key term - Biceps brachii

Definition

The biceps brachii is a major muscle of the upper arm that is involved in the flexion of the elbow and the supination of the forearm. It consists of two heads, known as the long head and the short head, which originate from different parts of the scapula and insert into the radial tuberosity on the radius.

Related terms

Flexion:

The action that decreases the angle between bones or brings body parts closer together, like bending an arm at the elbow.

Supination:

A rotational movement where the palm or forearm is turned anteriorly or upward, exemplified when turning a doorknob clockwise with your right hand.

Radial Tuberosity:

A bony prominence on the radius bone in the forearm to which tendons attach, serving as the insertion point for the biceps brachii muscle