Muscles come in all shapes and sizes. Their jobs is to exert force in order to move objects, whether that’s lifting a weight, moving a limb, pumping blood or batting an eyelid. But which muscle is the strongest? There is no easy answer, as there are a few different ways to measure strength. You can have absolute strength, which is measured as the maximum amount of force a muscle can generate at any one time. You also have dynamic strength, which is the ability to generate force repeatedly. Then there is explosive strength, which is the ability to generate force very quickly. And let’s not forget strength endurance, which is the ability to withstand fatigue and generate force over time. So here are the top five strongest muscles in the body based on these different ways to measure strength: Heart The heart, which consists of cardiac muscle, is said to be the hardest working muscle in the body. The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000 times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times during a 70-year span. This is a great example of dynamic strength as well as strength endurance. Masseter The masseter is located in the jaw and is one of the muscles of mastication or chewing. The bite strength of an average man is between 117 to 265 pounds. This ability to exert a force on an external object is an example of absolute strength. Soleus The soleus is one of the calf muscles and is said to be the muscle that can pull with the greatest force. It is what keeps us upright when standing and is in a constant fight against gravity. Its capable of producing both dynamic and explosive strength. Gluteus Maximus The gluteus maximus is not only one of the strongest muscles in the body, it is also the largest. It’s main function is hip extension, which we perform when running, jumping, climbing steps and during many other movements. The gluteus are capable of producing great explosive and dynamic strength. Uterus The muscles of the uterus in the lower pelvis region have the ability to stretch and contract with considerable force. Ask any woman who has gone through childbirth and I’m sure they would agree. They are a great combination of strength endurance, dynamic strength and absolute strength. Source
