Skip to main content

Table 3 Muscle fiber type percentage by muscle site (Loughlin 1993; Dastgir et al. 2016; Cotta and Paim 2016)

From: Muscle biopsy essential diagnostic advice for pathologists

Muscle group

Mean (%)

Predominance (%)

Type 1

Type 2

Type 1

Type 2

Biceps brachii (surface)

42.3

57.7

> 62.3

> 77.7

Biceps brachii (deep)

50.5

49.5

> 70.5

> 69.5

Brachioradialis

39.8

60.2

> 59.8

> 80.2

Deltoid (superficial)

53.3

46.7

> 73.3

> 66.7

Deltoid (deep)

61.0

39.0

> 81.0

> 59.0

Extensor digitorum

47.3

52.7

> 67.3

> 72.7

Extensor digitorum brevis

45.3

54.7

> 65.3

> 74.7

Gastrocnemius (lateral head surface)

43.5

56.5

> 63.5

> 76.5

Gastrocnemius (lateral head deep)

50.3

49.7

> 70.3

> 69.7

Gastrocnemius (medial head)

50.8

49.2

> 70.8

> 69.2

Peroneus longus

62.5

37.5

> 82.5

> 57.5

Rectus femoris (lateral head surface)

29.5

70.5

> 49.5

> 90.5

Rectus femoris (lateral head deep)

42.0

58.0

> 62.0

> 78.0

Rectus femoris (medial head)

42.8

57.2

> 62.8

> 77.2

Tibialis anterior (surface)

73.4

26.6

> 93.4

> 46.6

Tibialis anterior (deep)

72.7

27.3

> 92.7

> 47.3

Triceps brachii (surface)

32.5

67.5

> 52.5

> 87.5

Triceps brachii (deep)

32.7

19.6

> 52.7

> 39.6

Vastus lateralis (surface)

37.8

67.3

> 57.8

> 87.3

Vastus lateralis (deep)

46.9

53.1

> 66.9

> 73.1