What is the difference between pectoral minor and major?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the differences between the pectoralis minor and major muscles, various exercises to enhance pectoral development, and concerns regarding whether exercise can stunt growth. It encompasses theoretical aspects of muscle anatomy, practical exercise recommendations, and personal experiences related to fitness and bodybuilding.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the anatomical differences between the pectoralis minor and major muscles.
  • Various exercises are suggested for developing the pectorals, including push-ups, bench presses, and cable exercises, with differing opinions on their effectiveness.
  • Concerns are raised about whether exercise can stunt growth, with some participants arguing that it does not, while others emphasize the importance of nutrition and sleep.
  • Some participants advocate for a holistic approach to fitness, suggesting a balanced workout routine that targets multiple muscle groups rather than focusing solely on the pectorals.
  • There are differing views on the safety and effectiveness of heavy weightlifting, with some cautioning against starting with excessively heavy weights.
  • Variations of push-ups are discussed, with some participants claiming they can enhance strength and range of motion.
  • Personal anecdotes regarding workout experiences and the gradual buildup of strength are shared, highlighting the diversity of approaches to fitness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on exercise effectiveness and safety, with no clear consensus on the best approach to developing pectoral muscles or the impact of exercise on growth. Multiple competing views remain regarding the best practices for weightlifting and muscle development.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions include assumptions about individual fitness levels, the role of genetics in muscle growth, and the potential risks associated with certain exercises. The conversation reflects a variety of personal experiences and beliefs about fitness without resolving these complexities.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in fitness, bodybuilding, or anatomy, particularly those looking to enhance their understanding of pectoral development and exercise strategies.

ConcealedDreamer
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What is the difference between pectoral minor and major? What exercises "buffs" up pectorals? Does doing exercise stunt growth?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/PectoralisSternal.html

http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/PectoralisMinor.html

Click on the links under movement.

Pushups are perhaps the easiest, and relatively low impact for the pectoralis major, and rather than hands resting on palms, extend fingers - i.e. finger tip push ups.

Bench press with barbell or dumb bells to the side works.

Using the lats bar on a universal - facing the bar and pulling down in front, the rotating forearms forward and downward.

Each exercise puts a different stress orientation on the muscle.

Exercise does not stunt growth. Improper nutrition will have an effect as well as too little sleep. Growth is affected by hormones and genetics.
 
I see, thanks!
 
If you don't have time to follow this link, you don't have the dedication to get good pecs:
http://www.bullz-eye.com/furci/2002/041701.htm

I have been reading Michael Furci for a logn time, and he knows his stuff. He's not some men's magazine journalist that makes up stuff, either.
 
ConcealedDreamer said:
What is the difference between pectoral minor and major? What exercises "buffs" up pectorals? Does doing exercise stunt growth?

butterflys, dumbell raises, bench press...

On another note, pull-ups or chin-ups are excellent for getting that V-shape in the back. Think Brad Pitt in Fight Club
 
ConcealedDreamer said:
What is the difference between pectoral minor and major?
Pectoral Major would be Pamela Anderson; Pectoral Minor would be Sandra Bullock, but one hell of a lot hotter anyhow. :biggrin:
 
You gain very little by doing finger push ups.

I like to use cables, but whatever works for you.
 
Push-up work for me, with your palm just outside your shoulder gives a width to your pecs and just inside gives them depth.
 
Finger pushups increase the range by about 4 inches, which stretches the muscles. And it strengthens the fingers - especially one-arm finger push-ups. Very useful for those who do martial arts - like shotokan or kempo.

A variation on pushups - push back as fast as possible then clap hands together in front of chest - first one clap, then work up to 2 claps and more.

Variation on that - clap hands behind the back or behind head.

And catch yourself before you land on the ground. :biggrin:

Do at least 10 or even 20 reps of each.

Very good exercise that promotes speed as well as strength - all very important in martial arts.
 
  • #10
the best thing you can do is simply throw on the heaviest weights you can muster in the 8-10 rep range after a warmup, and then go down in reps on every supsequent set, while going up in weight. you'll get huge, trust me.
 
  • #11
Gza said:
the best thing you can do is simply throw on the heaviest weights you can muster in the 8-10 rep range after a warmup, and then go down in reps on every supsequent set, while going up in weight. you'll get huge, trust me.

Hmm, and risking damaging your back :rolleyes:

If you're starting from the beginning, don't go start bench pressing 300+ pounds
or even 200.
 
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  • #12
damaging your back? when lying flat on the bench?? & starting with 200 or 300lbs?! i haven't heard of anybody doing anything like that. everybody starts with whatever they can handle, & then they work up to big weights over the course of YEARS. (not weeks or months!)

i'm not down with benching because i don't want to risk wrecking my shoulders, so i guess i don't do anything direct for my chest. since I'm old-school i don't use any more equipment other than a bar, a squat rack, & some plates. the only pressing i do is overhead. if i really wanted to concentrate on my chest though, i'd do nothing but bench presses, because then i'd have 2 joints (elbows & shoulders) & all the muscles around there working as a team, rather than isolating just 1. isn't that how things work in the real world? when pushing a car out of a ditch you don't try to isolate your hamstrings; your hamstrings, quads, calves, glutes, lower back, etc all work together. same idea with bench pressing.
 
  • #13
The_Professional said:
Hmm, and risking damaging your back :rolleyes:

If you're starting from the beginning, don't go start bench pressing 300+ pounds
or even 200.


lol. I wish it were that easy! No one can just slap 300 pounds onto a bar and bench it as a beginner. I've been working out consistently for 8 years (mostly for football and other sports), and have been a personal trainer for the past 3. After all that, my bench isn't more than 280 (haven't had one weightroom related injury either). I started off at barely being able to lift around 65 (which at the time I would struggle with for about 8-10 reps.) I would say without flinching, that if you are too afraid to exert yourself, and push your body to it's limits, you'll never improve. And, sorry, you can do pushups until you're blue in the face, but a pushup just isn't enough of a signal to your body that it needs to put on strength and muscle mass.
 
  • #14
A gradual buildup of weights over the course of a few weeks is what I was implying. Since I've seen friends just go all the way after not having worked out in a long while. Risking injury

As far as pushups go, they're great but depending on whether you're building strength or just don't have space for an equipment that or dumbbells/barbells may be enough.
 
  • #15
ConcealedDreamer said:
What is the difference between pectoral minor and major? What exercises "buffs" up pectorals? Does doing exercise stunt growth?

I've been into exercising for a long time: Dont' concentrate on one musscle group just because they look cool, well delts too but I digress. Approach exercising from a "whole body" perspective. The results will come if you stick to it: Say about 20-30 different exercises in a one hour period, several sets of some if you wish but distribute them over upper body, legs, abs, arms, back. The nice pecs will emerge naturally say, 3-6 months and in the end you'll have a nice uniform appearance instead of some big stuff and others not so.

Wait a minute: 3-6 months if you're young. If you're like me in your 40's, you'll need to exercise regularly just to stay even and can forget about getting anything much bigger than you already have them, natural-wise anyway.
 
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