Difference Between Biceps and Triceps

The main difference between biceps and triceps is that the biceps is the muscle that is made up of two muscle bundles which are the short head and the long head while the triceps is the muscle that is made up of three muscle bundles which include the long head, medial head and head.

biceps vs triceps

Muscle is defined as a soft tissue found in most animals. Your cells are made up of myosin and actin protein filaments that slide past each other, causing contraction and changing both the shape and length of the cells. The function of muscles is to produce movement and force. The biceps and triceps are two muscles in our upper arms. These allow us to do many activities such as moving things, climbing and lifting heavy objects. We also use the term “biceps brachii” for biceps. This term originated from the Latin word ‘musculus’, which means ‘little mouse’. This is because the appearance of the flexed biceps resembles the back of a mouse. In contrast, the term “triceps brachii” is also used for triceps., tri means “three” and ceps means “head”. Actually, the biceps are known as a “two-headed muscle.” The triceps, on the other hand, started out as a “three-headed muscle.” The biceps are the muscles that are made up of two bundles of muscles, viz. the short head and the long head. The triceps, on the other hand, are the muscles that are made up of three muscle bundles namely the long head, the medial head and the lateral head.

Comparison chart

The biceps are made up of two types of muscle bundles, viz. the short head and the long head. They are also known as the “biceps brachii.” They show the pulling action and decrease the angle between the upper arm and the forearm. They function as flexors and are responsible for moving the shoulder, elbow and forearm rotation.

What is the triceps ?

The triceps are made up of three types of muscle bundles, viz. the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head. They are also known as “triceps brachii.” They show the action of pushing and increase the angle between the upper arm and the forearm. They function as extenders.

Key differences

1. The biceps is the muscle that is made up of two muscle bundles while the triceps is the muscle that is made up of three muscle bundles.
2. The biceps are also called “biceps brachii”, on the other hand, the triceps are also known as “triceps brachii”.
3. The term “biceps” originated from the Latin word ‘musculus’, which means “little mouse”. In contrast, the term “triceps” also originates from the two Latin words tri, meaning “three” and ceps meaning “head.”
4. The appearance of the flexed biceps resembles the back of a mouse. So, it was the reason for its origin from the Latin word ‘musculus’, on the other hand, the triceps is expressed as a “three-headed muscle”. This is why they have originated from the two Latin words tri, meaning “three” and ceps meaning “head”.
5. The biceps contain bundles of muscles viz. short head and long head, on the other hand, the triceps contain bundles of muscles viz. the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head.
6. The biceps are present at the front of the upper arm; on the other side, the triceps are present at the back of the upper arm.
7. The biceps are the particular muscles that function as flexors while the triceps are the particular muscles that function as extensors.
8. The biceps are responsible for moving the shoulder and elbow and forearm rotation, on the other hand, the triceps are responsible for extending the elbow and moving the shoulder and elbow but in the opposite direction to the biceps.
9. The pulling action is shown on the biceps, while the pushing action is shown on the triceps.
10. The biceps are the muscles that decrease the angle between the upper arm and the forearm, on the other hand, the triceps are the muscles that increase the angle between the upper arm and the forearm.
11. To develop the biceps we must do the types of exercises that bring the weight closer to our body, on the other hand, to develop the triceps we must do the types of exercises that include pushing the weight away from our body.

Final Thought

The above discussion summarizes that the biceps and triceps are responsible for the movement of our arms. They help us maintain our daily activities.