Multipennate muscle

Musculus multipennatus

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

A multipennate muscle is a type of pennate skeletal muscle in which multiple groups of muscle fibres are arranged obliquely between several internal tendons that converge onto a single main tendon.

This complex, feather-like architecture allows a very large number of fibres to be packed within the multipennate muscle, resulting in an exceptionally high physiological cross-sectional area and, consequently, great force-producing capacity. However, due to their oblique fibre orientation, they have a limited range of motion compared to parallel-fibered muscles.

Example

  • Deltoid (shoulder) — abducts, flexes, and extends the arm.

References

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