Naming Skeletal Muscles

rectus

muscle fibers parallel to body midline

transverse

muscle fibers perpendicular to body midline

oblique

muscle fibers oblique to body midline

maximus

largest muscle in a group

medius

middle sized muscle in a group

minimus

smallest muscle in a group

magnus

large muscle

brevis

short muscle

longus

long muscle

latissumus

widest muscle

longissimus

longest muscle

major

larger muscle

minor

smaller muscle

vastus

great

deltoid

triangular

trapezius

trapeziod

serratus

saw-toothed

rhomboid

diamond-shaped

orbicularis

circular

piriformis

pear-shaped

platys

flat

gracilis

slender

flexor

decreases a joint angle

extensor

increases a joint angle

abductor

moves a bone away from the midline

adductor

moves a bone toward the midline

levator

raises or elevates a body part

depressor

lowers or depresses a body part

supinator

turns palm superiorly or anteriorly

pronator

turns palm inferiorly or posteriorly

tensor

makes a body part rigid

biceps

two orgins

triceps

three orgins

quadriceps

four orgins

direction

orientation of muscle fibers relative to body's midline

size

relative size of muscle

shape

relative shape of muscle

action

principle muscle action

number of origins

number of tendons of origin

location

structure near where muscle is located