Anterior Muscles – Actions & Attachments

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key actions and attachments of major anterior muscles.

The muscle that tilts the chin to the opposite side and helps forced inhalation is the __.

Sternocleidomastoid

__ elevate and expand the thorax for forced inhalation and bend the neck toward the contracting side.

Scalenes

Depression of the hyoid bone is the action of the __.

Sternohyoid

__ flexes and adducts the arm.

Pectoralis major

The muscle that draws the scapula anteriorly (as in pointing the shoulder forward) is the __.

Pectoralis minor

Elevation and expansion of the rib cage for forced inhalation are performed by the __ muscles.

External intercostals

Compression of the abdomen and rotation/lateral flexion of the torso are actions of the __.

External oblique

Compression of the abdomen, rotation, and lateral flexion of the torso are also actions of the __.

Internal oblique

Compression of the abdomen and flexion of the torso are carried out by the __.

Rectus abdominis

Flexion and supination of the forearm are actions of the __.

Biceps brachii

The primary flexor of the forearm is the __.

Brachialis

Flexion and adduction of the arm are actions of the __.

Coracobrachialis

The muscle that assists in flexing the forearm and is located on the lateral forearm is the __.

Brachioradialis

Flexion and abduction of the hand at the wrist are actions of the __.

Flexor carpi radialis

The muscle that flexes digits 2–5 is the __.

Flexor digitorum

Flexion and adduction of the hand at the wrist are performed by the __.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Flexion of the thigh and flexion of the leg are actions of the __.

Sartorius

__ flexes the thigh and extends the leg.

Rectus femoris

The __ extends the leg and is located laterally in the quadriceps group.

Vastus lateralis

The medial muscle of the quadriceps that extends the leg is the __.

Vastus medialis

The deep quadriceps muscle that extends the leg is the __.

Vastus intermedius

Adduction of the thigh and flexion of the leg are actions of the __.

Gracilis

The __ adducts the thigh and originates on the superior pubic ramus.

Adductor longus

Dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot are actions of the __.

Tibialis anterior

The sternocleidomastoid originates from the manubrium of the sternum and the __.

Adjacent clavicle

The insertion of the sternocleidomastoid is the __.

Mastoid process of the temporal bone

The pectoralis minor inserts on the __.

Coracoid process of the scapula

The external intercostals insert on the __.

Superior border of the rib below

Rectus abdominis inserts on the __.

Xiphoid process of the sternum and costal cartilages 5–7

The brachialis inserts on the __.

Coronoid process of the ulna

Vastus lateralis inserts on the __.

Tibial tuberosity

The adductor longus inserts on the __.

Linea aspera of the femur