Recommended reading;

Within my library of training and nutritional books, i have found one to be invaluable in helping me understand the names of the muscles and their placement on the body. This book is called"Strength Training Anatomy" by Frederic Delavier. Not only does it contain detailed anatomy charts but it also gives you some of the more common and well scientifically documented exercises to use regarding that bodypart.
I place a high level of stress on the fact that if you know where that muscle is and how it is suppossed to look and feel, then there is a much better chance that you will be able to work on that muscle more efficiently in the gym. Now i know not everyone has the time or patience to sit down and stare at the book for hours memorizing the names of the over several hundred muscles of the body. However, we all have the time to sit down to get acquainted with the more popular muscles and the not so popular ones enough so that you will be able to draw upon that experience when it is called for in the gym, therefore saving you time in the gym in the long run and seeing more accomplishment as well. Now tell me, who doesn't have time for a little more muscle and a little less time spent in the gym?
Not only does knowing where the muscle is good for training but also the fact that when those muscles do decide to show themselves you will be able to identify them on your body. Whenever the larger muscles have been brought to the point of development where you are going to need to work on the smaller ones, you will know how to train the complementary muscles as well. This ascends across all levels of training as well as across all spectrums of training goals, from the baseball pitcher trying to gain strength for his fastball to the tennis player looking to strengthen their backhand, this book will not only show you where the muscles are located but also a comprehensive training approach as well.