The broad back muscles (latissimus dorsi - lat.) Occupy the space between the shoulder blades and lower back. These muscles are flat, completely devoid of raised protrusions. They run from the lower thoracic vertebrae along the lumbar and sacral zones to the pelvic muscles and to the four lower ribs of the chest. The broad back muscles are fused with the axilla, with the spine and are intertwined with vertical lateral muscles.
Functions
The functions of the latissimus dorsi in its upper part are focused on bringing the shoulder to the body, pulling the arm back with simultaneous rotation along the vertical axis. A muscle can stimulate breathing by moving the ribs adjacent to it. The spinal latissimus muscle is very powerful, with a large supply of energy. It is generally accepted that it was developed along the line of phylogenetics as a result of centuries-old brachyation of a prehistoric man, when he moved according to the method of monkeys, from branch to branch, hanging on his hands. And since this method of movement often became the main one, the broad back muscles developed.
Anatomy
The anatomically broad back muscle from below is linked to the lumbar triangle (trigonum lubale) through a bundle of tendons, its lateral part to the posterior edge of the oblique external muscle of the abdomen, and the bottom of this formation is the internal oblique flat muscle of the abdomen. At the level of the shoulder blades, the broad back muscles are in contact with the trapezius, but, despite such a close proximity, these parts of the muscles are independent of each other. In the normal state, the spinal muscle has a flat shape, but it involves a significant increase in size.
Athletic value
Athletes try to pump up the broad muscles of the back in the first place, since along with them in a direct proportion all nearby muscles increase. To get a relief pumped back, it is enough to regularly perform a set of exercises for the main back muscle. Experienced athletes know these subtleties and never pump up the trapezius muscles, which become excessively convex and disfigure the figure, making it disproportionate. Athletic pumping is performed due to traction movements with a large load, always from top to bottom.
Training
For training the lower part of the broadest muscles, it is better to use dumbbells, gradually increasing their weight. Starting intensive training, it should be remembered that the upper muscle bundles have a lateral direction, and the bottom of the latissimus dorsi is directed upward diagonally and laterally, while covering the lower ribs, their back surface. In addition, the latissimus muscle covers the lower part of the scapula and the circular large muscle along its lower edge. Also, this muscle duplicates the rear wall of the axillary zone, touches the humerus and ends on the crest of its small tubercle. Each athlete, owning information about the anatomical structure of his muscular system, can feel which of the muscles are actively involved in the pumping process, and which are only indirect.