Axial and Appendicular Muscles

Prime Movers (agonists)

Most responsible for a movement

Antagonist

Oppose/reverse the movement

Synergists

Aid agonists

Fixators

Immobilize the origin of the prime mover

Remembering names of muscles

direction of fibers, muscle size, muscle location, number or origins, location of attachments, muscle shape, and muscle action

Occipitofrontalis (epicranius)

Frontal belly= raises eye; occipital belly = fixes aponeurosis/pulls scalp posteriorly

Frontal belly

raises eyebrows

Occipital belly

fixes aponeurosis/pulls scalp posteriorly

Orbicularis oculi

closes eyes

Zygomaticus (major and minor)

raises lateral corners of mouth upward

Orbicularis oris

closes lips; purses/protrudes lips

Masseter

prime mover for jaw closure; elevates mandible

Buccinator

holds food between teeth during chewing

Temporalis

closes jaw; elevates and retracts mandible

Sternocleidomastoid

flexion of neck or rotation toward shoulders

Pectoralis major

prime mover for arm flexion, adducts, and medially rotates arm

Pectoralis minor

protracts, depresses, and rotates scapula and assists with breathing

Erector Spinae

Keeps spine upright; extend and laterally flexes vertebral column

External Intercostals

Inspiration

Internal Intercostals

forced expiration

Diaphragm

prime move for inspiration

Rectus abdominis

flexes vertebral column; increases abdominal pressure

External oblique

Aids muscles of back to rotate and laterally flex the trunk

Internal oblique

same as external oblique

Transversus abdominus

compresses abdominal contents

Trapezius

• extends head

• raises/rotates/retracts/adducts/stabilizes scapula

Latissimus dorsi

arm extension

Deltoid

arm abduction

Triceps brachii

forearm extension

Biceps brachii

flexion and supination of forearm

Brachialis

prime mover, flexion of forearm

Brachioradials

synergist of forearm flexion

Pronator teres

pronates forearm

Supinator

supinates forearm

Flexor carpi radialis

flexor and abductor of hand

Flexor carpi ulnaris

flexes and adducts hand

Flexor digitorum superficialis

flexes hand and middle phalanges

Palmaris longus

flexes hand and wrist

Extensor carpi radials

extends and abducts hand

Extensor carpi ulnaris

extends and adducts hand

Extensor digitorum

finger extension

Sartorius

flexes/abducts/laterally rotates thigh

Iliopsoas

prime mover for hip flexion

Adductor longus/magnus

adducts, medially rotates, flexes thigh

Rectus femoris

extends leg and flexes thigh

Vastus lateralis, medialis, intermedius

extends leg

gluteus maximus

hip extension

gluteus medius

abduct and medially rotates thigh

Biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus

extends thigh, flexes leg

gastrocnemius

plantarflexion and knee flexion

Soleus

plantarflexion

Tibialis anterior

dorsiflexion and inversion of foot

Fibularis (peroneus)

plantarflexion and eversion of foot

Extensor digitorum

toe extension and dorsiflexion