Medial Head Tricep Exercises

How to Target Your Middle Triceps

By: Jeremy Fox, CNC, CPT – Published: August 30, 2022

The triceps are the largest muscles on your arms. And it makes sense to optimize your tricep workouts if you want bigger guns.

Also, the tricep consists of multiple parts that give it a horseshoe shape. So you need to understand how to target each part to build tricep shape and proportion.

The medial head of the tricep is an often-overlooked muscle segment due to its hidden location. But building the medial head will make your triceps stronger and more complete.

That’s why you should read this article and understand how the tricep functions. Plus, you’ll see 13 of the best medial head tricep exercises.

Medial Head Tricep Exercises DB French Press

Triceps Anatomy & Physiology

How to Work The Medial Head

Best Medial Head Tricep Exercises

Medial Head Tricep Workout

Triceps Muscle Anatomy & Physiology

The “tri” triceps means this muscle comprises three distinct heads. These heads are called the long head, lateral head, and medial head of the triceps.

Together, the tricep muscles’ primary function is elbow extension. So you use these muscles any time you straighten your arm or push against an object.

All three heads insert into the upper ulna bone of the forearm near the elbow. However, each one has different origins near the shoulder joint.

Long Head of Triceps

The long head is the largest of the three tricep muscles, and it’s located on the inner part of your rear upper arm. It originates on the scapula bone near the back of your shoulder.

As a result, the long head also works to stabilize the shoulder joint. And it is most active during elbow extension with your arm down by your side.

Lateral Head of Triceps

The lateral head is located on the outer part of your rear upper arm and originates on the back of the humerus bone in your upper arm. It is considered the strongest of the three tricep heads.

Since it is not connected to the scapula, the lateral head does not work to stabilize the shoulder. Instead, it is purely involved in elbow extension.

Medial Head of Triceps

The medial triceps head also originates on the upper humerus bone. However, the medial head lies mostly beneath the long and lateral head.

In terms of function, the medial head serves to extend the elbow. And it is most active when your arm is elevated at or above shoulder level.

While it’s not as visible as the other two heads, training the medial head adds thickness to your arms and strength in pushing movements. So let’s look at how to work the medial head.

How To Work the Medial Head of the Tricep

It’s important to realize that all three heads of the tricep are involved any time you extend your arm. And there is no way to isolate one or two heads while eliminating the others.

That said, your arm angle, hand position, range of motion, and load/rep range all affect the extent to which each tricep head is activated. And there are several ways to target the medial head during tricep exercises.

Arm Elevation

Probably the most critical factor in tricep head activation is arm elevation. In other words, the position of your upper arm relative to your shoulder.

Arm position is measured in degrees where 0^o is down at your side and 180^ois directly overhead. So 90^owould be your arm straight out in front of your body.

Medial Head Tricep Exercises Arm Elevation

Studies show that the medial triceps head takes over at arm elevations of 90^o and above shoulder level¹. Therefore, practically speaking, you work the medial head more with exercises where your arms are at shoulder level or higher.

Remember that this is an angle relative to your body, not the floor. So this rule applies when standing perfectly upright, leaning forward, or lying on a bench.

Range of Motion

We can also use degrees to measure the range of motion used during exercises. The range of motion of a tricep exercise is from approximately 0^o (arm straight) to around 150^o (arm fully bent).

Studies show that the long head is most active at around 45^o in the elbow’s range of motion. In comparison, the lateral and medial heads are more active at about 90^o in the range of motion¹.

Therefore, it makes sense to choose exercises where the loading is maximized with the elbow at 90^o to work the medial head the most. That is when your forearm and upper arm form a right angle.

Hand Position

Another factor determining which tricep heads get involved is your hand position specifically, whether you use an overhand or underhand grip on exercises.

The technical term for hand position is supination vs pronation. Supination is where your palm faces up, while pronation is palm down.

While the triceps has no mechanical role in rotating the forearm or hand, studies suggest that it may be more active when the hand is supinated². That means it might be better to use an underhand grip for targeting all the tricep heads, including the medial head.

Load & Rep Range

Lastly, it’s essential to know that muscle fibers are categorized as either type I or II. Type I fibers are generally used during light, high repetition movements. In contrast, type II fibers get used during low repetition explosive movements with heavy loads.

Furthermore, each tricep head comprises a different ratio of type I and type II fibers. So it makes sense to use different loads and rep ranges when targeting a specific head.

For instance, studies reveal that the medial head of the triceps is predominantly formed by type I muscle fibers. On the other hand, the lateral head has the largest quantity of type II fibers. And the long head has a balanced mixture of both types³.

Therefore, the medial head should respond better to precise, lower force movements with a lighter load.

In addition, another study suggests the medial head fatigues at a slower rate than the other two heads. Specifically, the long and lateral heads fatigue at around 45 seconds, while the medial head goes strong for 65 seconds.

This finding means that sets performed with a longer time under tension should favor the medial head of the tricep. And it would help if you aimed to extend the exercise using drop sets or isometric holds occasionally.

To recap, here are the best ways to target the medial head:

Elevate your upper arm 90-180^o to your body (straight out to overhead)
Choose exercises where the load is highest when your elbow is bent 90^o
Use an underhand (supinated) grip to further isolate the triceps
Include some exercises with lower loads and higher reps
Increase time under tension with drop sets or isometric holds

Best Medial Head Tricep Exercises

Now that you know the targeting techniques, let’s look at some specific medial head tricep exercises. Again, I’ve divided this list into barbell, dumbbell, cable, and machine exercises.

Barbell Medial Head Tricep Exercises

First, let’s look at exercises you can do using various barbells.

1. Flat Bench Skull Crushers

Skull crushers are a fundamental tricep exercise where you lay on a bench and lower the bar to your forehead. The proximity of the weight to your head is how this exercise got its name. But don’t worry, it’s relatively safe!

Start with your feet on the floor and lean back with your upper body lying flat on the bench. At first, your arms will extend straight out in front of you, 90^o to your body.

Before you begin, tilt your arms a few degrees back towards your head. This angle keeps tension on your triceps through the whole range of motion.

Next, lower the weight by bending your elbows. Once the bar reaches the top of your head, extend your elbows back up to the starting position.

Also, keep your upper arms fixed during the exercise to reduce the involvement of the long head while targeting the medial head.

Skull Crusher Alternative

2. Incline Skull Crushers

Performing skull crushers on an incline bench is an easy way to increase activation of the medial tricep head because it creates a larger angle between your body and upper arm.

For example, when you set the bench at a 30^o incline, the angle between your upper arm and body increases from 90^o to 120^oto keep your arms below the weight. And that angle is better for targeting the medial head.

Start with your feet on the floor and lean back on the bench like a typical skull crusher exercise. Then scoot up the backrest, so the bar doesn’t hit the top of the bench when you lower it.

Now extend your arms straight over your head and lower the weight by bending at the elbows until the bar reaches the top of your head. Then extend your arms back to the starting position.

3. Barbell French Press

The French press is essentially a skull crusher performed in the upright position. You can do this standing or seated on a bench with a vertical backrest.

Again, the idea is to increase the arm angle compared to your body. Your upper arm should be roughly 180^o around your shoulder for this variation.

In addition, the upright body position puts more loading on the tricep when your arm is bent 90^o at the bottom of the movement. This loading is also ideal for hitting the medial head.

Start by raising the bar to shoulder level and then pressing it to arm’s length overhead. Now bend your elbows and lower the bar behind your head while keeping your upper arms stationary.

Extend your arms to push the bar back up to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of reps.

Dumbbell Medial Head Tricep Exercises

You can also do these medial head tricep exercises with dumbbells. Again, the individual weights force each arm to work and stabilize independently.

In addition, dumbbells make it easier to change your grip and hand position to target the medial head.

4. Single Dumbbell French Press

The dumbbell French press is the same general exercise as the barbell version, except you use a single dumbbell. This variation is essentially a closer grip with more internal arm rotation.

First, grab a dumbbell with both palms on the inside of one end. Then lift the dumbbell to shoulder level and extend it straight overhead.

Now lower the dumbbell behind your head by bending at the elbows while keeping your upper arms stationary. Next, extend your arms to return the dumbbell to the overhead position and squeeze your triceps.

5. Neutral Grip Dumbbell Skull Crushers

The neutral grip dumbbell skull crusher is more like a traditional barbell skull crusher, except your palms face each other throughout the movement.

Begin by grabbing a dumbbell in each hand and sitting on a bench. Now lay back and press the dumbbells to arm’s length. Tilt your arms slightly up towards your head.

Next, lower the dumbbells on either side of your head by bending at the elbows. Then extend your arms and squeeze your triceps to return to the starting position.

6. Incline Dumbbell Skull Crushers

One way you can further target the medial head is by performing incline dumbbell skull crushers. Again, the increased arm elevation reduces the involvement of the long head.

7. Reverse Grip Dumbbell Skull Crushers

Another way to work the medial head is using a reverse grip on any dumbbell skull crusher variation. This hand position means your palms face your head throughout the exercise.

Cable Medial Head Tricep Exercises

Next up, let’s look at some cable medial head tricep exercises. This apparatus allows for added variety and more constant tension throughout the movements.

8. Cable Tricep Pressdown

The cable pressdown is another staple tricep exercise you can include in any arm workout. However, most people do this exercise all wrong, especially for targeting the medial head!

For starters, you don’t want to stand right up close to the cable. This stance reduces the arm angle to nearly 0^o, which takes tension off the tricep for most of the range of motion.

Instead, step back and lean forward until your arm is closer to 90^o to your body. This position keeps tension on the tricep throughout the range of motion and works the medial head more.

My YouTube channel has dozens of videos showing you how to do a variety of bodybuilding exercises. You’ll learn how to target and build specific muscle groups in 90 seconds or less. Click HERE to subscribe, or click on the button below!

9. Rope Tricep Pressdown

Another option for the cable tricep pressdown involves the rope attachment. This handle places your hands in a neutral position and incorporates all parts, including the medial head.

Again, focus on using the proper form, as illustrated in the video above, to keep more tension on the triceps instead of using momentum or other muscle groups.

10. Reverse Grip Pushdown

The reverse grip pushdown is an excellent exercise for targeting the medial head of the tricep. In addition, the supinated grip makes cheating harder and prevents using the shoulders/chest.

I recommend using a lighter weight for 12-15 repetitions while focusing on squeezing the triceps. This hand position and loading help you hone in on the medial head.

11. Cable Overhead Extension

You can also hit the medial tricep head using an overhead cable extension. This is similar to the French press exercise, except you can adjust your body and arm position.

For example, you can adjust the height of the pulley to put more tension on your triceps in the stretched position, which works more medial head.

12. Cross Body Extension

The cross-body extension is a single-arm tricep exercise on the cable machine. This exercise offers tremendous versatility, and you can set it up to work the medial head.

Start by setting the pulley at shoulder height or slightly higher. Then attach a single handle or grab the cable with one hand.

Now step away from the pulley and allow your arm to bend across your body with your hand at shoulder height. Next, extend your arm at the elbow while keeping your upper arms stationary.

You can use a neutral grip on this exercise where your palm faces the floor. However, I like to use a single handle with a reverse grip to feel a better squeeze in the medial head.

Machine Medial Head Tricep Exercises

Lastly is a medial head tricep exercise you can do on a machine.

13. Machine Tricep Extension

Some gyms have a tricep extension machine consisting of a seat, armrest, and pivoting handles. The handles attach to a belt or cable which connects to a weight stack.

Generally, these machines use a natural grip that’s good for targeting all three heads of the triceps. I recommend lowering the seat to target the medial head until your upper arms are about 90^o from your torso.

Custom Nutrition & Workout Plan

Get a personalized meal plan built to fit your body and lifestyle. Including a custom workout routine designed around your fitness goals.

With your custom plan, you will finally be able to burn fat, build muscle, and transform your body. All this for just $24.99!

Click here to choose your plan.

Medial Head Tricep Workout

Most of your tricep workouts should include exercises, loads, and rep ranges that target all three heads of your triceps. This approach is the best way to maximize arm strength and size increases.

Still, there may be times when you want to blast your medial head into new gains. That’s when you could consider a medial head-focused tricep workout.

You’ll want to utilize the abovementioned techniques and exercises to increase medial head activation. Such as overhead arm angles and greater loading when the elbow is bent.

In addition, make sure to include some sets with lower weights and higher rep ranges and extended time under tension using drop sets or static holds for >45 seconds.

Here is an idea of what a medial head tricep workout would look like.

Incline Skull Crusher – 5 sets, 8-12 reps
Dumbbell French Press – 5 sets, 10-15 reps
Cross-Body Cable Extensions – 5 sets, 15-20 reps
Machine Tricep Extensions – 3 sets, 8-12 reps (drop sets)
Machine Tricep Isometric Holds – 3 sets, 60 seconds each

More Bodybuilding Exercises

Building your best body takes more than just a nice pair of triceps. You need exercises tailored to every muscle group and every muscle within each group!

Here are some additional body part-specific exercises:

Long Head Tricep Exercises for Max Mass

Lateral Head Tricep Exercises for Chiseled Arms

Short Head Bicep Exercises for Sleeve Busting Arms

Long Head Bicep Exercises for Peak

Brachialis Exercises for Stronger Biceps

Rear Delt Exercises for 3D Shoulders

Front Delt Exercises for Size & Strength

Side Delt Exercises for Capped Shoulders

I also have some awesome content related to nutrition and supplements. Check out these other great articles.