Teres Major大圆肌
Function
The 'little lat': shoulder adduction, internal rotation and extension — functionally nearly identical to the latissimus dorsi. A piece of back thickness hit deeply by high-elbow rows.
Best Exercises & Form Cues
-
Wide-Grip Row
- Equipment
- Barbell/cable (wide grip)
- Sets & Reps
- 3-4 sets × 10-12 reps · rest 2 min
- How to do it
- Bent to about 45°, spine neutral; wide grip (1.5× shoulders); row to the upper chest with elbows about 80° open; squeeze the teres major and upper back at the finish; controlled descent.
- Common mistakes
- Pulling to the lower abdomen (lats take over), rounded back, big torso swings
-
Straight-Arm Pulldown
- Equipment
- Cable station
- Sets & Reps
- 3-4 sets × 12-15 reps · rest 60-90 s
- How to do it
- Arms straight with a micro-bend locked in; hinge at the shoulders to press the bar to the front of the thighs; full lat contraction at the top, return to a complete shoulder stretch.
- Common mistakes
- Bending the elbows (triceps takeover), torso swinging, shrugging
-
Reverse-Grip Lat Pulldown
- Equipment
- Lat pulldown machine (underhand)
- Sets & Reps
- 3-4 sets × 10-12 reps · rest 90 s
- How to do it
- Palms facing you, shoulder-width; slight backward lean; pull the bar to the upper chest with the elbows driving down and back; scapulae depressed at the finish; lat tension throughout; return to a full stretch.
- Common mistakes
- Rocking back for momentum, partial range, excessive wrist flexion
-
Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
- Equipment
- Dumbbell + bench support
- Sets & Reps
- 3-4 sets × 8-12 reps per side · rest 90 s
- How to do it
- One hand and knee on the bench, back parallel to the floor; row the dumbbell toward the hip with the elbow close; squeeze the scapula 1 second at the top; lower to a full lat stretch.
- Common mistakes
- Rounded back with torso rotation, pulling to the chest (rear-delt takeover), flinging the weight
Stretching & Recovery
- High cross-arm stretch
- Pull-up bar side swing
Other muscles in the Back
Trapezius (Upper) · Trapezius (Mid/Lower) · Latissimus Dorsi · Rhomboids · Levator Scapulae · Erector Spinae · Quadratus Lumborum · Semispinalis Capitis · Serratus Posterior
Explore the Teres Major in the 3D anatomy tool →