What muscles do pull-ups work?

The primary muscles that are worked by doing pull-ups are the latissimus dorsi and biceps brachii. The latissimus dorsi is the broad muscle in the back that is utilized when moving the shoulders. The biceps brachii are in the front part of the upper arms and are commonly called biceps.

Among the secondary muscles that are worked by doing pull-ups are the trapezius, which is the large muscle in the neck, shoulders and upper back; the deltoid muscles, which cover the shoulder joints; the oblique muscles, which are on the side of the torso; and the pectoralis major, which is the muscle in the chest.