Long head of the triceps

Located between the other two muscle heads of the triceps, the long head creates the majority of bulk high up on the rear of the upper arm. It works with the other two triceps brachii heads; the lateral and medial, to extend the arm. Triceps brachii is Latin for “three heads of the upper arm”.

Development of the triceps can be achieved with various exercises which involve the extension of the arm. Two compound exercises which are particularly effective for this are the close grip bench press and triceps dips. If desired, the triceps can be isolated with skull crushers, French press, and cable push downs.

Exercises

• Bench dips
• Cable triceps pushdowns
• Close grip bench press
• French press
• Skull crushers
• Triceps dips
• Triceps kickbacks

Other names

• Arm extender
• Triceps brachii