Belly of muscle

Venter musculi

  • Related terms: Belly

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

The belly of a muscle is the thick, fleshy, contractile part located between its origin(s) and insertion. It contains the muscle fibres responsible for generating force during contraction.

This is distinct from the head of a muscle, which refers to its proximal attachment or origin.

Example

In the biceps brachii, the two heads originate from the scapula, and the belly lies in the anterior arm, tapering distally into a tendon inserted into the radius.

References

  • Gray, H. (2016) Gray’s anatomy the anatomical basis of clinical practice. 41st edition. Edited by S. Standring. New York: Elsevier.