MUSCLE

frontalis

MUSCLES OF FACIAL EXPRESSION

ORIGIN
INSERTION
galea aponeurotica
skin of eybrows and
nose

orbicularis oculi

frontal and maxillary

bone

skin of eyelid

orbicularis oris

fibers of other mouth

muscles

muscles and skin at

angle of the mouth

platysma

pectoralis and deltoid

fascia

lower border of the

mandible, mouth skin
and muscle

MUSCLE
masseter
temporalis

MUSCLE
Sternocleidomastoid

MUSCLES OF MASTICATION
ORIGIN
INSERTION
zygomatic arch
mandible
temporal fossa of the
temporal bone

ACTION
raises eyebrows,
wrinkles forehead skin
blinking, squinting,
forceful closing of
eyelids
closes and protrudes
lips
depresses mandible,
draws angle of mouth
downward, tightens
skin of the neck

ACTION
elevates mandible

coronoid process of the elevates and retracts

mandible
mandible

MUSCLES OF THE NECK

ORIGIN
INSERTION
manubrium of sternum mastoid process of the
and medial clavicle
temporal bone

ACTION
both muscles acting
together flex cervical
vertebral column,
acting alone rotates
head to the opposite
side

internal intercostals

MUSCLES OF THE THORACIC WALL

ORIGIN
INSERTION
ACTION
ribs 3-5
coracoid process of the depresses and pulls
scapula
scapula anteriorly
inferior border of ribs superior border of ribs elevate and expand rib
cage
superior border of ribs inferior border of ribs depress rib cage

serratus anterior

ribs

MUSCLE
pectoralis minor
external intercostals

vertebral border of the

scapula

draws scapula forward

along thoracic wall,
rotates scapula

MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL

MUSCLE
external abdominal
oblique

ORIGIN
lower eight ribs

INSERTION
ACTION
linea alba, aponeurosis compresses abdominal
of the external
contents, assists in
abdominal oblique
flexion and rotation of
vertebral column

internal abdominal
oblique

lumbodorsal fascia,
iliac crest

linea alba, aponeurosis same as external

of internal abdominal
abdominal oblique
oblique

rectus abdominis

pubic crest and pubic

symphysis

ribs and xiphoid

process

flexes vertebral
column, compresses
abdominal contents

MUSCLES OF THE PECTORAL GIRDLE

MUSCLE
trapezius

ORIGIN
INSERTION
occipital bone, cervical lateral 1/3 of clavicle
and thoracic vertebrae and scapular spine and
acromion

ACTION
elevates, depresses,
rotates, adducts
scapula

deltoid

clavicle, acromion and

spine of scapula

deltoid tuberosity of
the humerus

abducts; flexes and

medially rotates;
extends and laterally
rotates arm

latissimus dorsi

lumbodorsal fascia via

thoracic and lumbar
vertebrae, sacrum,
ilium

intertubercular groove
of the humerus

extends, adducts, and

medially rotates arm

pectoralis major

sternum, clavicle, and

ribs

greater tubercle and

along intertubercular
groove of the humerus

flexes, medially
rotates, and adducts
arm

MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCAPULA

MUSCLE
levator scapula

ORIGIN
INSERTION
transverse processes of superior angle and
cervical vertebrae
vertebral border of the
scapula
spinous processes of
vertebral border of the
thoracic vertebrae
scapula

ACTION
elevates scapula

supraspinatus

supraspinous fossa of
the scapula

greater tubercle of the

humerus

arm abduction

infraspinatus

infraspinous fossa of
the scapula

greater tubercle of the

humerus

laterally rotates arm

teres major

inferior angle of
scapula

lesser tubercle of the

humerus

adducts, extends and

medially rotates arm

teres minor

lateral border of
scapula

greater tubercle of the

humerus

laterally rotates arm

subscapularis

subscapular fossa of
the scapula

lesser tubercle of the

humerus

medially rotates arm

rhomboid major and

minor

adducts, rotates
scapula

MUSCLES OF THE ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE ARM

MUSCLE
biceps brachii
long head
short head

ORIGIN
supraglenoid tubercle
of the scapula

INSERTION
radial tuberosity of the
radius

ACTION
flexes arm and
forearm, supinates
forearm

coracoid process of the

scapula

brachialis

anterior humerus

coronoid process of the flexes forearm

ulna

coracobrachialis

coracoid process of the medial humerus

scapula

flexes arm

MUSCLES OF THE POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE ARM

MUSCLE
triceps brachii
long head
lateral head
medial head

ORIGIN

INSERTION

infraglenoid tubercle of olecranon process of

the scapula
the ulna
posterior humerus
olecranon process of
the ulna
posterior humerus
olecranon process of
the ulna

ACTION
extends arm and
forearm
forearm extension
forearm extension

MUSCLES OF THE ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE FOREARM

MUSCLE
pronator teres
flexor carpi radialis
palmaris longus
flexor carpi ulnaris
flexor digitorum
superficialis
flexor digitorum
profundus
flexor pollicis longus
pronator quadratus

ORIGIN
medial epicondyle of
the humerus
medial epicondyle of
the humerus
medial epicondyle of
the humerus

INSERTION
radius

ACTION
pronates forearm

metacarpals

flexes and abducts

hand
flexes hand

medial epicondyle of
the humerus
medial epicondyle of
the humerus

carpal and metacarpals flexes and adducts

hand
middle phalanges 2nd flexes phalanges
to 5th digit

ulna and interosseus

membrane
anterior radius and
interosseus membrane
distal and anterior
ulnar shaft

distal phalanges 2nd to

5th digit
distal phalanx of the
thumb
distal and anterior
radius

palmar aponeurosis

flexes phalanges
flexes thumb
pronates forearm, hold
radius and ulna
together

MUSCLES OF THE POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE FOREARM

MUSCLE
brachioradialis

ORIGIN
lateral supracondylar
ridge of the humerus

INSERTION
styloid process of the
radius

ACTION
flexes forearm

extensor carpi radialis

longus

lateral supracondylar
ridge of the humerus

second metacarpal
bone

extends and abducts

hand

extensor carpi radialis

brevis

lateral epicondyle of
the humerus

third metacarpal

extends and abducts

hand

extensor digitorum

lateral epicondyle of
the humerus

extends fingers and

hand

extensor carpi ulnaris

lateral epicondyle of
the humerus

middle and distal

phalanges of medial
four fingers
fifth metacarpal

supinator

lateral epicondyle of
the humerus

proximal end of radius

supinates forearm

first metacarpal

abducts and extends

thumb
extends thumb

abductor pollicis
posterior radius and
longus
posterior ulna
extensor pollicis brevis radius and posterior
ulna
extensor pollicis
ulna and posterior
longus
radius
extensor indicis
posterior ulna
extensor digiti minimi
anconeus

lateral epicondyle of
the humerus
lateral epicondyle of
the humerus

proximal phalanx of
the thumb
distal phalanx of the
thumb
extensor expansion of
index finger
extensor expansion of
the little finger
olecranon process of
ulna

extends and adducts

hand

extends thumb
extends index finger
extends little finger
abducts ulna during
pronation; elbow
extension

INTRINSIC MUSCLES OF THE HAND

MUSCLE
ORIGIN
abductor pollicis brevis scaphoid, trapezium

INSERTION
proximal phalanx of
the thumb

ACTION
abducts thumb

opponens pollicis

trapezium

thumb metacarpal

rotates first metacarpal

medially, i.e.,
opposition of the
thumb

flexor pollicis brevis

trapezium, 1st
metacarpal

proximal phalanx of
thumb

flexes and adducts

thumb

adductor pollicis

capitate, 2nd and 3rd

metacarpal

proximal phalanx of
the thumb

adducts thumb

MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE THIGH

MUSCLE
iliopsoas

ORIGIN
iliac fossa, transverse
processes of lumbar
vertebrae

INSERTION
ACTION
lesser trochanter of the flexes hip
femur

sartorius

anterior superior iliac

spine

medial tibia

quadriceps femoris
rectus femoris

all four:
anterior inferior iliac
spine

vastus lateralis

greater trochanter of
the femur

vastus medialis

linea aspera

vastus intermedius

shaft of the femur

pectineus
tensor fascia latae

flexes, laterally rotates

thigh; flexes and
medially rotates leg at
the knee

superior ramus of
pubis
anterior superior iliac
spine, iliac crest

via quadriceps tendon

into patella, then
ligamentum patellae
onto tibial tuberosity of
the tibia

rectus femoris only flexes thigh at hip

all four - extends leg
at knee

linea aspera of femur

flexes, adducts thigh

iliotibial tract

flexes and abducts

thigh

MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEDIAL COMPARTMENT OF THE THIGH

MUSCLE
gracilis

ORIGIN
inferior ramus and
body of the pubis

INSERTION
medial surface of tibia

ACTION
adducts thigh at hip;
flexes leg at knee

adductor longus

pubis

linea aspera of femur

adducts and flexes

thigh at hip

adductor brevis

body and inferior

lineas aspera of femur
ramus of the pubis
inferior ramus of pubis lineas aspera of femur
and ischium, ischial
tuberosity

adductor magnus

adducts thigh at hip

adducts and flexes
thigh at hip

MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GLUTEAL REGION AND POSTERIOR

COMPARTMENT OF THE THIGH
MUSCLE
gluteus maximus

ORIGIN
posterior ilium,
sacrum, and coccyx

INSERTION
iliotibial tract, gluteal
tuberosity of femur

ACTION
extends and laterally
rotates hip

gluteus medius

lateral ilium

greater trochanter of
the femur
head of fibula, lateral
condyle of tibia

abducts thigh at hip

biceps femoris
long head
short head

ischial tuberosity
linea aspera

semitendinosus

ischial tuberosity

semimembranosus

ischial tuberosity

gluteus minimis
piriformis

external surface of
ilium
lateral surface of ilium

quadratus femoris

ischial tuberosity

flexes and laterally

rotates leg at knee
long head only extends thigh at hip
medial tibia
extends thigh at hip;
flexes and medially
rotates leg at knee
medial condyle of tibia extends thigh at hip;
flexes and medially
rotates leg at knee
greater trochanter of
abducts and medially
femur
rotates thigh
greater trochanter of
rotates and extends
femur
thigh laterally, abducts
thigh
intertrochanteric crest rotates thigh laterally
of femur

MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE LEG

MUSCLE
tibialis anterior

ORIGIN
lateral condyle of tibia

INSERTION
cuneiform and base of
1st metatarsal

ACTION
dorsiflexes and inverts
the foot; extends toe

extensor hallucis
longus
extensor digitorum
longus

anterior fibula,
interosseous membrane
lateral condyle of tibia,
proximal fibula,
interosseous membrane
anterior fibula,
interosseous membrane

distal phalanx of great

toe
phalanges of toes 2-5

dorsiflexes and inverts

foot; extends big toe
dorsiflexes foot and
extends toes

fifth metatarsal

dorsiflexes and everts

foot

fibularis (peroneus)
tertius

MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE LATERAL COMPARTMENT OF THE LEG

MUSCLE
fibularis (peroneus)
longus

ORIGIN
head of fibula

INSERTION
cuneiform, base of 1st
metatarsal

ACTION
plantar flexes and
everts foot

fibularis (peroneus)
brevis

distal fibula

fifth metatarsal

plantar flexes and

everts foot

MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE LEG

MUSCLE
gastrocnemius

ORIGIN
lateral and medial
condyle of the femur

INSERTION
calcaneus

ACTION
plantar flexes the foot,
weak flexor of leg at
knee
plantar flexes the foot

soleus
flexor digitorum
longus

proximal tibia,
calcaneus
proximal fibula,
interosseous membrane
posterior tibia
distal phalanges lateral plantar flexes and
four toes
inverts foot; flexes toes

flexor hallucis longus

middle shaft of fibula

distal phalanx great toe plantar flexes and

inverts foot; flexes
great toe

tibialis posterior

tibia and fibula

navicular bone

plantar flexes and

inverts foot