Trapezius muscle facts for kids

The trapezius muscle, often just called the trapezius, is a big muscle in your upper back and neck. It stretches from the back of your head down your spine and out to your shoulders. This muscle helps you move your shoulder blades and supports your arms.

The trapezius muscle is shown in red.

The trapezius muscle has three main parts, and each part helps with different movements:

• The upper part helps hold up your arms.
• The middle part helps pull your shoulder blades closer together.
• The lower part helps move your shoulder blades down and rotate them.

Exercising Your Trapezius Muscle

You can make your trapezius muscle stronger with different exercises.

Working the Upper Trapezius

To strengthen the upper part of your trapezius, you can do exercises where you lift your shoulders up towards your ears. This is often called "shrugging."

Working the Middle Trapezius

To strengthen the middle part, you can do exercises that involve pulling your shoulder blades together, as if you're trying to pinch something between them.

Working the Lower Trapezius

For the lower part, you can do exercises where you pull your shoulder blades downwards. Try to keep your arms mostly straight while doing this.

Related Topics

• Bodybuilding
• Strength training

Images for kids

• 

  The trapezius muscle.

• 

  The Occipital bone at the back of the skull.

• 

  The left clavicle (collarbone) from above.

• 

  The left scapula (shoulder blade) from the back.

See also

In Spanish: Músculo trapecio para niños