Question

Does Latissimus Dorsi, Brachialis, Biceps brachii, or teres major cross more than one joint? What are disadvantages associated with muscles that cross more than one joint?

Answer 1

Among the following muscles, biceps brachii crosses two joints,i.e, shoulder and elbow joint whereas rest of the muscles crosses only one joint.

Such muscles that crosses two joints are called Biarticular muscles.

The disadvantages of biarticular muscle are:-

• Passive insufficiency- Where the muscle cannot stretch out enough for both of the joints to move through their full range.
• Active insufficiency- Where the biarticular muscle cannot shorten enough to do all the move of the joints that it crosses.