Functional Anatomy of Push-up Exercise

Running head: FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY
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Author Note:

1FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY
Introduction:
The push-up exercise accounts for one of the simplest exercise form that helps in
gaining muscular strength. The exercise uses the body weight as resistance and works on the
upper torso and core simultaneously (Kim et al., 2016). A standard push-up exercise targets a
number of muscles that include, chest muscles, shoulders, triceps, abdominals and the wing
muscles located beneath the armpit which is also known as the serratus anterior.
This assignment intends to discuss and analyse the mechanism of the push-up exercise
in relation to the concepts absorbed from the learning outcomes of topic 1 and 4.
Body:
The push-up exercise is performed in a prone-position and the exercise proceeds with
lowering and raising the body with the use of arms. The exercise involves exercising multiple
muscles together which include, the pectoral muscles, triceps, the anterior deltoids, serratus
anterior, coracobrachialis and the complete mid-section. The push-up exercise was
traditionally knows as the chest-dip. It should be noted here that while performing push-ups,
the rectus abdominis and transversus abdominis contract simultaneously so as to support the
body firmly off the ground and align the legs with the torso. It should be noted here that the
contraction of the rectus abdominis pushes the spine forward.
Next, the anterior portion of the Deltoid muscle facilitate the movement of the arms
towards the chest during the exercise. Also, the muscle helps in maintaining a pace over the
movement during the downward phase. The anterior deltoid critically assists the flexion and
rotation of the humerus within the shoulder socket. The pectoralis major and the pectoralis
minor or the chest muscles assist the movement of the chest during the exercise routine.
Typically while lowering the body during the exercise, the pectoralis major assists the