2025 NATIONAL SKELETAL MUSCLES LIST

External intercostals

External intercostals

Muscles located between the ribs that assist in inhalation.

Internal intercostals

Muscles located between the ribs that assist in exhalation.

Transverse abdominis

A deep abdominal muscle providing core stability.

Rectus abdominis

The muscle commonly referred to as the 'abs' that flexes the spine.

Serratus anterior

A muscle that helps in the upward rotation of the scapula.

Diaphragm

The primary muscle involved in respiration, separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Iliopsoas

A major hip flexor muscle that consists of the psoas and iliacus.

Sartorius

The longest muscle in the body, aiding in hip flexion and lateral rotation.

Gluteus maximus

The largest muscle in the gluteal region, primarily responsible for hip extension.

Gluteus medius

A muscle located on the outer surface of the pelvis, important for hip stabilization.

Tensor fasciae latae

A muscle that assists in stabilizing and abducting the hip.

Adductor longus

A muscle that adducts the thigh and assists in hip flexion.

Gracilis

A thin muscle that aids in adduction of the thigh.

Semimembranosus

A muscle in the back of the thigh that aids in knee flexion.

Semitendinosus

A muscle of the hamstring group that also assists in knee flexion.

Biceps femoris

A muscle of the hamstrings that flexes the knee and extends the hip.

Rectus femoris

A muscle in the quadriceps group that extends the knee and flexes the hip.

Vastus lateralis

The largest of the quadriceps muscles, located on the outer thigh.

Vastus intermedius

A muscle located beneath the rectus femoris, part of the quadriceps group.

Vastus medialis

A muscle on the inner part of the thigh that helps extend the knee.

Tibialis anterior

A muscle that dorsiflexes the foot and aids in foot inversion.

Gastrocnemius

The main calf muscle that plantarflexes the foot and flexes the knee.

Soleus

A muscle that lies beneath the gastrocnemius, involved in plantarflexion.

Peroneus longus

A muscle that helps in foot eversion and supports the arch.

Peroneus brevis

A muscle that aids in foot eversion and is located beneath the peroneus longus.

Frontalis

A muscle that raises the eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead.

Orbicularis oris

A muscle that encircles the mouth, crucial for closing and puckering lips.

Orbicularis oculi

A muscle surrounding the eye that allows for blinking and closing the eye.

Occipitofrontalis

A muscle that raises the eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead.

Zygomaticus major

A muscle responsible for smiling by elevating the corners of the mouth.

Masseter

A primary muscle in chewing, responsible for elevating the mandible.

Sternocleidomastoid

A neck muscle that allows for head rotation and flexion.

Trapezius

A muscle that assists in moving, rotating, and stabilizing the shoulder blade.

Buccinator

A muscle of the cheek that helps in chewing and blowing.

Pectoralis major

A large muscle in the chest that adducts and rotates the arm.

Latissimus dorsi

A broad muscle in the back that extends, adducts, and rotates the arm.

Deltoid

A muscle that caps the shoulder, responsible for arm abduction.

Teres major

A muscle that assists in the adduction and rotation of the arm.

Biceps brachii

A muscle in the upper arm that flexes the elbow and supinates the forearm.

Triceps brachii

A muscle in the back of the arm that extends the elbow.

Brachialis

A muscle that flexes the elbow, lying underneath the biceps.

Brachioradialis

A muscle of the forearm that flexes the forearm at the elbow.

Palmaris longus

A muscle that helps flex the wrist and tense the palm.

Flexor carpi radialis

A muscle that flexes the wrist and abducts the hand.

Flexor digitorum superficialis

A muscle that flexes the fingers and assists with wrist flexion.

Extensor carpi radialis

A muscle that extends and abducts the wrist.

Extensor digitorum

A muscle that extends the fingers.

Extensor digiti minimi

A muscle that extends the little finger.

Extensor carpi ulnaris

A muscle that extends and adducts the wrist.

Infraspinatus

A shoulder muscle that externally rotates the arm.

Supraspinatus

A shoulder muscle that assists with arm abduction.

Subscapularis

A muscle that internally rotates the arm.

Teres Minor

A muscle that externally rotates the arm and stabilizes the shoulder.