The Concise Book of Muscles, Fourth Edition

Book excerpt: The bestselling, comprehensive introduction to the anatomy of the muscular system—with over 500 drawings, detailed profiles for each muscle, and additional material. This newly revised fourth edition of The Concise Book of Muscles is a comprehensive guide to the major muscle groups. Easy to use and fully illustrated with more than 500 drawings, this compact reference provides a complete profile for each muscle, clearly showing its origin, insertion, nerve supply, and action, the movements that use it, and, where appropriate, exercises that stretch and strengthen it. The book’s distinctive quick-reference format shows students exactly how to locate and identify specific muscles, highlighting those that are heavily used and therefore subject to injury in a variety of sports and activities. In this updated edition, each muscle chapter now includes detailed overviews of the gross anatomy of the body area to show: • Bony landmarks • Cross-sections of muscle layers • Points of attachment • Relevant nerve pathways • Also included: quick-reference tables and new chapter on pelvic floor muscles While designed for the student and beginning practitioner of anatomy, massage, bodywork, physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, physiotherapy, yoga, and Pilates or any other health-related field, The Concise Book of Muscles is equally useful for athletes and anyone interested in the workings of the human body.