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Biceps brachiiMusculus biceps brachii

Two-headed muscle on the front of the upper arm that bends the elbow and turns the palm up.

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LatinMusculus biceps brachii
Origin
  • Short head: tip of the coracoid process of the scapula
  • Long head: supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula (its tendon runs through the shoulder joint and the intertubercular groove)
Insertion
  • Radial tuberosity
  • Bicipital aponeurosis into the deep fascia on the medial side of the forearm
Action
  • Supinates the forearm (turns the palm up), most strongly with the elbow bent
  • Flexes the elbow, most strongly with the forearm supinated
  • Weakly flexes the shoulder
  • Long head: helps hold the head of the humerus in the socket
  • Short head: helps adduct the arm across the body
NerveMusculocutaneous nerve (C5–C7)
NameLatin biceps, 'two-headed', and brachii, 'of the arm'.

Palpation

  1. Client supine with the arm resting by the side, palm up.
  2. Place your hand on the front of the upper arm; the rounded muscle belly lies directly under the skin.
  3. Follow it down to the elbow crease and feel the cord-like tendon in the centre of the crease.
  4. Ask the client to bend the elbow and turn the palm up against light resistance; the belly bunches up and the tendon stands out.

Landmarks: Coracoid process

The biceps is the most familiar arm muscle and a regular part of any upper-limb routine. It crosses both the shoulder and the elbow. Its most important jobs are bending the elbow and turning the palm upwards, which is why it works hard when carrying shopping or using a screwdriver.

It lies on top of Brachialis, which is the main elbow flexor and does most of the work when the palm faces down. To tell them apart, feel for brachialis at the sides of the biceps just above the elbow. The short head shares its origin on the Coracoid process with Coracobrachialis, and the long head tendon in the front of the shoulder is a common site of tenderness in clients who lift or throw.

Techniques

  • Effleurage — Long, gliding strokes with the whole palm that spread the medium, warm the tissue and link the other strokes together.
  • Petrissage — Kneading strokes that compress, lift and squeeze the muscle away from the bone, working the tissue between the hands.
  • Wringing — A petrissage stroke where the hands lift the tissue and push and pull it across the body in opposite directions, like wringing out a towel.
  • Compression — Pressing straight down into a muscle with the palm, fist or forearm, holding briefly, then releasing and moving on.
  • Passive stretching — The therapist gently moves a relaxed limb to lengthen a muscle to a point of mild stretch and holds it there, with no effort from the client.

Works with

  • Brachialis — Broad muscle under the biceps that is the strongest flexor of the elbow in any forearm position.
  • Brachioradialis — Long, superficial muscle on the thumb side of the forearm that flexes the elbow, most strongly with the thumb pointing up.
  • Supinator — Deep, curved muscle that wraps around the top of the radius and turns the palm up (supination) in any elbow position.

Opposes

  • Triceps brachii — Three-headed muscle on the back of the upper arm that straightens the elbow.
  • Anconeus — Small triangular muscle at the back of the elbow that helps the triceps straighten the elbow and steadies the joint.
  • Pronator teres — Short, rounded muscle crossing the front of the upper forearm that turns the palm down (pronation) and helps bend the elbow.

Used in routines

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Biceps
  2. Wikipedia: Musculocutaneous nerve