Which is the largest muscle in the human body?

Appeared in: Bihar CHO -2019

Explanation

The Gluteus maximus is the largest and heaviest muscle in the human body, making up the bulk of the buttocks.
Its primary functions are powerful extension and lateral rotation of the hip joint, which are essential for movements like standing up from a seated position, climbing stairs, and running.
In terms of both mass and volume, it is significantly larger than any other muscle in the body.

Option A: The Sartorius is the longest muscle in the body, not the largest in terms of mass or volume. It is a long, thin muscle running across the thigh.
Option B: The Deltoid is the major muscle of the shoulder, but it is much smaller in overall mass and volume compared to the Gluteus maximus.
Option D: The term 'Dorsal gluteal' refers to a clinical site for intramuscular injections, not a specific anatomical muscle. The muscle in this region is the gluteus maximus, but the term itself is a location.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of the largest muscle in the human body as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowledge of the gluteal muscles is critical for safe administration of intramuscular (IM) injections. The ventrogluteal site is preferred over the dorsogluteal site to avoid injury to the sciatic nerve, which runs deep to the gluteus maximus.
Nurses assess for gluteal muscle weakness (e.g., Trendelenburg sign), which can indicate nerve damage or hip pathology and affects a patient's gait and stability.
What if? If a patient has had hip replacement surgery, the gluteus medius and minimus may be affected. The nurse must then be vigilant in assessing for gait instability and follow specific post-operative protocols to prevent hip dislocation.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on fundamental anatomy.
First, identify the keyword in the question: 'largest muscle'. This refers to mass and volume, not length.
Evaluate each option. Recall or deduce the primary characteristic of each.
Eliminate 'Sartorius' by remembering it is the longest, not largest, muscle.
Eliminate 'Dorsal gluteal' by recognizing it as a clinical location (injection site), not a muscle.
Compare the remaining options, 'Deltoid' (shoulder) and 'Gluteus maximus' (buttocks). Recall that the gluteus maximus is the most massive muscle in the body.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Osteology InderbirSingh 5e p. 187-189

E6 Anatomy BDChaurasia V2 10e Part 1 p. 93-95

Practise the full Bihar CHO -2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.