There is a lot of speculation regarding which is our strongest muscle in the human body. Some say that the heart is the strongest tissue in the human body while others will say that it is the gluteus maximus (or buttocks). There are over six hundred of muscles and many other muscle groups to choose from. Because of this, there are numerous ways in which to measure a muscle’s strength. So, it is easy to see how it might be difficult to get a straight answer to the question.
To determine which muscle in the body is the strongest, it is important to determine what type of muscle it is. Group types are cardiac (heart), skeletal (attached to bones) and smooth (blood vessels, uterus and intestines). Each group has very distinct functions and, when comparing strength, size is relevant to measuring against other muscles in the body.
Determining tissue strength involves several factors. These are: the absolute maximum strength of the tissue (called maximum force), how many times a motion can be repeated (dynamic strength), how quickly force can be exerted (elastic strength) and endurance, or how long the motion or task can be withstood without fatigue. All of these factors are used to determine while taking into consideration the size of muscle. Because of this very important size to strength ratio, each independent fibers and those within groups can be evaluated to determine which is the strongest. Unfortunately, because of the over 600 muscles in the body, these measurements will most likely produce multiple answers to the question of which (individual) one is the strongest. This is because smaller tissues may equally produce results in maximum force, dynamic strength, elastic strength and endurance as a larger muscle. It really depends upon what the primary function is of the muscle or group.
Relative to the various sizes of muscles in the body, there are several in the body that can be considered to be the strongest. First on the list would be the gluteus maximus or buttocks. It is the largest, very powerful and is responsible for keeping the body in an upright position. Without the constant use of the buttocks while standing or walking, a person would be slumped or lean to one side or another. The tongue also very powerful in relation to its size and function. It is continuously working (even while one sleeps) and is responsible for speech, aiding in chewing and swallowing.
Relative a muscle’s power, the heart can be considered the strongest in the body. The heart never stops functioning and is responsible for circulating blood around the body at an alarming rate. It pumps thousands of gallons of blood every day for the lifetime of the person. There is no comparison of other tissues to the endurance rate of the heart. No others can function for as long as the heart can without experiencing fatigue. So, to understand which one is the strongest muscle in the human body is to understand all the factors that go into the answer.
