Pull-up is also called the upper body compound pulling exercise. It engages the brachialis and brachioradialis muscles in the arms situated near the elbow. It flexes the shoulder and elbow joints and improves biceps by working biceps brachii. The long head of the triceps also gets involved. The process is more effective with a lazy or an underhand grip.

Pull-ups also use the trapezius (located in the center of the upper back), the levator scapulae, the teres major (situated at the back of the shoulder blade) and the rhomboids (that connects spine and shoulder blade) along with lats muscles (Latissimus Dorsi). These are called shrugging muscles. These lats muscles keep the upper arms close to the body while doing pull ups in order to help the body rising up to the bar. The deltoid muscles also get engaged sometimes. Vertical pulling movements using wide grips will stimulate these muscles to build. Using a neutral grip is also helpful as it places less strain on deltoid joints.

Pull-ups attach and depress the scapular in conjunction with the pectoris minor and the lower trapezius muscle. In order to perform the downward movement of the scapulae, the pectoris minor use levator scapulae and the rhomboid muscle. Also, the pectoralis major assists the lats muscle together with coracobrachialis during the exercise to build chest muscles. The muscles attached to the scapulae which are responsible for extending and stretching out the upper arms are the teres major (situated above latissimus dorsi & attached to humerus), the posterior deltoid muscles and some rotator muscles (infraspinatus, subscapularis & teres minor).

Pull-up is like a combined body exercise. It also involves a few muscles in the abdominal section. The rectus abdominis and hip flexors generate the lifting force while pulling up & prevents the front of the pelvis to move away from the sternum. The erector spinae, the external and internal oblique prevents the drifting of vertebrate on different planes. They also help to reduce side bending, body swinging and twisting. The other transverse abdominis is responsible for maintaining a neutral position.

Only the pelvic floor muscles are used during pull ups from the pelvic section. These muscles actually do the work of holding and stabilizing the pelvis at the time of the exercise.

Pull-ups greatly involve the biceps as it is the main muscle required for pulling yourself up. The biceps work together with lats muscle while lowering the body down. The muscles of the forearms is mainly used for holding the overall body weight, creating an isometric contraction and improving the finger strengths.