Because of the amount of muscle each lift recruits, the deadlift and squat are two of the best measures of raw strength. In fact, they are two of the three lifts performed in powerlifting competitions. You might think of the deadlift as a squat in which you hold the barbell. Even the "Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding"

To some, a big butt is a sign of curvaceous beauty, but all those extra curves can be a hindrance when you want to squeeze your bum into a pair of fashionable skinny jeans.

Joints form the meeting point between two or more bones. At the hip joint, the femur meets the pelvis. In a standing position, the femur hangs directly down from the pelvis. This position is extension of the hip.

If you're looking for curvier hips, the muscles to target are the gluteus maximus and tensor fasciae latae. Transverse hip abductor machines are effective at targeting these muscles, but body-weight exercises can add variation to your bigger-hip regimen.

Having sufficient lung capacity assists endurance athletes by allowing lungs to generously expand with enough oxygen to meet the body's needs. Physical activities such as running, swimming and soccer are categorized under "aerobic" exercises, with the word "aerobic" literally meaning "concerning air."

Your gluteal muscles, or buttocks, comprise the largest muscle group in your body. These muscles anchor your torso, pelvis and legs together and are actively involved in daily activities such as walking and running.

During pregnancy, it is important to keep your body in shape through exercise and diet. Because of the normal increase in fat storage during each trimester, you may find that your derriere is less toned than before.

A bench squat is simply a squat to a bench. You tap the bench with your buttocks at the bottom of your descent. This helps identify when you should start lifting back to standing, making it a helpful form reminder. You're likely to achieve more depth than a novice might doing a regular squat without a bench.

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle, comprised of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, to the heel bone in the foot. This tendon connection allows the calf muscles to move the foot in both plantar flexion (downwards) and dorsi flexion (upwards) and is vital to sprinting, jumping and other activities.

Walking is good exercise that almost anyone can do. Even overweight people or those seriously out of condition can walk at least a little. Walking helps shed pounds, improves cardiovascular fitness and builds or tones muscles.

Your glutes can be a source of pride or focus of concern. Keep your glutes firm and lifted, or enhance the appearance of your backside, by adding ankle weight exercises to your workout.

Squats are among the best exercises for strengthening the muscles of your legs and hips. Two variations of the movement -- the back squat, which uses a barbell, and the hack squat, which requires a dedicated hack squat machine -- target the quadriceps muscles on the front of your thigh.