Learning anatomy can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to memorize all the muscles of the body. But when it comes to the back, there’s a simple and effective trick to make it easier: use a mnemonic! Mnemonics are memory aids that help you associate complex information with something easier to remember. Let’s dive into how you can use a clever trick to remember the main muscles of the back.
The Big Three: “Let’s Try Running”
A great mnemonic to remember the three major superficial muscles of the back is:
Let’s Try Running
- L – Latissimus dorsi
- T – Trapezius
- R – Rhomboids
These are some of the most important muscles you’ll need to know for basic anatomy, fitness, or drawing the human body. Let’s break each one down:
1. Latissimus Dorsi
Often just called the “lats,” these are the large muscles on either side of your back, stretching from the mid-to-lower spine and wrapping around to your sides. They help with movements like pulling, lifting, and rotating the arm. Think of pull-ups or swimming strokes—your lats are doing the work.
2. Trapezius
The trapezius (or “traps”) is a large, kite-shaped muscle that covers the upper back and neck. It helps move the shoulders and support the arms. This muscle is involved when you shrug your shoulders or tilt your head. It’s divided into upper, middle, and lower fibers, each helping with different movements.
3. Rhomboids
These muscles lie underneath the trapezius and connect your shoulder blades to the spine. There are two rhomboid muscles: rhomboid major and rhomboid minor. They help pull the shoulder blades together and stabilize them during movement. Imagine squeezing your shoulder blades—your rhomboids are firing.
Why This Trick Works
Using the mnemonic “Let’s Try Running” gives you a quick and memorable way to recall these muscles in order from largest and lowest (lats), to highest and most surface (traps), to the stabilizers beneath (rhomboids). It works especially well for students studying anatomy, physical therapy, or even artists learning how to draw the human figure with realistic structure.
Bonus: Going Deeper
If you want to expand your knowledge beyond these three, you can remember the deeper layer of back muscles with another trick:
“Some People Like Ice Cream” – for deeper back muscles:
- S – Splenius
- P – Posterior serratus
- L – Longissimus
- I – Iliocostalis
- C – Capitis
But for most beginners, focusing on Let’s Try Running is more than enough to build a strong foundation.
Final Thoughts
Understanding anatomy doesn’t have to be intimidating. With a little creativity, memory tricks like “Let’s Try Running” can help make learning faster and more enjoyable. Whether you’re a student, trainer, artist, or just curious, this simple trick will have you mastering the back muscles in no time!