Study Notes on the Human Muscular System

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the structure, functional terminology, and individual muscles of the head, face, neck, trunk, arms, and legs.

Myology

The study of the structure, function and diseases of the muscles.

Muscular System

The organ system that includes all muscle tissue in the body and is responsible for body movement.

Cardiac Muscle

The only muscle of its type, which functions involuntarily to pump blood through the body.

Voluntary (Striated) Muscle

Muscles that create movement based on intentional desire, such as raising a hand to catch a ball.

Involuntary (Non-Striated) Muscle

Muscles that respond automatically to control internal body functions, such as those associated with the stomach and bladder.

Origin

The non-moving (fixed) portion of a muscle attached to bone or another fixed muscle.

Belly

The midsection of a muscle.

Insertion

The portion of a muscle joined to movable attachments such as bones, movable muscles, or skin.

Tendons

Bands of fibrous tissue that attach muscle to bone.

Ligaments

Dense, strong bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones to each other.

Thermoregulation

A muscular function in which shivering generates heat through an exothermic reaction when body temperature is low.

Anterior

In front of.

Posterior

Behind or in back of.

Superior

Located above or is larger.

Inferior

Located below or is smaller.

Levator

Lifts up.

Depressor

Draws down or depresses.

Dilator

Opens, enlarges or expands.

Flexion

To bend forward and make the angle smaller.

Extension

To straighten or bend backward, making the angle bigger.

Ventral

Front surface.

Dorsal

Back surface.

Inversion

To bring inward.

Eversion

To bring outward.

Proximal

Nearest to.

Distal

Furthest away.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Toward the outer side of the body.

Pronation

Turning the hand palm-down, or the foot motion where weight shifts to the outside and back to the big toe.

Supination

Turning the hand palm-up, or rolling outward on the foot to provide leverage to roll off the toes.

Abduction

Movement of the limbs away from the midline of the body, or moving fingers or toes away from each other.

Adduction

Movement of the limbs or hands toward or across the midline of the body, or bringing fingers or toes together.

Epicranium

The scalp, comprising all structures above the cranium including muscle, skin, and aponeuroses.

Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius)

Broad muscle covering the top of the skull, formed by two muscles joined by the aponeuroses tendon.

Frontalis

Muscle extending from the forehead to the top of the skull; raises eyebrows or draws the scalp forward.

Occipitalis

Muscle located at the nape of the neck that draws the scalp back.

Auricularis Anterior

Ear muscle located in front of the ear.

Auricularis Superior

Ear muscle located above the ear.

Auricular Posterior

Ear muscle located behind the ear.

Corrugator

Muscle between the eyebrows that draws them inward and downward.

Levator Palpebrae Superioris

Muscle located above the eyelids that raises the upper eyelid.

Orbicularis Oculi

Muscle circling the eye socket that closes the eyelid.

Procerus

Muscle between the eyebrows that draws them down and wrinkles the bridge of the nose.

Nasalis

Muscle across the bridge of the nose that opens the nostrils and wrinkles the nasal bridge.

Obicularis Oris

Muscle circling the mouth that contracts, puckers, and wrinkles the lips as in kissing or whistling.

Quadratus Labii Superioris

Muscle located above the upper lip that raises both nostrils and the upper lip; also known as levator labii superioris.

Quadratus Labii Inferioris

Muscle below the lower lip that pulls it down or sideways, as in expressing sarcasm; also known as depressor labii inferioris.

Mentalis

Muscle at the tip of the chin that pushes the lower lip up and wrinkles the chin.

Risorius

Muscle located at the corner of the mouth that draws the mouth up and outward, as in grinning.

Caninus

Muscle above the corners of the mouth that raises the angle of the mouth, as in snarling; also known as levator anguli oris.

Triangularis

Muscle below the corners of the mouth that draws the corners down, as in expressing sadness; also known as depressor anguli oris.

Zygomaticus

Muscle located outside the corners of the mouth that draws the mouth up and back, as in laughing.

Buccinator

Muscle between the jaws and cheek that compresses the cheek to expel air outward, as in blowing.

Temporalis

Mastication muscle above and in front of the ear that controls opening and closing the jaw.

Masseter

Mastication muscle covering the hinge of the jaw that aids in closing the jaw during chewing.

Platysma

Muscle extending from the chin to the chest that draws the lower lip and mouth corner down and sideways.

Sternocleidomastoid

Neck muscle extending from ear to collarbone that moves the head side to side and up and down.

Trapezius

Flat, triangular muscle covering the upper neck and shoulders; draws the head back and elevates the shoulder blades.

Latissimus Dorsi

Flat, triangular muscle covering the lumbar and lower thoracic regions that assists in swinging the arms.

Pectoralis Major and Minor

Chest muscles extending across the front of the chest that assist in swinging the arms.

Serratus Anterior

Muscle located under the arm that assists in lifting the arm and in breathing.

Deltoid

Triangular-shaped muscle covering the shoulder that lifts or turns the arm.

Biceps

Primary muscle in front of the upper arm that raises the forearm, bends the elbow, and turns the palm down.

Triceps

Muscle extending the length of the upper arm to forearm that controls forward movement of the forearm.

Thenar Eminence

Group of three muscles located in the palm at the base of the thumb that controls thumb movement.

Hypothenar Eminence

Group of three muscles located at the base of the little finger that controls its motion.

Brachialis

Upper arm muscle situated underneath the biceps that flexes the forearm at the elbow joint.

Brachioradialis

Muscle located between the upper arm and forearm that flexes the forearm.

Pronator Teres

Muscle on the palm side of the forearm below the elbow that rotates the forearm palm-down.

Palmaris Longus

Forearm muscle located between the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi radialis that flexes the wrist.

Flexor Digitorum Profundus

Side muscle in the forearm that flexes the fingers.

Extensor Digitorum

Muscle extending from the elbow to the carpals on the back of the forearm that extends the fingers.

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris

Muscle located above the ulna bone that flexes and moves the wrist inward.

Flexor Carpi Radialis

Muscle located above the radius bone that flexes and moves the wrist outward.

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

Muscle in the middle of the forearm that extends and abducts the wrist.

Tibialis Anterior

Muscle covering the front of the shin that bends the foot upward and inward.

Gastrocnemius

Calf muscle on the back of the leg attached to the heel that pulls the foot down.

Soleus

Lower leg muscle originating below the knee to the heel that bends the foot down.

Peroneus Longus

Muscle originating in the upper two-thirds of the outer fibula that bends the foot and ankle down and out.

Peroneus Brevis

Muscle originating in the lower third of the fibula that bends the foot down and out.

Flexor Digitorum Longus

Muscle located on the inside back of the lower leg that curls toes two through five.

Extensor Digitorum Longus

Muscle located on the outside of the lower leg that bends the foot up and extends the toes.

Achilles Tendon

The largest tendon in the human body, joining muscles in the back of the leg to the heel bone.

Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis

Foot muscle situated along the base of the small toe that flexes its joint.

Flexor Digitorum Brevis

Foot muscle located across the ball of the foot beneath the toes that flexes the toes.

Abductor Hallucis

Foot muscle along the interior border that moves the big toe away from the other toes.

Abductor Digiti Minimi

Foot muscle along the outside border connecting to the heel that moves the smallest toe away from the other toes.