Third "strongest" muscle in terms of force exerted at the point it inserts into the bone?

Question

I realize that in terms of raw force applied to the bone, the gluteus maximus and quadriceps femoris are probably the two "strongest muscles", but I'm wondering whether the pecs would be in third place. If not, what position would they rank and which muscles would be higher for the average person? I'm helping build an exercise machine and I'm wondering which 5 muscle pairs, if worked, will have the largest oxygen demands.

This is not a "strongest muscle fiber" question where many people will want to say "the tongue". I think the uterus actually wins that contest.

Yes, Citizen Insane, I agree that I should have phrased the question as "which muscles exert the greatest work."

I guess I was thinking that the pectoralis muscles might rank third due to huge bench press stats, but those are not for the average person. For the average person, the calves might even be able to exert more work than the pecs. I wasn't at all aware of the strength of the spinal rectus muscles.

I'm looking for the 5 strongest muscle pairs (in terms of work/oxygen consumption) for a casual weight lifter.

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Well, I think that your question should be rephrased as "which muscles exert greatest work", because smaller muscles could possibly exert greater force on a smaller point of insertion. Glutes and quads are well-developed because they are postural muscles used by every person daily -- not really so for pectoralis. For the average person, I don't think that their pectoralis muscles are very well-developed in general, unless they work out a lot. I think that the spinal rectus muscles actually would exert greater work than the pectoralis muscles in the average person -- under certain circumstances, strong contraction of the rectus muscles can shatter the vertebral column, which tells you something about their force-potential.

Answer 2

now that you have introduced female sexual muscles , can't we all be thinking , an exercise machine for the male muscle ?? perhaps this being the most thought of and used "muscle" of the male anatomy.