"Muscle Matters: Unveiling the Body's Largest and Smallest Muscles"
The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the body by mass, accounting for about 12% to 13% of the total weight of all leg muscles. It is responsible for extending the thigh at the hip joint and is critical for activities like walking up stairs and running. On the other hand, the latissimus dorsi, commonly known as the "lats," is the largest muscle in terms of surface area. It measures about 7 inches in width and 14 inches in length. In contrast, the stapedius muscle, measuring only 0.2 inches in length, is the smallest skeletal muscle in the human body and plays a crucial role in dampening sound vibrations in the middle ear.