Which muscle is the primary elbow extensor?

Study for the Muscle Actions and Functions – Anatomy and Movement Test. Equip yourself with multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations and hints. Prepare confidently for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which muscle is the primary elbow extensor?

Explanation:
Elbow extension is produced mainly by the triceps brachii. This muscle, with its three heads, pulls on the olecranon process of the ulna to straighten the forearm, making it the primary mover for extending the elbow. The long head crosses the shoulder and can influence shoulder actions, but at the elbow its main job is extension. The anconeus helps stabilize the elbow and can contribute a bit to extension, especially at the end range, but it isn’t the primary extensor. By contrast, the brachialis sits in front of the arm and flexes the elbow, while the biceps brachii flexes the elbow and supinates the forearm, so neither is an elbow extensor.

Elbow extension is produced mainly by the triceps brachii. This muscle, with its three heads, pulls on the olecranon process of the ulna to straighten the forearm, making it the primary mover for extending the elbow. The long head crosses the shoulder and can influence shoulder actions, but at the elbow its main job is extension. The anconeus helps stabilize the elbow and can contribute a bit to extension, especially at the end range, but it isn’t the primary extensor. By contrast, the brachialis sits in front of the arm and flexes the elbow, while the biceps brachii flexes the elbow and supinates the forearm, so neither is an elbow extensor.

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