> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ascendapi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Muscle Visualizer

> Generate dynamic anatomical muscle visualizations for health and fitness applications.

The **Muscle Visualizer API** lets you render real-time anatomical muscle diagrams  with heatmaps, targeted highlights, and workout activation patterns  for both male and female body models.

***

## Visualization Modes

<Tabs>
  <Tab icon="flame" title="Heatmap">
    Assign a unique color to each individual muscle group across the full body. Ideal for showing intensity, fatigue, or development at a glance.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Male">
        <Frame>
          <img src="https://cdn.exercisedb.dev/exercisedb/heatmap-map.webp" alt="Heatmap male" />
        </Frame>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Female">
        <Frame>
          <img src="https://cdn.exercisedb.dev/exercisedb/heatmap-f-2.png" alt="Heatmap female" />
        </Frame>
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    **Perfect for:** intensity mapping, progress tracking, fatigue mapping, custom color schemes.
  </Tab>

  <Tab icon="goal" title="Muscle Highlight">
    Fill one or more muscle groups with a single color, leaving the rest neutral. The cleanest visualization for educational content and exercise guides.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Male">
        <Frame>
          <img src="https://cdn.exercisedb.dev/exercisedb/muscle-m-2.png" alt="Highlight male" />
        </Frame>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Female">
        <Frame>
          <img src="https://cdn.exercisedb.dev/exercisedb/muscle-f-1.png" alt="Highlight female" />
        </Frame>
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    **Perfect for:** muscle identification, exercise targeting, workout planning, anatomy guides.
  </Tab>

  <Tab icon="biceps-flexed" title="Workout Activation">
    Render two color layers **primary** muscles (main movers) and **secondary** muscles (stabilizers). A complete picture of muscle recruitment for any exercise.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Male">
        <Frame>
          <img src="https://cdn.exercisedb.dev/exercisedb/workout-map.png" alt="Activation male" />
        </Frame>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Female">
        <Frame>
          <img src="https://cdn.exercisedb.dev/exercisedb/workout-f-2.png" alt="Activation female" />
        </Frame>
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    **Perfect for:** exercise demonstrations, workout analysis, training optimization, form guides.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Customization

All visualization modes support the following options:

<ParamField query="color" type="string">
  Any hex or RGB color for muscle highlights. Example: `#FF5733`
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="background" type="string">
  Background color of the generated image. Defaults to transparent.
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="size" type="string">
  Output image dimensions. Example: `1080x1080`
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="format" type="string" default="png">
  Export format — `png`, `jpeg`, or `webp`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="gender" type="string" default="male">
  Anatomical body model — `male` or `female`.
</ParamField>

## Get Your API Key

All requests require authentication via RapidAPI.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Subscribe on RapidAPI">
    Head to the [Muscle Visualizer API on RapidAPI](https://rapidapi.com/ascendapi/api/muscle-visualizer-api) and subscribe to a plan. A free tier is available.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy your API key">
    After subscribing, go to the **App** tab in the API playground. Copy your `X-RapidAPI-Key`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add headers to every request">
    Include both headers in all API calls:

    | Header            | Value                                           |
    | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
    | `X-RapidAPI-Key`  | Your unique API key from the RapidAPI dashboard |
    | `X-RapidAPI-Host` | `muscle-visualizer-api.p.rapidapi.com`          |
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Not sure how to subscribe? Follow the [Quickstart guide](/quickstart) for a step-by-step walkthrough.
</Info>

***

## Use Cases

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Fitness Apps" icon="dumbbell">
    Show users exactly which muscles they're targeting in real time — before, during, or after a workout.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Workout Planners" icon="calendar">
    Visualize muscle group distribution across a weekly plan to avoid overtraining.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Personal Training" icon="user">
    Create custom exercise diagrams tailored to each client's program.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Physical Therapy" icon="heart-pulse">
    Track rehabilitation progress and highlight recovery zones over time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Education & Anatomy" icon="book-open">
    Teach muscle groups, anatomy, and biomechanics with clean visual aids.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Resources

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference">
    Full endpoint details, parameters, and response shapes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Website" icon="link" href="https://ascendapi.com">
    Pricing, demos, and more about the Muscle Visualizer.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>