Muscles of the Head, Neck, and Upper Limbs – Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the primary muscles and key connective structures of the head, neck, and upper limbs, focused on their main actions for quick exam review.

Frontalis (frontal belly of occipitofrontalis)

Draws scalp forward, raises eyebrows, and wrinkles the forehead horizontally.

Occipitalis (occipital belly of occipitofrontalis)

Retracts (pulls back) the scalp.

Orbicularis oris

Compresses and purses the lips; the “kiss” muscle.

Orbicularis oculi

Closes the eyelids; blinking and squinting muscle.

Platysma

Pulls lower lip inferiorly, tenses skin of neck, and assists in depressing the mandible.

Zygomaticus major

Pulls the corners of the mouth superiorly; the primary smiling muscle.

Zygomaticus minor

Raises the upper lip to expose the upper teeth.

Buccinator

Presses cheeks against molar teeth and holds food between teeth during chewing.

Temporalis

Elevates and retracts the mandible at the jaw.

Masseter

Closes the jaw by elevating the mandible.

Sternocleidomastoid

One side: laterally flexes and rotates head to opposite side; both sides: flexes the cervical vertebral column.

Splenius capitis

One side: rotates head to same side; both sides: extends head and neck.

Splenius cervicis

One side: rotates head to same side; both sides: extends head and neck.

Trapezius

Superior fibers elevate & upwardly rotate scapula and extend head; middle fibers adduct scapula; inferior fibers depress scapula.

Levator scapulae

Elevates the scapula.

Rhomboid major

Stabilizes, elevates, adducts, and downwardly rotates scapula.

Rhomboid minor

Assists rhomboid major in stabilizing, elevating, adducting, and downwardly rotating scapula.

Serratus anterior

Abducts and stabilizes scapula against thoracic wall.

Pectoralis minor

Abducts and depresses the scapula.

Supraspinatus

Abducts the arm; part of the rotator cuff.

Infraspinatus

Laterally rotates the arm; part of the rotator cuff.

Teres minor

Laterally rotates and weakly adducts the arm; part of the rotator cuff.

Subscapularis

Medially rotates the arm; part of the rotator cuff.

Teres major

Extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm.

Latissimus dorsi

Extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm; powerful swimmer’s muscle.

Deltoid

Primary arm abductor; anterior fibers flex & medially rotate arm; posterior fibers extend & laterally rotate arm.

Pectoralis major

Flexes, adducts, and medially rotates the arm.

Triceps brachii

All heads extend the forearm; long head also assists in arm extension.

Anconeus

Assists triceps brachii in extending the forearm.

Biceps brachii

Flexes forearm, supinates forearm, and (long head) flexes the arm.

Coracobrachialis

Adducts and flexes the arm at the shoulder.

Brachialis

Primary flexor of the forearm at the elbow.

Brachioradialis

Flexes the forearm, especially when forearm is semi-pronated (mid-position).

Pronator teres

Pronates the forearm at the radioulnar joint.

Flexor carpi radialis

Flexes the hand and abducts it at the wrist.

Palmaris longus

Weakly flexes the hand and tenses the palmar fascia.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Flexes and adducts the hand at the wrist.

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Flexes hand and flexes middle phalanges at 2nd–5th MP and PIP joints.

Flexor digitorum profundus

Flexes hand and flexes distal & middle phalanges at 2nd–5th MP, PIP, and DIP joints.

Flexor pollicis longus

Flexes distal phalanx of the thumb at the IP joint.

Flexor retinaculum

Fibrous band on the palmar wrist that forms the carpal tunnel roof.

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extends and abducts the hand at the wrist.

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Extends and abducts the hand; shorter than its longus partner.

Extensor digitorum

Extends the hand and extends phalanges at 2nd–5th MP, PIP, & DIP joints.

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Extends and adducts the hand at the wrist.

Abductor pollicis longus

Abducts and extends the thumb; weakly extends the hand.

Extensor pollicis brevis

Extends the thumb at the MP joint; weak hand extensor.

Extensor pollicis longus

Extends the thumb at MP and IP joints; weak hand extensor.

Supinator

Supinates the forearm at the radioulnar joint.

Extensor retinaculum

Fibrous band on the dorsal wrist that holds extensor tendons in place.