Which of the following is an exercise where the pectoralis major is the prime mover?

The bench press is identified as the exercise where the pectoralis major acts as the prime mover. In this exercise, the arms push the barbell or dumbbells upward from the chest, primarily engaging the chest muscles. The pectoralis major is responsible for the movement of the arm across the body and pushing movements, which are the key actions performed during the bench press.

In contrast, the other exercises focus on different muscle groups. For example, lat pull-downs primarily target the back muscles, specifically the latissimus dorsi. Bicep curls mainly engage the biceps brachii, and lateral raises are focused on the deltoid muscles of the shoulders. Each of these exercises effectively targets their respective muscle groups but does not emphasize the pectoralis major as the main muscle being activated.