Term
Trapezius
Meaning
The trapezius is a large diamond-shaped muscle of the upper back and neck that forms the slope from neck to shoulder. According to OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology it lifts the shoulders, pulls the shoulder blades together and tilts the head back. For artists it matters as one of the biggest silhouette-defining masses, and its shape changes with a shrug or a reach. Draw it as one flat diamond wrapped over the ribcage and shoulder blade. See also: Deltoid, Scapula, Clavicle and the guide "Major Muscle Groups for Artists: Shapes Over Names".