Criteria for Naming Skeletal Muscles

rectus

muscle fibers parallel to body midline

transverse

muscle fibers perpendicular to body midline

oblique

muscle fibers diagonal 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

latissimus

widest muscle

longissimus

longest muscle

major

larger muscle

minor

smaller muscle

vastus

great

deltoid

triangular

trapezius

trapezoid

serratus

saw-toothed

rhomboid

diamond-shaped

orbicularis

circular

piriformis

pear-shaped

platys

flat

gracilis

slender

flexor

decreases joint angle

extensor

increases a joint angle

abductor

moves a bone away from midline

adductor

moves a bone towards midline

levator

raises or elevates body part

depressor

lowers or depresses a body part

supinator

turns palm anteriorly or superiorly

pronator

turns palm inferiorly or posteriorly

tensor

makes a body part rigid

biceps

two origins

triceps

three origins

quadriceps

four origins