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Muscle Atlas

Chest

Pectoralis major

The pectoralis major includes clavicular and sternocostal fibre regions. Terms such as upper or lower chest describe training emphasis rather than separate muscles.

Bench angle and arm path can shift emphasis without fully isolating one chest region.

Open in interactive Muscle Atlas

Training-relevant regions

These labels help with training navigation. They are not presented as completely isolated muscles.

Exercises for this area

The selection is curated around training roles. It is not a ranking or a claim that one exercise is optimal for everyone.

Classic exercises

Barbell Bench Press

Barbell · Bench

Established

Classic exercises

Incline Dumbbell Press

Dumbbells · Bench

Well supported

Classic exercises

Machine Chest Press

Machine

Well supported

Isolation exercises

Cable Fly

Cable

Well supported

Isolation exercises

Low-to-High Cable Fly

Cable

Limited direct evidence

Classic exercises

Decline Dumbbell Press

Dumbbells · Bench

Well supported

Isolation exercises

High-to-Low Cable Fly

Cable

Limited direct evidence

Classic exercises

Incline Barbell Press

Barbell · Bench

Established

Classic exercises

Smith Machine Incline Press

Machine · Bench

Well supported

Isolation exercises

Incline Dumbbell Fly

Dumbbells · Bench

Well supported

Bodybuilding Classics

Reverse-Grip Bench Press

Barbell · Bench

Bodybuilding Classic

Classic exercises

Dumbbell Bench Press

Dumbbells · Bench

Established

Classic exercises

Push-Up

Bodyweight

Established

Isolation exercises

Dumbbell Chest Fly

Dumbbells · Bench

Well supported

Isolation exercises

Pec Deck

Machine

Well supported

Bodybuilding Classics

Svend Press

Dumbbells

Bodybuilding Classic

Bodybuilding Classics

Dumbbell Pullover

Dumbbells · Bench

Bodybuilding Classic

Classic exercises

Decline Barbell Press

Barbell · Bench

Well supported

Classic exercises

Chest Dip

Bodyweight

Well supported

Isolation exercises

Single-Arm High-to-Low Cable Fly

Cable

Limited direct evidence

Bodybuilding Classics

Gironda Dip

Bodyweight

Bodybuilding Classic

Classic exercises

Landmine Press

Barbell

Well supported

Classic exercises

Close-Grip Bench Press

Barbell · Bench

Established

Classic exercises

Parallel-Bar Dip

Bodyweight

Well supported

Bodybuilding Classics

JM Press

Barbell · Bench

Bodybuilding Classic

Isolation exercises

Machine Pullover

Machine

Well supported

Classic exercises

Kneeling Push-Up

Bodyweight

Established

Classic exercises

Incline Push-Up

Bodyweight · Bench

Established

Classic exercises

Decline Push-Up

Bodyweight · Bench

Well supported

Classic exercises

Wide Push-Up

Bodyweight

Well supported

Classic exercises

Diamond Push-Up

Bodyweight

Well supported

Classic exercises

Pike Push-Up

Bodyweight

Established

Bodybuilding Classics

Bench Dip

Bodyweight · Bench

Bodybuilding Classic

Bodybuilding Classics

Barbell Floor Press

Barbell

Bodybuilding Classic

Bodybuilding Classics

Tate Press

Dumbbells · Bench

Bodybuilding Classic

Bodybuilding Classics

Close-Grip Floor Press

Barbell

Bodybuilding Classic

Classic exercises

Plyometric Push-Up

Bodyweight

Well supported

Bodybuilding Classics

Guillotine Press

Barbell · Bench

Bodybuilding Classic