Unit 6 - Human Muscle Identification Terms

Temporalis

Elevates and retracts the mandible

Occipito-frontalis

Draws back the scalp to raise the eyebrow and wrinkle the forehead

Procerus

Assists in flaring the nostrils

Orbicularis Oculi

Closes the eyelids

Risorius

Draws back the angle of the mouth

Platysma

Pulls down the mandible and pulls the corners of the lips out to the side and down

Buccinator

Pulls back the angle of the mouth and flattens the cheek area, assists in chewing

Levator Labii Superioris

Elevates the upper lip

Zygomaticus Major

Draws angle of mouth upward and laterally

Mentalis

Elevates and wrinkles skin of chin, protrudes lower lip

Depressor Anguli Oris (Triangularis)

Pulls the angle of the mouth downward

Nasalis

Compresses the nasal cartilage

Masseter

Causes the jaws to bite, the most powerful muscle of the human body

Orbicularis Oris

Used to pucker the lips

Depressor Labii Inferioris

Draws the lower lip down and to the side

Rectus Femoris

Quadriceps group, Knee extension; hip flexion

Deltoids

Shoulder abduction, flexion, and extension

External Oblique

Rotates torso

Rectus Abdominis

Flexion of the trunk

Sartorius

Assists with hip adduction, knee flexion, and knee internal rotation

Serratus Anterior

Stabilizes scapula; assists in moving it upward or forward

Adductor Longus

Adduct the thigh at the hip joint

Tibialis Anterior

Dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot

Gracilis

Flexion, external rotation, and abduction of the leg

Vastus Lateralis

Quadriceps Group, works with the other quad muscles to help extend knee joint

Sternocleidomastoid

Bends the neck and turns and tilts the head

Biceps Brachii

Flexes elbow; supinates forearm

Vastus Medialis

Quadriceps group, extends the knee joint and contributes to correct tracking of the patella

Flexor Carpi Group

Provides flexion of the wrist and assists in abduction of the hand and wrist

Pectoralis Major

Extends the humerus; adducts and medially rotates the humerus

Semitendinosus

Extends at the hip and flexes at the knee

Triceps Brachii

Extends forearm

Trapezius

Rotates, retracts, elevates, and depresses scapula

Infraspinatus

Lateral rotation of arm and abduction of arm

Latissimus Dorsi

Adducts, extends, and internally rotates the arm

Gastrocnemius

Plantar flexes foot, flexes knee

Extensor Carpi Group

Extend hand at wrist

Gluteals

Extend and outwardly rotate hip and extend the trunk

Semimembranosus

Flexes and medially rotates the leg at the knee and extends the thigh at the hip joint

Biceps Femoris

Flexes the knee