Upper limb Muscles

Origins Insertions and actions

Supraspinatus Origin

Supraspinous fossa of scapula 

Supraspinatus Insertion

Greater tubercle of humerus 

Supraspinatus Action

Abducts arm

Infraspinatus Origin

Infraspinous fossa of scapula

Infraspinatus Insertion

Greater tubercle of humerus

Infraspinatus Action

Laterally rotates arm

Teres Minor Origin 

Lateral border of scapula 

Teres Minor Insertion

Greater tubercle of humerus 

Teres Minor Action

Laterally rotates arm

Subscapularis Origin

Subscapular fossa of scapula 

Subscapularis Insertion

Less tubercle of scapula 

Subscapularis Action

Medially rotates arm

SITS muscles

stabilizes shoulder area

Teres Major Origin

Posterior surface of scapula

Teres Major Insertion

Intertubercular sulcus of humerus

Teres Major Action

Extends, adducts and medially rotates arm

Deltoid Origin

Clavicle, acromion and spine of scapula

Deltoid Insertion

Deltoid tuberosity

Deltoid Action

Abducts arm; flexes and extends arm

Coracobrachialis Origin

Coracoid process of scapula

Coracobrachialis Insertion

Medial Humerus

Coracobrachialis Action

Flexes and adducts arm

Triceps Brachii (long, lateral and medial head) Origin

Inferior margin of glenoid cavity (long head) and posterior humerus (lateral and medial head)

Triceps Brachii (long, lateral and medial head) Insertion

Olecranon of ulna 

Triceps Brachii (long, lateral and medial head) Action

Extends forearm

Anconeus Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Anconeus Insertion

Olecranon of ulna

Anconeus Action 

Assist in forearm extension 

Biceps Brachii (Long and short head) Origin

Superior margin in glenoid cavity (long head) and coracoid process (short head) 

Biceps Brachii (Long and short head) Insertion

Radial tuberosity 

Biceps Brachii (Long and short head) Action

Flexes forearm and supinates forearm

Brachialis Origin

Anterior surface of humerus

Brachialis Insertion

Coronoid process of ulna

Brachialis Action

Flexes forearm

Brachioradialis Origin

Lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus

Brachioradialis Insertion

Styloid process of radius

Brachioradialis Action

Flexes forearm

Pronator Teres Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus and coronoid process of ulna

Pronator Teres Insertion

Midshaft of radius

Pronator Teres Action

Pronates forearm

Flexor Carpi Radialis Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus

Flexor Carpi Radialis Insertion

Base of 2nd and 3rd metacarpals

Flexor Carpi Radialis Action 

Flexes and abducts hand at wrist

Palmaris Longus Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus

Palmaris Longus Insertion

Palmer aponeurosis

Palmaris Longus Action

Flexes hand

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus and olecranon

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Insertion

Base of 5th metacarpal

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Origin 

Medial epicondyle of humerus and coronoid process of ulna

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Insertion 

Middle phalanges 2-5

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Action

Flexes middle phalanges at proximal interphalangeal joints

Flexor Digitorum Profundus Origin

Coronoid process of ulna and anterior surface of ulna

Flexor Digitorum Profundus Insertion

Distal phalanges 2-5 

Flexor Digitorum Profundus Action 

Flexes distal phalanges at distal interphalangeal joints

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Origin

Lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Insertion

Base of 2nd metacarpal

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Action

Extends and abducts hand at wrist

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Insertion

Bases of 3rd metacarpal

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Action

Extends and abducts hand at wrist

Extensor Digitorum Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Extensor Digitorum Insertion

Extensor Expansions of fingers 2-5

Extensor Digitorum Action

Extends fingers and hand at wrist

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Insertion

Base of 5th metacarpal

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Action 

Extends and adducts hand at wrist

Supinator Origin

Lateral Epicondyle of humerus and posterior ulna

Supinator Insertion

Proximal end of radius

Supinator Action

Supinates forearm 

Flexor Pollicis Longus Origin

Anterior surface of radius and interosseous membrane

Flexor Pollicis Longus Insertion

Base of distal phalanx of thumb

Flexor Pollicis Longus Action

Flexes thumb

Extensor Pollicis Longus Origin

Posterior surface of ulna and interosseous membrane

Extensor Pollicis Longus Insertion

Base of distal phalanx of thumb 

Extensor Pollicis Longus Action

Extends thumb

Extensor Pollicis Brevis Origin

Posterior surface of radius and interosseous membrane

Extensor Pollicis Brevis Insertion

Base of proximal phalanx of thumb

Extensor Pollicis Brevis Action

Extends thumb

Abductor Pollicis Longus Origin

Posterior surface of radius and ulna and interosseous membrane

Abductor Pollicis Longus Insertion

Base of 1st metacarpal

Abductor Pollicis Longus Action 

Abducts thumb