ana muscles

Occipitofrontalis

Spans from the occipital bone to the frontal region of the skull; raises eyebrows and wrinkles forehead.

Temporalis

Located on the side of the head; elevates and retracts the mandible during chewing.

Orbicularis oculi

Encircles the orbit; closes eyelids for blinking, squinting, and winking.

Procerus

Found between the eyebrows; draws eyebrows down and creates horizontal wrinkles over the nose.

Nasalis

Located over the nasal bridge; compresses nasal bridge and flares nostrils.

Zygomaticus Major

Extends from the cheekbone to the corners of the mouth; elevates corners of the mouth for smiling.

Zygomaticus Minor

Runs from the zygomatic bone to the upper lip; elevates upper lip for facial expressions.

Buccinator

Found in the cheek; compresses the cheek for blowing, sucking, and chewing.

Masseter

Located at the sides of the jaw; elevates the mandible for chewing.

Orbicularis oris

Encircles the mouth; closes lips and helps in actions like kissing.

Risorius

Runs from the corner of the mouth to the fascia over the masseter; draws corners of the mouth sideways.

Mentalis

Found on the chin; elevates and wrinkles skin of the chin and protrudes lower lip.

Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

Runs from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid process; flexes neck and rotates head.

Levator Scapulae

Located at the side and back of the neck; elevates scapula and assists in neck movements.

Trapezius

Divided into upper, middle, and lower parts; involved in shoulder elevation, retraction, and depression.

Latissimus Dorsi

Located in the lower back; extends, adducts, and internally rotates the arm.

Supraspinatus

Sits in the supraspinous fossa; abducts the arm at the shoulder.

Infraspinatus

Occupies the infraspinous fossa; externally rotates the arm.

Rhomboids (Major and Minor)

Located between the spine and scapula; retracts and elevates the scapula.

Teres Major

Runs from the lower lateral border of the scapula to the humerus; extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm.

Teres Minor

Runs from the lateral border of the scapula to the humerus; externally rotates and adducts the arm.

Erector Spinae

A group of muscles running along the spine; extends and laterally flexes the spine.

Pectoralis Major

Spans from the clavicle, sternum, and ribs to the humerus; adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the arm.

Deltoids

Covers the shoulder joint; involved in flexing, abducting, and extending the arm.

Biceps Brachii

Runs from the scapula to the radius; flexes the elbow and supinates the forearm.

Triceps Brachii

Located on the back of the upper arm; extends the elbow and assists in shoulder extension.

Pronator Teres

Runs from the medial epicondyle of the humerus to the radius; pronates the forearm.

Flexor Carpi Radialis

Runs from the medial epicondyle to the base of the second and third metacarpals; flexes and abducts the wrist.

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis

Located in the anterior forearm; flexes fingers and wrist.

Brachioradialis

Runs from the lateral humerus to the radius; flexes the elbow in a mid-pronated position.

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

Runs from the lateral epicondyle to the base of the second metacarpal; extends and abducts the wrist.

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

Runs from the lateral epicondyle to the base of the third metacarpal; extends and abducts the wrist.

Extensor Digitorum

Runs from the lateral epicondyle to the distal phalanges; extends fingers and wrist.

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

Runs from the lateral epicondyle to the base of the fifth metacarpal; extends and adducts the wrist.

Thenar Muscles

Found at the base of the thumb; controls thumb movements.

Adductor Pollicis

Runs from the metacarpals to the base of the thumb

Hypothenar Muscles

Found at the base of the pinky finger; controls abduction, flexion, and opposition of the pinky; palpate at the base of the pinky during movement.

Lumbricals of the Hand

In the palm, originating from flexor digitorum profundus; flexes MCP joints and extends IP joints; palpation is difficult, but tension is felt during finger movements.

Iliacus

Located in the iliac fossa; flexes the hip; palpated in the lower abdomen when flexing the hip.

Psoas

Runs from lumbar vertebrae to the femur; flexes the hip and assists lumbar spine flexion; difficult to palpate but can be felt in the lower abdomen.

Sartorius

Runs diagonally across the thigh; flexes, abducts, and externally rotates the hip; palpate along the thigh when crossing legs.

Tensor Fascia Latae (TFL)

Located on the lateral hip; assists in hip abduction, flexion, and internal rotation; palpate on the lateral hip during leg lifts.

Iliotibial Band (ITB)

Long band along the lateral thigh; stabilizes the knee during walking and running; easily palpable along the lateral thigh.

Quadriceps Group

Anterior thigh; extends the knee; palpate easily during knee extension.

Rectus Femoris

Flexes the hip and extends the knee; palpable in the middle of the thigh.

Vastus Lateralis

Extends the knee; palpable on the lateral side

Vastus Medialis

Extends the knee; palpable on the medial side.

Vastus Intermedius

Extends the knee; difficult to palpate due to depth.

Pectineus

Located in the groin; adducts and flexes the hip; palpate in the upper groin.

Gracilis

Runs along the inner thigh; adducts the thigh and flexes the knee; palpate along the medial thigh.

Adductor Longus

Runs from the pubis to the femur; adducts and medially rotates the thigh; palpate during hip adduction.

Adductor Magnus

Large muscle from pelvis to femur; adducts and extends the thigh; palpate deep in the inner thigh.

Gluteus Maximus

Largest muscle of the buttocks; extends and externally rotates the hip; palpable during hip extension.

Gluteus Medius

Lies beneath the gluteus maximus; abducts and internally rotates the hip; palpate on the lateral hip.

Gluteus Minimus

Located beneath the gluteus medius; abducts and internally rotates the hip; activation sensed during hip abduction.

Hamstring Group

Posterior thigh; flexes the knee and extends the hip; palpate along the thigh during knee flexion.

Biceps Femoris

Palpate laterally.

Semitendinosus

Palpate medially.

Semimembranosus

Palpate deep on the medial side.

Tibialis Anterior

Runs along the lateral tibia; dorsiflexes and inverts the foot; palpate along the shin during dorsiflexion.

Extensor Digitorum Longus

Runs from tibia and fibula to the toes; extends toes and dorsiflexes the foot; palpate on the top of the foot during toe extension.

Fibularis (Peroneus) Longus

Runs along the lateral lower leg; everts and plantarflexes the foot; palpate along the lateral leg during eversion.

Gastrocnemius

Large calf muscle; plantarflexes the foot and flexes the knee; easily palpable during plantarflexion.

Plantaris

Small muscle above the gastrocnemius; assists in plantarflexion; difficult to palpate.

Soleus

Beneath the gastrocnemius; plantarflexes the foot; palpate deep during plantarflexion with a bent knee.

Lumbricals of the Foot

On the plantar side of the foot; flexes the metatarsophalangeal joints and extends the interphalangeal joints; difficult to palpate.

Plantar Aponeurosis

Thick connective tissue band along the sole of the foot; supports the arch; easily palpable on the sole.

Abductor Digiti Minimi (Foot)

Runs along the lateral side of the foot; abducts the little toe; palpate the lateral border during movement.

Abductor Hallucis

Runs along the medial side of the foot; abducts the big toe; palpate the medial border during abduction.