:

Diabetes: A Blessing in Disguise
American Profile, TN - 3 hours ago
“If you’re eating a diet high in fiber, low in saturated fats, and throw in exercise, the body can metabolize the food and build muscle,” Byrne says. ...


Everyone's Favorite Dawg
BamaMag.com - 17 hours ago
While most of his workouts during the season are designed to keep him flexible and maintain strength rather than to build muscle, his bench press max is up ...


Boston Globe

Just the right moves
Boston Globe, United States - Nov 21, 2008
Parkinson's is a disease that can be cruel," said Rudman, who takes 20 pills a day plus protein shakes to build muscle. To further research, he initially ...


Don't Eat Breakfast First - Drink Water
News10.net, CA - Nov 21, 2008
Make sure you are sleeping well as your body needs to repair and rebuild in order to burn fat and build muscle. Relax at your mealtimes, make your plate ...


Jamaica Gleaner

doctor's advice:
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - Nov 21, 2008
Get one of the coaches or trainers to put you on a programme to build muscle. If you follow that plan, working out every day for the next six months, ...


Pill Helps Elderly Bulk Up
Discovery Channel - Nov 20, 2008
The drug increases human growth hormone levels, which makes people grow taller, build muscle, and strengthen bones, among other myriad effects. ...


Keeping Joe 6-Pack's Belly Flat During the Thanksgiving Holiday
NewsBlaze (press release), CA - Nov 12, 2008
The answer lies in eating testosterone-rich foods that crank up their metabolism and help their build muscle at the same time," said Levinson. ...


KFYR-TV

Choosing a Workout for You
KFYR-TV, ND - Nov 19, 2008
Whether you`re trying to build muscle or shed a few pounds, going to the gym can become monotonous. It doesn`t necessarily take weights and a treadmill to ...


Blake Shelton "Fires" Up New CD
Great American Country, TN - Nov 18, 2008
... in a rural been-there-done-that context; and "Country Strong" laughs off gym memberships in favor of farm chores as an honest way to build muscle. ...


SmartWoman program to fight osteoporosis
WFIE-TV, IN - Nov 19, 2008
"It's just going to get them to build muscle and bone and tone and actually help them to lose weight if they need to," she said. ...

Build-Muscle - Google News

home | site map
© 2008