Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale (right) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Triceps“, p. 319

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Extend the forearm against resistance.
Crosstalk from: biceps brachii · posterior and middle deltoid

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

Print as a session sheet · A4 with landmarks, signal check and MVC test

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 → · SENIAM reference table · 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: 77 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. Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale (Triceps Brachii (Lateral Head)) is a muscle of the upper arm region. It is responsible for elbow extension. 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 extension Origin Posterior humerus (above radial groove) Insertion Olecranon of the ulna Innervation Radial nerve (posterior cord), C7–T1

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 extension against resistance

Detail: group test, sensor on the reference muscle of the group (M. Triceps Brachii Caput Longum) — Group test — image shows the reference muscle of the group (M. Triceps Brachii Caput Longum). Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Same set-up as the biceps test: seated or kneeling, elbow at about 90°, upper arm slightly abducted.
Fixation: Elbow and trunk fixed as for the biceps.
Resistance: Rigid resistance from above on the wrist (fixed bar or manual), elbow extension against it.
Control exercise: Use the pectoralis major test as a control exercise.

Konrad: "same instruction as biceps" — the only difference is the direction of resistance.

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. Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale 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 Triceps Brachii (Lateral Head) 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. Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale?

50% on line between posterior crest of the acromion and olecranon, 2 finger widths lateral to the line. Orientation: Parallel to line posterior crest of the acromion–olecranon. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale?

Elbow extension against resistance. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

Is the M. Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

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

M. Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)