Kinesiology 1223: Articulations and Musculoskeletal Anatomy

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering joint articulations, structural components, biomechanical movements, and muscles of the upper extremity, lower extremity, neck, and trunk.

Articulation

Any junction in the body where two or more bones come together; classified by how the bones connect or by the degree of movement permitted, and named after the articulating bones.

Synovial Joint

A freely movable joint characterized by a joint capsule, a joint cavity lined with a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid, and articular cartilage covering the articulating bone ends.

Bursa

A fluid-filled sac lined with synovial membrane that reduces friction between bones, tendons, and muscles around a synovial joint.

Labrum

A fibrocartilaginous ring or lip that deepens the socket of a ball-and-socket joint, such as the glenoid labrum in the shoulder.

Meniscus

A crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous pad located inside certain synovial joints, such as the medial and lateral menisci of the knee, that absorbs shock and enhances joint stability.

Hinge Joint

A uniaxial synovial joint that permits motion in only one plane, specifically flexion and extension, such as the elbow joint.

Ball-and-Socket Joint

A multiaxial synovial joint where a spherical head of one bone fits into a cup-like depression of another, allowing multiaxial movement, such as the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint.

Glenohumeral Joint

The ball-and-socket articulation between the head of the humerus and the glenoid cavity (fossa) of the scapula.

Tibiofemoral Joint

The knee articulation between the femoral condyles and the tibial plateau, supported by the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, collateral ligaments, and menisci.

Agonist

The primary muscle (prime mover) whose contraction is directly responsible for generating a specific joint movement.

Antagonist

A muscle that opposes or performs the opposite action of the agonist.

Muscle Origin

The typically proximal, fixed, or stable attachment site of a muscle to a bone.

Muscle Insertion

The typically distal, mobile attachment site of a muscle that is pulled toward the stable origin during muscle contraction.

Scapular Retraction and Protraction

Retraction is the medial movement of the scapulae toward the posterior midline (spine); protraction is the anterior and lateral movement of the scapulae away from the spine.

Scapular Elevation and Depression

Elevation is the superior movement of the scapula (raising the shoulder); depression is the inferior movement of the scapula (lowering the shoulder).

Supination and Pronation

Movements of the forearm: supination rotates the forearm laterally so the palm faces anteriorly/superiorly; pronation rotates the forearm medially so the palm faces posteriorly/inferiorly.

Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion

Movements at the ankle: dorsiflexion lifts the dorsal surface of the foot superiorly toward the shin; plantarflexion points the foot and toes downward.

Inversion and Eversion

Movements of the foot: inversion turns the plantar surface (sole) medially; eversion turns the plantar surface laterally.

Trapezius

A superficial back muscle originating from the occipital bone (upper) and thoracic vertebrae (middle and lower), inserting on the scapula; its upper fibers elevate, middle fibers retract, and lower fibers depress the scapula.

Levator Scapulae

A posterior neck muscle originating on the transverse processes of C1–C4 and inserting onto the superior angle of the scapula to elevate the scapula.

Rhomboid Minor & Major

Scapular retractors originating on the vertebrae (C7–T1 for minor, T2–T5 for major) and inserting along the medial border of the scapula.

Serratus Anterior

A muscle originating from the ribs and inserting on the anterior side of the medial border of the scapula that acts to protract the scapula.

Pectoralis Minor

An anterior chest muscle originating on ribs $3$ to $5$ and inserting on the coracoid process of the scapula to cause scapular protraction and depression.

Deltoid

A shoulder muscle originating on the clavicle (anterior fibers), acromion (middle fibers), and spine of the scapula (posterior fibers) and inserting on the deltoid tuberosity of the humerus; performs shoulder flexion, abduction, and extension.

Pectoralis Major

A large chest muscle originating from the clavicle, sternum, and ribs, inserting into the intertubercular groove (sulcus) of the humerus, and producing shoulder flexion, adduction, and internal rotation.

Latissimus Dorsi

A broad back muscle originating from the lower spine and iliac crest, inserting into the intertubercular groove of the humerus, and producing shoulder extension, adduction, and internal rotation.

Teres Major

A muscle originating on the inferior angle of the scapula and inserting on the lesser tubercle of the humerus; performs shoulder extension, adduction, and internal rotation.

Rotator Cuff

A protective group of four scapulohumeral muscles—Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, and Subscapularis—that stabilize the head of the humerus in the glenoid fossa.

Supraspinatus

A rotator cuff muscle originating in the supraspinous fossa of the scapula and inserting onto the greater tubercle of the humerus to produce shoulder abduction.

Infraspinatus

A rotator cuff muscle originating in the infraspinous fossa of the scapula and inserting onto the greater tubercle of the humerus to produce shoulder external rotation.

Teres Minor

A rotator cuff muscle originating on the lateral border of the scapula and inserting onto the greater tubercle of the humerus to produce shoulder external rotation.

Subscapularis

An anterior rotator cuff muscle originating in the subscapular fossa of the scapula and inserting onto the lesser tubercle of the humerus to produce shoulder internal rotation.

Biceps Brachii

An anterior brachial muscle originating from the superior glenoid cavity (long head) and coracoid process (short head), inserting on the radial tuberosity, and acting as an elbow flexor.

Triceps Brachii

A posterior brachial muscle with three heads (long from inferior glenoid cavity, lateral from proximal humerus, medial from humeral shaft) that inserts onto the olecranon process of the ulna to perform elbow extension.

Coracobrachialis

A muscle originating on the coracoid process of the scapula and inserting on the shaft of the humerus that performs shoulder flexion.

Brachialis

A deep anterior arm muscle originating on the anterior shaft of the humerus and inserting onto the coronoid process of the ulna to produce elbow flexion.

Brachioradialis

A muscle originating on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and inserting on the styloid process of the radius that performs elbow flexion.

Flexor-Pronator Group

The anterior forearm muscle group sharing a common origin at the medial epicondyle of the humerus, including pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, and flexor digitorum superficialis.

Pronator Teres

An anterior forearm muscle originating on the medial epicondyle of the humerus and inserting on the radius to produce forearm pronation.

Extensor-Supinator Group

The posterior forearm muscle group sharing a common origin at the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, including supinator, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor digitorum, and extensor carpi ulnaris.

Supinator

A deep posterior/lateral forearm muscle originating on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and inserting onto the radius to produce forearm supination.

Iliopsoas

An anterior hip muscle originating from the vertebral column and iliac fossa, inserting onto the lesser trochanter of the femur, and serving as a primary hip flexor.

Sartorius

A strap-like anterior thigh muscle originating on the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and inserting on the tibia; performs hip flexion, external hip rotation, and knee flexion.

Quadriceps Femoris

The four-part anterior thigh muscle group (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) that shares a common insertion on the tibial tuberosity.

Rectus Femoris

The only quadriceps muscle that crosses both the hip and knee joints; originates on the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) and produces hip flexion and knee extension.

Vastus Muscles (Lateralis, Intermedius, Medialis)

The three deep quadriceps muscles originating from the greater trochanter, anterior shaft, and medial shaft of the femur, respectively, that act together to produce knee extension.

Adductor Muscles (Brevis, Longus, Magnus)

Medial thigh muscles originating from the pubis and inserting along the linea aspera of the femur that act to adduct the hip.

Gracilis

A superficial medial thigh muscle originating from the pubis and inserting onto the tibia; acts in hip adduction and knee flexion.

Gluteus Maximus

A powerful posterior hip muscle originating from the ilium, iliac crest, and sacrum, inserting into the gluteal tuberosity, and acting in hip extension and external rotation.

Gluteus Medius & Minimus

Lateral hip muscles originating on the ilium and inserting onto the greater trochanter of the femur that produce hip abduction.

Tensor Fascia Latae

A lateral hip muscle originating from the iliac crest and inserting near the lateral tibial condyle via the iliotibial band; produces hip abduction and internal rotation.

Hamstrings

The posterior thigh muscle group composed of the lateral biceps femoris and medial semimembranosus and semitendinosus that acts to extend the hip and flex the knee.

Biceps Femoris

The lateral hamstring muscle originating from the ischial tuberosity (long head) and linea aspera (short head), inserting on the fibular head, and performing hip extension and knee flexion.

Semimembranosus & Semitendinosus

The medial hamstring muscles originating from the ischial tuberosity and inserting near the medial condyle of the tibia to produce hip extension and knee flexion.

Gastrocnemius

A superficial posterior lower leg muscle originating near the femoral condyles and inserting onto the calcaneus via the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon to produce plantarflexion.

Soleus

A deep posterior lower leg muscle originating from the posterior tibia and fibula and inserting on the calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon to produce plantarflexion.

Tibialis Posterior

A deep posterior leg muscle originating on the posterior tibia and inserting on the plantar surface of the foot to produce plantarflexion and inversion.

Flexor Digitorum Longus

A deep posterior lower leg muscle originating near the lateral condyle of the tibia and inserting onto the plantar surface of digits $2$ to $5$ to flex the toes.

Flexor Hallucis Longus

A deep posterior lower leg muscle originating on the fibula and inserting on the plantar surface of the first digit to produce flexion of the hallux (big toe).

Tibialis Anterior

An anterior compartment leg muscle originating near the lateral condyle of the tibia and inserting on the dorsal surface of the foot to perform dorsiflexion and inversion.

Extensor Digitorum Longus

An anterior lower leg muscle originating near the lateral condyle of the tibia and inserting onto the dorsal surface of digits $2$ to $5$ to produce toe extension.

Extensor Hallucis Longus

An anterior compartment lower leg muscle originating on the fibula and inserting onto the dorsal surface of the first digit to extend the hallux.

Fibularis Longus & Brevis

Lateral compartment lower leg muscles originating on the fibula and inserting onto the plantar surface of the foot to produce plantarflexion and eversion.

Sternocleidomastoid

An anterolateral neck muscle whose contraction produces neck flexion and contralateral/ipsilateral neck rotation.

Erector Spinae

An intrinsic posterior back muscle group consisting of the iliocostalis, longissimus, and spinalis that acts to produce trunk and neck extension.

External Abdominal Oblique

The most superficial lateral abdominal muscle, featuring inferomedially oriented fibers (pointing downward and inward) that functions in trunk flexion and rotation.

Internal Abdominal Oblique

The intermediate lateral abdominal muscle with superomedially oriented fibers (pointing upward and inward) that produces trunk flexion and rotation.

Transverse Abdominis

The deepest flat abdominal muscle with horizontally oriented fibers that stabilizes the core and compresses the abdominal contents.

Rectus Abdominis

A segmented anterior abdominal muscle enclosed by the rectus sheath that flexes the lumbar spine and trunk.