Action: Adducts, extends, and internally rotates the arm
The latissimus dorsi is often referred to as the ‘lats’ and is generally considered the largest muscle of the back. ‘Latissimus’ is Latin for ‘broadest’, referring to the muscle’s large size, and ‘dorsi’ is Latin for ‘back’… think dorsal fin being located on the back of a dolphin or shark.
Action: Elevation, retraction, and depression of the shoulders
The trapezius is often referred to as the ‘traps’ and is named after its trapezoid-like shape. It performs many actions due to the many directions of its muscle fibres.
