Final answer:
The muscles responsible for globally stabilizing the humerus during the bench press are the rotator cuff muscles (C). The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muscles Used to Stabilize the Humerus During the Bench Press
The question concerned with identifying the muscles used to globally stabilize the humerus during a bench press exercise requires an understanding of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the muscles of the shoulder and upper limb. The options provided were: A) Pectoralis major, B) Deltoids, C) Rotator cuff muscles, and D) Triceps brachii.
While the pectoralis major and deltoids are indeed primary movers of the humerus during the bench press by providing the force needed to lift the barbell, the stabilization of the humerus is primarily the responsibility of the rotator cuff muscles. These muscles comprise the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. They function collectively to maintain the head of the humerus within the glenoid fossa of the scapula, thus providing stability to the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint against the dynamic movement caused during the bench press.
In contrast, the pectoralis major assists in moving the arm across the chest and the triceps brachii extends the elbow, but they are not the main stabilizers of the humerus in this context. Therefore, the correct option for the muscles used to globally stabilize the humerus during the bench press is C) Rotator cuff muscles.