Muscles and Movement Atlas

The Muscles and Movement Atlas is a reference collection that introduces your body's movement system: the muscles, what they do, and how they work in daily life or in training. It is not an anatomy lesson but a practical map of the body.

Scope: a practical map of the body

The atlas covers the main muscle groups and the basic structures involved in movement. Each record explains where the muscle sits in the body, its main task, which everyday jobs bring it into play and which training movements work it. Memorising Latin terms is not the goal; terms are explained where they appear, but the real aim is to let you answer real questions such as "why does this part of my back get tired?"

Filters: browsing by area

You can narrow the records by body region: upper body, lower body, the core. Choose a region and you see the muscles there and how they cooperate with one another, because no muscle works alone. From each muscle record you can go straight to the records in the Exercise Atlas for the movements that target it; the two atlases mirror each other.

How should this knowledge be used?

Knowing what each muscle does brings balance to your training: you notice that you keep working the same region, and you see the regions being neglected. Understanding which muscles a day at a desk shortens also feeds your decisions about ergonomics. In cases of pain and injury this atlas is not a diagnostic tool; for complaints that persist, see a health professional. For the general frame you can look at the Sport and Fitness section.

Records (10)

Biceps

The biceps is the two-headed muscle on the front of the upper arm; it bends the elbow and turns the forearm outwards. Despite its popular fame, its main job is to accompa

Calf Muscles

The calf muscles, gastrocnemius and soleus, sit at the back of the lower leg and produce the final push of each step by driving the ankle down. Because of their contribut

Core Stabilising Muscles

The core stabilising muscles are the collective name for the deep and superficial muscles surrounding the spine and the pelvis; their job is less to produce movement than

Deltoid

The deltoid is the three-part muscle that wraps around the shoulder and the main force lifting the arm forwards, out to the side and backwards. It is the outer layer that

Gluteus Maximus

The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle of the hip and one of the strongest in the body; it opens the hip backwards and brings the trunk upright. It is the chief archit

Hamstrings

The hamstring group is made up of three muscles running down the back of the thigh; they bend the knee and open the hip backwards. They are the quiet carriers of running,

Latissimus Dorsi

The latissimus dorsi covers the lower and middle back and is the muscle with the widest surface in the body; it draws the arm down from above and in towards the trunk fro

Pectoralis Major

The pectoralis major is the broad, fan-shaped muscle covering the front of the chest; it pushes the arm towards the front of the body and rotates it inwards. It is the ma

Quadriceps

The quadriceps is the four-headed muscle group covering the front of the thigh and the main force that straightens the knee. From walking to climbing stairs, from sitting

Triceps

The triceps is the three-headed muscle at the back of the upper arm and the only large force that straightens the elbow. It is the muscle that has the last word at the en

Frequently asked questions

I have no knowledge of anatomy; will this atlas be too much for me?

No. The records are written in everyday language, and technical terms are explained where they appear. The aim is not academic anatomy but a practical map for getting to know your own body.

Can I work out from here which muscle a pain in one area comes from?

The atlas shows where each muscle is and what job it does; but identifying the source of pain is diagnosis, and that lies outside the limits of this site. For pain that persists, see a doctor.

What is the difference from the Exercise Atlas?

The Exercise Atlas sets out from movements, this one from muscles. You enter the same body of knowledge through two doors: "what does this movement work?" is answered there, and "which movement works this muscle?" is answered here.

First published: 2026-08-12Last reviewed: 2026-08-12Editorial status: working editionReport an error