Allied Muscles

Epicranius (Occipitofrontalis)

Moves the scalp, wrinkles the forehead, and elevates the eyebrows

Frontalis

Elevates the eyebrows and wrinkles the skin of the forehead horizontally

Occipitalis

Retracts the scalp posteriorly

Corrugator Supercilii

Draws the eyebrows medially and inferiorly, creating vertical wrinkles above the nose

Orbicularis Oculi

Closes the eyelids (palpebral part blinks gently; orbital part tightly squints)

Zygomaticus Major

Elevates and draws the corners of the mouth laterally (smiling)

Risorius

Draws the corners of the mouth directly laterally

Levator Labii Superioris

Elevates and everts the upper lip

Depressor Labii Inferioris

Depresses and draws the lower lip laterally

Depressor Anguli Oris

Depresses the corners of the mouth inferiorly and laterally (grimacing)

Orbicularis Oris

Closes, compresses, puckers, and protrudes the lips (kissing and whistling)

Mentalis

Elevates and protrudes the lower lip while wrinkling the skin of the chin

Buccinator

Compresses the cheeks against the teeth, keeps food between teeth, and aids in blowing/sucking

Nasalis

Flares the nostrils (alar part) and compresses the nasal cartilages (transverse part)

Masseter

Elevates and protrudes the mandible to close the jaw firmly

Temporalis

Elevates the mandible to close the jaw; retracts the mandible with its posterior fibers

Medial Pterygoid

Elevates, protrudes, and produces side-to-side grinding movements of the mandible

Lateral Pterygoid

Depresses and protrudes the mandible to open the jaw; guides side-to-side grinding

Platysma

Depresses the mandible and corners of the mouth; tenses the skin of the lower face and neck

Splenius Capitis

Bilaterally extends the head/neck; unilaterally rotates and laterally flexes the head to the same side

Sternocleidomastoid

Bilaterally flexes the neck and elevates the sternum; unilaterally rotates face to the opposite side

medial head of the triceps brachii

Forearm extension at the elbow joint

brachialis

Forearm flexion at the elbow joint

lateral head of the triceps brachii

Forearm extension at the elbow joint

long head of the triceps brachii

Forearm extension at the elbow joint; arm extension and adduction at the shoulder joint

biceps brachii

Forearm flexion and supination at the elbow joint; weak arm flexion at the shoulder joint

brachioradialis

Forearm flexion at the elbow joint (when semi-pronation)

extensor carpi ulnaris

Wrist extension and adduction (ulnar deviation)

deltoid

Arm abduction (middle part); arm flexion and internal rotation (anterior part); arm extension and lateral rotation (posterior part)

vastus intermedius

Leg extension at the knee joint

piriformis

Thigh external rotation, abduction (when flexed); stabilizes the hip joint

gluteus minimus

Thigh abduction and internal rotation; stabilizes the pelvis

psoas major

Thigh flexion at the hip joint; lateral flexion of the trunk

adductor magnus

Thigh adduction, flexion (adductor part), extension (hamstring part), and internal rotation

vastus lateralis

Leg extension at the knee joint

vastus medialis

Leg extension at the knee joint

semimembranosus

Leg flexion and internal rotation at the knee joint; thigh extension and internal rotation at the hip joint

gluteus medius

Thigh abduction and internal rotation; stabilizes the pelvis

soleus

Foot plantarflexion at the ankle joint

rectus femoris

Leg extension at the knee joint; thigh flexion at the hip joint

biceps femoris (long head)

Leg flexion and external rotation at the knee joint; thigh extension and external rotation at the hip joint

semitendinosus

Leg flexion and internal rotation at the knee joint; thigh extension and internal rotation at the hip joint

gastrocnemius

Foot plantarflexion at the ankle joint; leg flexion at the knee joint

sartorius

Thigh flexion, abduction, and external rotation at the hip joint; leg flexion and internal rotation at the knee joint

gluteus maximus

Thigh extension, external rotation, abduction (upper fibers), and adduction (lower fibers) at the hip joint; stabilizes pelvis