Muscle Attachments

superficial pectoral m. - Proximal Attachment

ventral surface of cranial sternebrae

superficial pectoral m. - Distal Attachment

greater tubercle of humerus

superficial pectoral m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: prevent forelimb abduction | Non-weight bearing: adduct forelimb

deep pectoral m. - Proximal Attachment

ventral surface of all sternebrae

deep pectoral m. - Distal Attachment

lesser tubercle & greater tubercle of the humerus

deep pectoral m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: pull trunk cranially | Non-weight bearing: adduct forelimb, draw the forelimb caudally (flex shoulder joint)

brachiocephalicus m. - Proximal Attachment

caudal skull; median raphe of the neck

brachiocephalicus m. - Distal Attachment

distal, cranial humerus

brachiocephalicus m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: draw head and neck to the side | Non-weight bearing: advance the forelimb (extend shoulder joint)

omotransversarius m. - Proximal Attachment

transverse process (aka "wing") of atlas (C1)

omotransversarius m. - Distal Attachment

spine of the scapula

omotransversarius m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: draw the head and neck to the side | Non-weight bearing: advance the forelimb (extend shoulder joint)

trapezius m. - Proximal Attachment

median raphe of the neck (cervical part) and the supraspinous ligament (thoracic part)

trapezius m. - Distal Attachment

spine of the scapula

trapezius m. - Major Actions

abduct forelimb, elevate forelimb during swing phase of locomotion

rhomboideus m. - Proximal Attachment

caudal skull; median raphe of the neck; spinous processes of cranial thoracic vertebrae

rhomboideus m. - Distal Attachment

dorsal border of scapula

rhomboideus m. - Major Actions

draw scapula against trunk and elevate forelimb during swing phase of locomotion

latissimus dorsi m. - Proximal Attachment

thoracolumbar fascia

latissimus dorsi m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, medial humerus

latissimus dorsi m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: pull trunk cranially | Non-weight bearing: flex shoulder joint (draw free limb caudally as in digging)

serratus ventralis m. - Proximal Attachment

transverse processes of caudal cervical vertebrae; cranial ribs

serratus ventralis m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, medial scapula

serratus ventralis m. - Major Actions

support trunk during stance (antigravity)

deltoideus m. - Proximal Attachment

spine and acromion of the scapula

deltoideus m. - Distal Attachment

deltoid tuberosity of the humerus

deltoideus m. - Major Actions

flex the shoulder joint

infraspinatus m. - Proximal Attachment

infraspinous fossa of the scapula

infraspinatus m. - Distal Attachment

greater tubercle of the humerus

infraspinatus m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilize shoulder joint laterally and limits medial rotation of the humerus (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: abduct shoulder joint and rotate humerus laterally

supraspinatus m. - Proximal Attachment

supraspinous fossa of the scapula

supraspinatus m. - Distal Attachment

greater tubercle of the humerus

supraspinatus m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilizes the shoulder joint by limiting flexion (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: extend shoulder joint

subscapularis m. - Proximal Attachment

subscapular fossa of the scapula

subscapularis m. - Distal Attachment

lesser tubercle of the humerus

subscapularis m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilize shoulder joint medially and limits lateral rotation of the humerus (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: adduct shoulder joint, rotate humerus medially

teres major m. - Proximal Attachment

proximal, caudal scapula

teres major m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, medial humerus

teres major m. - Major Actions

flex shoulder joint

triceps brachii m. - Proximal Attachment

caudal scapula; medial and lateral proximal humerus

triceps brachii m. - Distal Attachment

olecranon tuber of the ulna

triceps brachii m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilizes the elbow joint by limiting flexion (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: extend elbow joint

biceps brachii m. - Proximal Attachment

supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula

biceps brachii m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, medial radius and ulna

biceps brachii m. - Major Actions

flex elbow joint

brachialis m. - Proximal Attachment

proximal, lateral humerus

brachialis m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, medial radius and ulna

brachialis m. - Major Actions

flex elbow joint

extensor carpi radialis m. - Proximal Attachment

distal, lateral humerus

extensor carpi radialis m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, dorsal metacarpals II and III

extensor carpi radialis m. - Major Actions

extend carpal joints

common digital extensor m. - Proximal Attachment

lateral epicondyle of the humerus

common digital extensor m. - Distal Attachment

proximal dorsal surface of distal phalanges (P3) of digits II-V

common digital extensor m. - Major Actions

extend carpal, metacarpophalangeal, and proximal and distal interphalangeal joints II-V

lateral digital extensor m. - Proximal Attachment

lateral epicondyle of the humerus

lateral digital extensor m. - Distal Attachment

dorsal surface of distal phalanges (P3) of digits III, IV, and V

lateral digital extensor m. - Major Actions

extend carpal joints, metacarpophalangeal, and proximal and distal interphalangeal joints III, IV, and V

ulnaris lateralis m. - Proximal Attachment

lateral epicondyle of the humerus

ulnaris lateralis m. - Distal Attachment

accessory carpal bone & lateral, proximal metacarpal V

ulnaris lateralis m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilize the carpus by limiting hyperextension (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: abduct the manus

superficial digital flexor m. (Forelimb) - Proximal Attachment

medial epicondyle of the humerus

superficial digital flexor m. (Forelimb) - Distal Attachment

palmar surface of middle phalanges (P2) of digits II, III, IV, and V

superficial digital flexor m. (Forelimb) - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilize the carpus by limiting hyperextension (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: flex the carpal, metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints

flexor carpi ulnaris m. - Proximal Attachment

medial epicondyle of the humerus

flexor carpi ulnaris m. - Distal Attachment

accessory carpal bone

flexor carpi ulnaris m. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilize the carpus by limiting hyperextension (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: flex carpal joints

deep digital flexor m. (Forelimb) - Proximal Attachment

medial epicondyle of the humerus; caudal ulna and radius

deep digital flexor m. (Forelimb) - Distal Attachment

palmar surface of distal phalanges (P3) of digits I, II, III, IV, and V

deep digital flexor m. (Forelimb) - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilize the carpus by limiting hyperextension (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: flex the carpal, metacarpophalangeal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints

interossei mm. - Proximal Attachment

proximal, palmar surface of the metacarpal bones II, III, IV, and V

interossei mm. - Distal Attachment

palmar, proximal phalanges (P1) of digits II, III, IV, and V

interossei mm. - Major Actions

Weight bearing: stabilize the metacarpophalangeal joints by limiting extension (antigravity) | Non-weight bearing: flex the metacarpophalangeal joints

biceps femoris m. - Proximal Attachment

sacrotuberous ligament and ischiatic tuberosity of the os coxae

biceps femoris m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, cranial tibia; tuber calcanei of the calcaneus

biceps femoris m. - Major Actions

extend hip joint; flex stifle joint; extend tarsal joints | Weight bearing: stabilizes the hip and tarsal joints by limiting flexion (antigravity)

semitendinosus m. - Proximal Attachment

ischiatic tuberosity of the os coxae

semitendinosus m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, cranial tibia; tuber calcanei of the calcaneus

semitendinosus m. - Major Actions

extend hip joint; flex stifle joint; extend tarsal joints | Weight bearing: stabilizes the hip and tarsal joints by limiting flexion (antigravity)

semimembranosus m. - Proximal Attachment

ischiatic tuberosity of the os coxae

semimembranosus m. - Distal Attachment

distal, medial femur and proximal, medial tibia

semimembranosus m. - Major Actions

extend hip joint; flex stifle joint | Weight bearing: stabilizes the hip joint by limiting flexion (antigravity)

sartorius m. - Proximal Attachment

ventral cranial os coxae

sartorius m. - Distal Attachment

patella; proximal, cranial tibia

sartorius m. - Major Actions

flex the hip

gracilis m. - Proximal Attachment

pelvic symphysis of the os coxae

gracilis m. - Distal Attachment

proximal, cranial tibia; tuber calcanei of the calcaneus

gracilis m. - Major Actions

adduct hindlimb, extend tarsal joints | Weight bearing: stabilizes the tarsal joints by limiting flexion (antigravity)

pectineus m. - Proximal Attachment

ventral os coxae

pectineus m. - Distal Attachment

distal, caudal femur

pectineus m. - Major Actions

adduct hindlimb

adductor m. - Proximal Attachment

pelvic symphysis of the os coxae

adductor m. - Distal Attachment

caudal femur

adductor m. - Major Actions

adduct hindlimb | Weight bearing: stabilizes the hip joint by limiting abduction (antigravity)

tensor fasciae latae m. - Proximal Attachment

cranial os coxae

tensor fasciae latae m. - Distal Attachment

fascia lata

tensor fasciae latae m. - Major Actions

flex hip; extend stifle joint

superficial gluteal m. - Proximal Attachment

sacrotuberous ligament

superficial gluteal m. - Distal Attachment

third trochanter of the femur

superficial gluteal m. - Major Actions

extend and abduct the hip joint | Weight bearing: stabilizes the hip joint by limiting flexion (antigravity)

middle gluteal m. - Proximal Attachment

lateral os coxae