Which muscles extend the elbow?

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Study for the Muscular System and Skeletal System Exam. Learn with flashcards and multiple choice questions, where each question has explanations and hints. Be well-prepared and confident on your test day!

Multiple Choice

Which muscles extend the elbow?

Explanation:
Elbow extension is produced mainly by the triceps brachii. When the triceps contract, they pull on the olecranon of the ulna, straightening the forearm. The triceps have three heads (long, lateral, and medial) that work together to extend the elbow, with the long head also helping to stabilize the shoulder because it crosses that joint. In contrast, the biceps brachii and brachialis are elbow flexors, bending the forearm. The deltoid is a shoulder muscle and doesn’t extend the elbow, and the gluteus maximus acts on the hip, not the elbow. (A small assisting muscle called the anconeus can aid extension, but the primary mover is the triceps.)

Elbow extension is produced mainly by the triceps brachii. When the triceps contract, they pull on the olecranon of the ulna, straightening the forearm. The triceps have three heads (long, lateral, and medial) that work together to extend the elbow, with the long head also helping to stabilize the shoulder because it crosses that joint. In contrast, the biceps brachii and brachialis are elbow flexors, bending the forearm. The deltoid is a shoulder muscle and doesn’t extend the elbow, and the gluteus maximus acts on the hip, not the elbow. (A small assisting muscle called the anconeus can aid extension, but the primary mover is the triceps.)

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