Triceps

The triceps muscle extends (straightens) the elbow. Its full name is the triceps brachii. It can be felt as the tense muscle in the back of the upper arm while doing push-ups. Its full name is the triceps brachii. The triceps has three heads, or origins. "Triceps" is Latin for three-headed and is derived from "tri", three + "caput", head.

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Three-headed; denoting especially two muscles: t. brachii and t. surae. See muscle. [L. fr. tri-, three, + caput, head]

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tri·ceps 'trī-.seps n, pl triceps also tri·ceps·es a muscle that arises from three heads:

a) the large extensor muscle that is situated along the back of the upper arm, arises by the long head from the infraglenoid tubercle of the scapula and by two heads from the shaft of the humerus, is inserted into the olecranon at the elbow, and extends the forearm at the elbow joint called also triceps brachii

b) the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles viewed as constituting together one muscle called also triceps surae

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n.

a muscle with three heads of origin, particularly the triceps brachii, which is situated on the back of the upper arm and contracts to extend the forearm. It is the antagonist of the brachialis.

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tri·ceps (triґseps) [L., from tri- + caput head] having three heads, as a triceps muscle.