Neck-to-torso muscles (neck, shoulders, chest, back, abdomen)
Use the neck, shoulder, chest, back, and abdominal muscles as surface forms over the ribcage, spine, and pelvis.
What it is
You identify the main muscle groups connecting the head and torso: the sternocleidomastoid and rear neck muscles, deltoid, pectoralis major, trapezius, visible lats, and abdominal wall.
You place these groups as shapes from different angles. The sternocleidomastoid runs from behind the ear to the chest notch. The deltoid wraps from the collarbone and shoulder blade into the upper arm. The chest muscle extends from the breastbone and collarbone into the upper arm. The abdominal forms sit over the front of the ribcage and pelvis.
You track overlaps and landmarks, including the collarbones, neck hollow, V at the base of the neck, trapezius ridge, moving shoulder blades, and abdominal forms that follow the ribcage and pelvis.
Why it matters
These muscle groups give necks, shoulders, chests, backs, and abdomens structure during twists, bends, and changes in pose. Weak control can make the neck cylindrical, the shoulders rounded, the chest flat, or the back and abdomen lose their major planes.
You can check it when
- ✓Draw a neck that connects the head to the torso, with the front neck muscles running from the ear area to the chest notch.
- ✓Wrap the deltoid and chest muscles around the shoulder from multiple angles, and show distinct trapezius, shoulder blade, lat, and abdominal forms that follow the ribcage and pelvis.