Muscles for Human Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards to review key muscle names, their actions, and attachments for Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Frontalis

Raises eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead.

Occipitalis

Tenses and retracts the scalp.

Temporalis

Elevates the mandible.

Zygomaticus major

Elevates and retracts the corner of the mouth; one of the 'smile' muscles.

Nasalis

Compresses the bridge of the nose and elevates nostril corners.

Masseter

Elevates the mandible.

Orbicularis oculi

Closes the eyelids.

Orbicularis oris

Closes lips and puckers them; shapes lips for speech.

Buccinator

Compresses cheeks and creates suckling action in infants.

Mentalis

Elevates and protrudes the lower lip (pout).

Sternocleidomastoid

Flexes the neck and rotates the head.

Platysma

Tenses skin of the neck and depresses the mandible.

Semispinalis capitis

Extends the head.

Splenius capitis

Extends and tilts the head.

Trapezius

Elevates, adducts, and depresses the scapula.

Latissimus dorsi

Extends, adducts, and medially rotates the shoulder.

Teres major

Extends, adducts, and medially rotates the shoulder.

Teres minor

Lateral rotation at the shoulder.

Infraspinatus

Lateral rotation at the shoulder.

Supraspinatus

Abduction at the shoulder.

Deltoid

Abducts, flexes, extends, and rotates at the shoulder.

Pectoralis major

Flexes, adducts, and medially rotates the shoulder.

Pectoralis minor

Depresses and protracts the shoulder.

Serratus anterior

Lateral and upward rotation of the scapula.

External Intercostals

Elevates ribs during inhalation.

Internal Intercostals

Pulls ribs in and down during forced exhalation.

Diaphragm

Floor of thoracic cavity; contracts to breathe in.

Triceps brachii

Extends shoulder and forearm.

Biceps brachii

Flexes shoulder and forearm.

Brachialis

Flexes forearm.

Brachioradialis

Flexes forearm and supinates forearm.

Pronator teres

Pronates the forearm.

Flexor carpi radialis

Flexes and abducts the wrist.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Flexes and adducts the wrist.

Palmaris longus

Flexes the wrist.

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extends and abducts the wrist.

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Extends and abducts the wrist.

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Extends and adducts the wrist.

Extensor digitorum

Extends wrist and fingers.

Rectus Abdominis

Compresses abdomen and flexes the vertebral column.

External Oblique

Compresses abdomen and flexes spine laterally.

Internal Oblique

Compresses abdomen and flexes spine laterally.

Transverse abdominis

Compresses the abdomen.

Gluteus maximus

Extends and laterally rotates the thigh.

Gluteus medius

Abducts and medially rotates the thigh.

Tensor fasciae latae

Flexes, abducts, and medially rotates the thigh.

Adductor magnus

Adducts, flexes, and medially rotates and extends the thigh.

Adductor longus

Adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the thigh.

Gracilis

Flexes the leg and adducts and medially rotates the thigh.

Iliopsoas (Iliacus and Psoas major)

Flexes at the hip.

Sartorius

Flexes leg, flexes thigh, and crosses leg.

Quadriceps (Rectus femoris, Vastus medialis, Vastus lateralis, Vastus intermedius)

Extends knee and flexes thigh.

Hamstrings (Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus)

Flexes knee and extends thigh.

Tibialis anterior

Dorsiflexes and inverts the foot.

Gastrocnemius

Plantarflexes the foot and flexes the knee.

Soleus

Plantarflexes and inverts the foot.

Fibularis longus

Everts and plantarflexes the foot.