What is Your Strongest Muscle?
The strongest muscle in your body, based on its weight and the force it can generate, is the masseter. This muscle is your primary chewing muscle, located in your jaw.
The masseter, when working in conjunction with other jaw muscles, can exert a tremendous amount of force. Sources such as the Library of Congress and multiple other reputable websites consistently identify the masseter as the strongest muscle relative to its size. It's capable of closing your teeth with a force of up to 55 pounds on your incisors and a staggering 200 pounds on your molars. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
This impressive strength isn't just for chewing; it plays a crucial role in a variety of facial expressions and jaw movements.
- Chewing: The primary function, enabling us to break down food.
- Speech: Contributing to articulation and clear pronunciation.
- Facial Expressions: Assisting in movements like clenching your jaw.
While other muscles, like the gluteus maximus (the largest muscle), are incredibly powerful, the masseter's strength-to-weight ratio makes it the strongest. The claim that the tongue is the strongest muscle is a common myth that has been debunked. [6, 7] The heart is a powerful muscle essential for life, but it's not typically considered in comparisons of skeletal muscle strength. [8, 9] Claims about other muscles such as the soleus (calf muscle) being the strongest are based on different criteria. [10]
Dispelling Myths
It's important to note that defining "strongest" can be ambiguous. Some might argue for muscles based on sheer size (like the gluteus maximus), while others prioritize the force exerted relative to size (masseter). This ambiguity leads to variations in the answer.
References:
- Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/item/what-is-the-strongest-muscle-in-the-human-body/
- Wonderopolis: https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-the-strongest-muscle-in-your-body
- MedicineNet: https://www.medicinenet.com/strongest_muscle_in_the_human_body/ask.htm
- Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/comments/r1t3nt/typically_whats_the_strongest_muscle_in_the_human/
- Original Reference (Nov 19, 2019): (Note: This reference is incomplete and lacks a URL. The information was included in the provided text.)
- Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-the-tongue-is-the-strongest-muscle-in-the-body/
- Live Science: https://www.livescience.com/32823-strongest-human-muscles.html
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Strongest-Muscle-Mindset-Unstoppable/dp/0593579615
- Santa Clara University: https://www.scu.edu/illuminate/thought-leaders/jerry-smith/the-strongest-muscle-your-mind.html
- Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/largest-muscle-in-the-body
