Muscle Actions

Digastric

Digastric

elevate hyoid, depress mandible

Masseter

elevate mandible

Sternocleidomastoid

flex and rotate head, flex neck

Sternohyoid

depress hyoid

Mylohyoid

elevate hyoid

Pectoralis minor

abduct and rotate arm, rotate scapula

pectoralis major

abduct and rotate arm, rotate scapula

Pectoantebrachialis

adduct front leg

Xiphihumeralis

adduct front leg

Intercostals

elevate ribs

Serratus ventralis

pulls forward and rotate scapula, elevate ribs

Rectus abdominis

compress abdomen

transversus abdominis

compress abdomen

external oblique

compress abdomen, flex vertebral column

Internal Oblique

compress abdomen, flex vertebral column

trapezius

elevate, adduct, depress, and rotate scapula

deltoid

abduct and rotate arm

triceps brachii

extend forearm and arm

levator scapulae

elevate and rotate scapula

latissimus dorsi

extend, adduct, and rotate arm

supraspinatus

abduct arm

infraspinatus

rotate and adduct arm

rhomboideus

elevate and adduct scapula

brachialis

flex forearm

brachioradialis

flex, supinate, and pronate forearm

extensors

extend hand

flexor carpi radialis

flex and abduct hand

flexor carpi ulnaris

flex and adduct hand

palmaris longus

flex hand

biceps brachii

flex forearm

biceps femoris

flex leg, extend thigh

tensor fasciae latae

flex and abduct thigh

gluteus medius

abduct and rotate thigh

gluteus maximus

extend and rotate thigh

caudofemoralis

abduct thigh, extend leg, flex tail

gracilis

adduct thigh, flex leg

sartorius

flex, abduct, and rotate thigh

adductor longus

flex, adduct, and rotate thigh

adductor femoris

flex, adduct, and rotate thigh

vastus medialis

extend leg, flex thigh

vastus lateralis

extend leg, flex thigh

rectus femoris

extend leg, flex thigh

semimembranosus

flex leg, extend thigh

semitendinosus

flex leg, extend thigh

gastrocnemius

plantar flex foot, flex leg

soleus

plantar flex foot

tibialis anterior

dorsiflex foot, invert foot