Biceps Brachii (left) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Biceps–Brachium“, p. 315

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Flex the forearm; resistance augments the signal.
Crosstalk from: brachialis · deltoids · triceps brachii · forearm extensors

The position above follows SENIAM; the crosstalk and artefact notes apply to surface recording of this muscle in general.

Source: SENIAM (Hermens 2000) ↗

Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000;10(5):361-74.

Based on SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000). Not an official SENIAM product. See all references → · How electrodes are placed (guide) · Glossary

Go deeper Why the Electrode Must Not Sit on the Innervation Zone → MVC Normalisation — Why Microvolts Alone Say Nothing →

All 49 muscle protocols as a PDF — free

Print-ready for the lab or clinic: 79 pages of protocols (SENIAM + peer-reviewed), plus the SENIAM table, a placement checklist and a sensor comparison sheet as A4 sheets.

Anatomy & Function

The M. Biceps Brachii (Biceps Brachii) is a muscle of the upper arm region. It is responsible for elbow flexion, forearm supination, shoulder anteversion. This muscle is one of 26 with official SENIAM-recommended surface EMG electrode placement. This page documents the exact electrode position, anatomical attachments and a standardized test movement based on Hermens et al. (2000).

Function Elbow flexion, forearm supination, shoulder anteversion Origin Supraglenoid tubercle (long head), coracoid process (short head) Insertion Radial tuberosity, bicipital aponeurosis Innervation Musculocutaneous nerve (lateral cord), C5–C6

Innervation after Perotto AO, Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer, 5th ed. 2011 — an anatomical reference, not an electrode placement recommendation.

Clinical applications (SENIAM)

Post-trauma elbow rehabilitation
Biceps/triceps tendinitis monitoring
Workplace ergonomics assessment

Test Movement

Elbow flexion against resistance with supinated forearm

Detail: sensor on the M. Biceps Brachii — Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Seated or kneeling in front of a bench, elbow at about 90°, forearm supinated.
Fixation: Very stable fixation of elbow and trunk; the upper arm stays vertical at the side.
Resistance: Rigid resistance under the wrist (strap to the floor, bar or manual), elbow flexion against it.
Control exercise: Use the latissimus dorsi test as a control exercise.

Without elbow and trunk fixation the effort leaks into the shoulder and the biceps never reaches its maximum.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG. Noraxon; 2005, p. 31. Konrad describes this test at group level; it applies to all muscles of the group. · Why and how to normalise to MVC

Measure M. Biceps Brachii activity live

The electrode is placed — what next? easyEMG visualises muscle activity in real time, with SENIAM-compliant placement guidance, up to 4 channels at once and biofeedback training right afterwards.

In rehabilitation, the Biceps Brachii is typically recorded to track progress and retrain activation.

EMG biofeedback in physiotherapy → What is EMG biofeedback? PicoBlue sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place the EMG electrode on the M. Biceps Brachii?

1/3 on line between cubital fossa and acromion. Orientation: Parallel to line cubital fossa–acromion. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Biceps Brachii?

Elbow flexion against resistance with supinated forearm. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

Is the M. Biceps Brachii a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

Yes. The M. Biceps Brachii is one of 26 muscles for which the SENIAM project has published official surface EMG electrode placement recommendations.

M. Biceps Brachii

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)