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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.
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