FUNCTION AND MOVEMENT

CALVES: The primary function of the calf muscles, or the "gemelos" in

Spanish, is to point the foot downward (plantarflexion) at the ankle joint. They
also assist in bending the knee joint. In everyday life, we use our calf muscles
for various activities, such as walking, running, climbing stairs, standing, and
even pushing the gas pedal in a car. These muscles play a crucial role in
supporting our body and facilitating movement in our lower limbs.

QUADRICEPS: The quadriceps are a group of four muscles in the front of the
thigh: the rectus femoris, the vastus lateralis, the vastus intermedius, and the
vastus medialis. Their main function is to extend the leg at the knee joint and
also assist in stabilizing the hip joint.

We use the quadriceps in many daily activities, such as walking, running,

climbing stairs, getting up from a chair, squatting, and various other tasks
involving leg movement. They are also crucial in sports like cycling, soccer,
and weightlifting. These muscles are essential for maintaining leg mobility and
strength.

HAMSTRINGS: The hamstrings are a group of muscles in the back of the

thigh, including the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.
Their primary function is to flex the leg at the knee joint and extend the hip
joint. They also play a significant role in stabilizing the pelvis.

We use the hamstrings in daily activities like walking, running, climbing stairs,
and, in general, in any motion that involves bending the knee or extending the
hip. They are essential for maintaining leg flexibility and strength.

GLUTEUS: The gluteal muscles, commonly referred to as the glutes, have

several important functions. They are responsible for hip extension, which is
the movement of the thigh moving backward, and they also aid in thigh
abduction, which is moving the thigh away from the body. These muscles
provide stability and power to the hip and help us maintain an upright posture.
We use our glutes in various everyday activities, including standing up,
walking, climbing stairs, running, and even sitting down. These muscles play a
crucial role in maintaining our overall mobility and supporting the trunk and
pelvis during movement.

ABDOMINALS: The abdominal muscles, commonly referred to as the abs,

have the primary function of flexing the spine, which involves bending the
torso forward, and they also help stabilize the spine and pelvis. These
muscles are essential for maintaining posture, supporting the abdominal
organs, and assisting in various movements.

We use our abdominal muscles in everyday activities such as sitting up from a

lying position, bending forward to pick something up, and maintaining an
upright posture while standing or sitting. They also play a crucial role in core
stability during various physical activities and exercises.

LUMBARS: The lumbar muscles, or erector spinae muscles, are a group of

muscles along the lower spine. Their primary function is to extend and
straighten the spine. They also provide stability to the spine and help control
movements of the torso.

We use our lumbar muscles in various daily activities, including standing,

walking, sitting up straight, and lifting objects from the ground. These muscles
play a vital role in maintaining posture, supporting the lower back, and
facilitating movements that involve the spine and trunk.

PECTORALS: The pectoral muscles, often referred to as the pecs, are

located in the chest area and have the primary function of moving the arms
toward the body's midline, which is known as adduction. They also assist in
various movements of the shoulder joint.

We use our pectoral muscles in everyday activities such as pushing, pulling,

reaching, and hugging. These muscles are actively engaged in actions like
lifting objects, opening doors, and participating in sports or exercises that
involve arm and shoulder movements. They are essential for various upper
body movements and tasks.
DORSALS: The dorsal muscles, also known as the latissimus dorsi or lats,
have a primary function of shoulder adduction, extension, and internal
rotation. They help in moving the arms toward the back of the body and play a
crucial role in various shoulder and arm movements.

We use our dorsal muscles in daily activities that involve reaching, pulling, and
lifting, such as reaching for objects on high shelves, pulling doors or heavy
objects, and even activities like swimming or rowing. These muscles are
important for upper body mobility and strength.

TRAPEZIUS: The trapezius muscles, commonly known as the traps, have a

multifaceted function. They are responsible for multiple movements involving
the scapula (shoulder blades) and provide support to the neck and upper
back. The upper portion of the trapezius elevates the scapula, the middle
portion retracts or squeezes the scapula toward the spine, and the lower
portion depresses the scapula.

We use the trapezius muscles in our daily activities whenever we move our
shoulders, lift objects, maintain proper posture, or tilt our head. These muscles
are involved in tasks such as shrugging, lifting heavy items, and even holding
a bag on your shoulder. They are vital for shoulder mobility and upper body
support.

DELTOIDS: The deltoid muscles, commonly referred to as the delts, have the
primary function of raising and rotating the arm at the shoulder joint. They
provide mobility and strength to the shoulder and play a crucial role in various
upper body movements.

We use our deltoid muscles in everyday activities that involve raising or

moving our arms, such as reaching for objects, lifting, throwing, and even
simple actions like waving or brushing our hair. These muscles are essential
for performing a wide range of tasks that require shoulder and arm movement.
BICEPS: The biceps, or biceps brachii, have the primary function of flexing
the forearm at the elbow joint and supinating the forearm (rotating the palm
upward). They also assist in various movements of the shoulder.

We use our biceps in daily activities such as lifting objects, bending the elbow
to bring food to our mouth, carrying bags, and performing tasks that involve
gripping and lifting. These muscles are crucial for many common actions that
require strength and control in the arms.

TRICEPS: The triceps, or triceps brachii, have the primary function of

extending the forearm at the elbow joint. They are responsible for
straightening the arm. Triceps also play a role in stabilizing the shoulder joint.

We use our triceps in everyday activities when extending the arm, such as
pushing open a door, pushing objects away from the body, or when performing
tasks that involve straightening the elbow. These muscles are vital for various
actions that require arm extension and control.