Muscular Actions

Vocabulary flashcards detailing various muscles of the upper and lower body along with their anatomical locations and muscular actions.

Masseter

Main muscle used to chew food.

Frontalis

Helps raise eyebrows and wrinkle your forehead.

Orbicularis oculi

Muscle that closes your eyes.

Occipitalis

Located at the back of the head; used to pull scalp backward.

Zygomaticus

Extends from cheek bone towards the corners of your mouth (helps smile).

Orbicularis oris

Closes and puckers your lips (surrounds lips and mouth).

Platysma

Thin, flat muscle that covers the front of your neck.

Sternocleidomastoid

Located on each side of the neck; helps turn and bend the neck.

Diaphragm

Located below lungs; helps you breathe.

Rectus abdominis

Forms "6-pack" muscle and helps you bend forward.

External oblique

Located on the sides of your abdomen; helps you twist and bend your trunk.

Internal oblique

Located on the sides of your abdomen, under the external oblique.

Transverse abdominis

Compresses your abdomen and stabilizes your core.

Pectoralis major

Located at the front of chest; moves arms.

Trapezius

Raises, lowers, and pulls the shoulder blades together.

Serratus anterior

Located on the sides of the chest under ribs; pulls shoulder blades forward.

Latissimus dorsi

Located in the middle and lower back; pulls arm down.

Deltoid

Covers shoulder blade; raises the arm away from the body.

Triceps brachii

Located at the back of the upper arm; straightens the elbows.

Biceps brachii

Located at the front of the upper arm; bends elbow.

Sartorius

Runs diagonally across the front of thigh; bends the hip and knee and rotates hips outward.

Rectus femoris

Located at the front of the thigh; straightens the knee and bends.

Biceps femoris

Located at the back of the thigh; bends the knee and helps extend hip.

Gluteus maximus

Located in the butt; extends hip and helps rotate the thigh outward.

Gastrocnemius

Located in the calf; points the toes downward and helps bend the knee.

Vastus medialis

Located on the inner side of thigh; straightens the knee and helps stabilize kneecap.

Tibialis anterior

Located at the front of the lower leg; pulls toes upward toward the shin and turns foot slightly inward.

Gracilis

Abducts thighs.