Prime Movers, Muscle Groups & Joint Actions – Review

These vocabulary flashcards cover prime mover muscles, their joint actions, relative strength rankings, anatomical planes, and notable two-joint muscles for the trunk, scapula, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot.

Erector Spinae

Trunk Extension

Quadratus Lumborum

Pelvis Elevation
Lateral Flexion

Rectus Abdominis

Trunk Flexor

External Oblique

Trunk flexion
Contralateral trunk rotation

Internal Oblique

Trunk flexion
Ipsilateral trunk rotation

Serratus Anterior

Scapular Protraction
Scapular Depression

Upper Trapezius

Scapular Elevation
Upward Rotation

Levator Scapulae

Scapular Elevation
Downward Rotation

Middle Trapezius

Scapula retraction

Rhomboid Major

Scapular Elevation
Retraction
Downward Rotation

Rhomboid Minor

Scapular Elevation
Retraction
Downward Rotation.

Lower Trapezius

Scapular Depressesion

Latissimus Dorsi (scapular action)

Scapular Elevation
Downward Rotation
Retraction

Anterior Deltoid

GH Flexion
GH Medial Rotation

Coracobrachialis

GH Flexion
Adduction

Posterior Deltoid

GH Extension

Middle Deltoid

GH Abductor

Supraspinatus

GH Abduction

Latissimus Dorsi (shoulder action)

GH Extension
Adduction
Medial Rotation

Teres Major

GH Extension
GH Adduction
GH Medial Rotation

Infraspinatus

GH Extension
Lateral Rotation

Teres Minor

GH Extension
GH Lateral Rotation

Subscapularis

GH Adduction
Medial Rotation

Pectoralis Major

Scapular Protraction
GH Flexion
GH Adduction
GH Medial Rotation

SITS

Acronym for rotator-cuff muscles: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Subscapularis.

Shoulder Strength Sequence

Strongest ➔ Extension, Adduction, Flexion, Abduction, Internal Rotation, External Rotation (weakest).

Frontal Plane

Plane in which abduction and adduction occur.

Transverse Plane

Plane for internal and external rotation movements.

Biceps Brachii

Elbow Flexion
GH Flexion
Supination

Brachialis

Elbow Flexion

Brachioradialis

Elbow Flexion
Pronation

Triceps Brachii

GH Extension
Elbow Extension

Supinator

Supination

Pronator Quadratus

Pronation

Pronator Teres

Elbow Flexion
Pronation

Flexor Carpi Radialis

Wrist Flexion
Pronation
Wrist Abduction

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris

Wrist Flexion
Wrist Adduction

Palmaris Longus

Wrist Flexion
Pronation

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

Wrist Extension
Wrist Abduction

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

Wrist Extension
Wrist Abduction

Psoas Major

Hip Flexion

Iliopsoas

Hip Flexion

Sartorius

Hip Flexion
Knee Flexion

Gluteus Maximus

Hip Extension

Semitendinosus

Knee Flexion
Hip Extension

Semimembranosus

Knee Flexion
Hip Extension

Biceps Femoris (long & short)

Knee Flexion
Hip Extension

Gluteus Medius

Hip Abduction

Gluteus Minimus

Hip Abduction

Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL)

Hip Flexion
Hip Abduction
Internal Rotation

Adductor Magnus

Femur Adductor

Adductor Brevis

Femur Adduction

Adductor Longus

Femur Adductor

Pectineus

Hip Flexion
Adduction
Internal Rotation

Gracilis

Femur Adduction
Knee Flexion

Obturator Internus

External Hip Rotation

Quadratus Femoris

External Hip Rotation

Piriformis

External Hip Rotation

Anterior Gluteus Medius

Internal Hip Rotation

Tibialis Anterior

Ankle Dorsiflexion
Foot Inversion

Tibialis Posterior

Ankle Plantarflexion
Foot Inversion

Peroneus (Fibularis) Longus

Ankle Plantarflexion
Foot Eversion

Peroneus (Fibularis) Brevis

Foot Eversion w/ PF syngery

Extensor Digitorum Longus

Foot Eversion w/ DF
Toe Extension

Peroneus Tertius

Ankle Dorsiflexion
Foot Eversion

Gastrocnemius

Knee Flexion
Ankle Plantarflexion

Soleus

Ankle Plantarflexion

Triceps Surae

Gastrocnemius
Soleus

Vastus Lateralis

Knee Extension

Vastus Medialis

Knee extension

Vastus Intermedius

Knee Extension

Rectus Femoris

Knee Extension
Hip Flexion

Pectoralis Minor

Scapular Depression
Protraction
Downward Rotation

Anconeus

Elbow Extension

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis

Wrist Flexion
Finger Flexion

Flexor Digitorum Profundus

Wrist Flexion
Finger Flexion

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

Wrist Extension
Wrist Adduction

Extensor Digitorum

Wrist Extension
Finger Extension

Extensor Indicis

Wrist Extension
Index Finger Extension

Abductor Pollicis Longus

Wrist Abduction
Thumb Abduction
Thumb Extension

Intrinsics of Hand

Lumbricals
Opponens Pollicis
Flexor Pollicis Brevis
Adductor Pollicis
Abductor digiti minimi
Flexor digiti minimi brevis

iliacus

Hip Flexion

obturator externus

external rotation

popliteus

Knee flexion

pes anserinus

sartorius
gracilis
semitendonosus

hamstrings

biceps femoris
semitendinosus
semimembranosus

quads

rectus femoris
vasti