Trapezius (Traps)

There is far more to the trapezius muscle than meets the eye. The traps are not just the muscle that sits on top of your shoulders. The traps actually travel a large portion of your spine. When well developed, the traps take on the look of a cobra hood.

The traps are divided into three portions. Those portions are referred to as the superior, medial, and inferior fibers. All three parts serve similar, but different functions.

Superior

The superior fibers of the trapezius is what immediately comes to mind when the traps are the topic of discussion. This portion of the traps originates from the occipital bone (bone at the base of your skull). The superior fibers insert into the outside of the clavicle.

As far as function goes, the superior trapezius has many, including: scapular retraction (drawing your scapula backwards), scapular elevation (raising the scapula), scapular upward rotation (when the scapula twists upwards), and neck extension (looking straight up). In short, the superior fibers are involved with nearly all scapular movement.

Medial

The medial, or middle, trapezius originates from the vertebral column and inserts into the scapula. The medial traps have one function which is scapular retraction.

Inferior

The inferior fibers are the most ignored part of the trapezius. When well developed, the inferior fibers gives the traps the aforementioned cobra look. The inferior fibers originate at the vertebral column, and insert into the scapula.

The lower fibers are responsible for scapular depression (pushing the scapula down), scapula adduction, and, along with the superior fibers, scapula upward rotation.

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Article maintained by Tyler Wilfredo Thomas