Cat Dissection Terms

Sartorius

Action: Flexes, abducts and laterally rotates

Gracilis

Action: Adducts thigh, flexes and medially rotates leg

tensor fasciae latae

Action: Flexes and Abducts

Biceps femoris

Action: Extends thigh and flexes leg; laterally rotates leg

Rectus femoris

Origin: Tibal tuberosity and patella

Action: Extends leg and flexes thigh

Vastus medialis

Origin: Tibal tuberosity and patella

Action: Extends leg; stabalizes patella

Vastus intermedius

Origin: Tibal tuberosity and patella

Action: Extends leg

Vastus lateralis

Origin: Tibal tuberosity and patella

Action: Extends leg and stabalizes knee

adductor femoris

Action: Adduct the thigh at the hip joint

adductor longus

Action: adduct and medially rotate and flex thigh

semimembranosus

Action: Extends thigh; flexes leg; ,medically rotates leg

semitendinosus

Action: Extends thigh; flexes leg; ,medically rotates leg

gluteus maximus

Insertion: Gluteral tuberosity of femur and iliotibial tract

Action: laterally rotates and abducts thigh

Gluteus medius

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Action: abducts and medially rotates thigh; steadies pelvis during walking

gastrocnemius

Insertion: Calcaneus via calacaneal tendon

Action: Flexes foot, flex leg

soleus

Insertion: Calcaneus via calacaneal tendon

Action: Flexes foot

peroneus longus

Action: Plantar flexes and everts foot

extensor digitorum longus

Insertion: Tedon divides into four parts; inserts into middle and distal phalanges of toes II-V

Action: Dorsiflexes foot

Tibialis anterior

Action: By tendon into inferior surface of first cuneiform and metatarsal

Insertion: inverts foot; supports longitudinal arch of foot

flexor digitorum longus

Insertion: Tendon runs under foot to distal phalanx of great toe

Action: Flexes toes, plantar flexes and inverts foot

external oblique

Action: Flex vertebral column and compresses abdominal wall

internal oblique

Action: as for external oblique

transverse abdominis

Action: compresses abdoinal contents

rectus abdominis

Action: Flex and rotates lumbar region of cerebral column

pectoralis major

Origin: The clavicle, sternum, and upper six costal cartilages

Insertion: intertubercular sulcus of the humerus

Action: adduction, medial rotation, and flexion of the humerus at the shoulder joint.

pectoralis minor

Origin: Anterior surface of ribs 3-5, near their coastal cartilages

Insertion: Coracoid process of scpaula

Action: Draws scapula forward and inferiorly

serratus ventralis

Action: pulls the scapula superiorily and downward

scalenes

Action: Flex and slightly rotate neck

external intercostals

Origin: Inferior border of rib above

Insertion: Superior border of rib below

Action: Pull ribs toward one another to elevate rib cage

masseter

Origin: zygomatic arch and zygomatic bone

Insertion: Angle and ramus of mandible

Action: Prime mover of jaw closure and elecates madible

mylohyoid

Elevates hyoid bone and floor of mouth when swallowing

digastric

Insertion: By a connective tissue loop to hyoid bone

Action: Depresses mandible, elevates hyoid bone

sternohyoid

Origin: Manubrium and medial end of clavicle

Insertion: Lower margin of hyoid bone

Action: Depresses larynx and hyoid bone, flex skull

sternomastoid

Origin: manubrium of the sternum and the medial third of the clavicle

Insertion: connecting the muscle to the skull behind the ear

Action: primary mover of the head and neck

spinotrapezius

Action: pull the scapula backward and upward

acromiotrapezius

Action: draw the scapula dorsally and medially

clavotrapezius

Action: draw the clavicle and shoulder dorsally and cranilly toward the bead/neck

spinodeltoid

Action: laterally rotates the humerus

acromiodeltoid

Action: abduction of the arm

clavodeltoid

Action: lexes the forearm and rotates the humerus

levator scapulae ventralis

Action: draws the scapula cranially forward

latissimus dorsi

Action: Pull the humerus backward and adducting and rotating the shoulder

rhomboideus

Origin: spinous processes of C7 and T1-T5

Insertion: Medial border of scapula

Action: Pulls scapula medially; stabalizes scapula; rotates gleoid cavity downward

infraspinatus

Action: stablize the shoulder joint during movement

splenius

Action: Extend, rotate and laterally flex the head

supraspinatus

Action: Extendor of the shoulder joint

biceps brachii

Insertion: radial tuberosity

Action: Flexion and supination of forearm

brachialis

Insertion: Coronoid process of ulna

Action: Flexor of forearm

triceps brachii

Insertion: Olecranon of ulna

Action: Forearm extensor; antagonist of forearm flexor

Palmaris longus

Origin: medial epicondyle

Action: flex manus

brachioradialis

Origin: lateral humerus

Action: flex forearm