A Tattooist’s Guide to the Major Muscle Groups

Part II: The Torso Muscles

• 11) Latissimus Dorsi:  These large muscle groups extend all the way from the spine to the ridges under the arms that define the edges of the back.  They give the back its characteristic V-shape.
• 12) Trapezius:   Extending from the sides of the neck to the top edges of the deltoid muscles, then downward to the middle spine, the trapezius creates a smaller V inside the large V of the latissumus dorsi muscles. In a toned person, you can clearly see the division between these muscle groups.
• 13) Obliquus Externus Abdominus:  These are the lower rib muscles, which begin over the kidney area and extend around the front and attach to the ribs, creating a diagonal movement upward toward the front center of the body.
• 14) Gluteus Maximus:  These are the large buttock muscles, which are ideal for curved or spiraling shapes. Their upper edge, which forms a shallow V in the center of the lower back, denotes a good lower boundary for a backpiece.
• 15) Gluteus Medium:  This muscle defines where the hip ends and the rib area begins.
• 16) Tensor Fasciae Latae:  The small soft ridge along the front of the hip region is formed by this muscle, which extends downward toward the side of the thigh.
• 17) Serratus Posterior Inferior:  This group of muscles, which constitutes a deeper layer under the connecting tissue of the latissimus dorsi, forms the bulge in the lower middle back and is one of the major shapes worth considering when designing large back work.
• 18) Pectoralis Major:  This is the main chest muscle, beginning above the ribs and extending up to the collar and the deltoid. A chest panel tattoo essentially covers the pectoral area.
• 19) Serratus Anterior:  These upper rib muscles intertwine with the obliquus externus abdominus muscles, creating the series of small bulges that you see on the ribs of a well muscled person. Even on a less toned body, these movements and shapes are important to acknowledge in any rib panel design.
• 20) Rectus Abdominus:  Known popularly as a “6-pack” on toned individuals, these abdominal muscles form a series of horizontal ridges across the stomach.