Upper Limb Muscle Origins, Insertions, and Actions

Deltoid Origin

Anterior portion: lateral 1/3 of clavicle; Lateral portion: acromion (clavicle); Posterior portion: spine of scapula.

Deltoid Insertion:

Deltoid tuberosity.

Deltoid Action

Primary mover of arm flexion; abducts arm against resistance.

Teres Major Origin

Inferior angle and lateral border of scapula.

Teres Major Insertion

Medial lip of intertubercular sulcus (humerus).

Teres Major Action

Extends, medially rotates

Supraspinatus Origin

Supraspinous fossa.

Supraspinatus Insertion

Greater tubercle of humerus.

Supraspinatus Action

Abduction of arm; holds head of humerus in glenoid cavity.

Infraspinatus Origin

Infraspinous fossa.

Infraspinatus Insertion

Greater tubercle of humerus.

Infraspinatus Action

Lateral rotation of arm; holds head of humerus in glenoid cavity.

Teres Minor Origin

Lateral border of scapula.

Teres Minor Insertion

Greater tubercle of humerus.

Teres Minor Action

Lateral rotation of arm; adduction of arm (weak)

Subscapularis Origin

Subscapular fossa.

Subscapularis Insertion

Lesser tubercle of humerus.

Subscapularis Action

Medial rotation of arm; holds head of humerus in glenoid cavity.

Triceps Brachii Origin

Long head: infraglenoid tubercle (scapula); Medial and lateral heads: shaft of humerus.

Triceps Brachii Insertion

Olecranon of ulna.

Triceps Brachii Action

Extension of forearm; extension of arm (long head).

Coracobrachialis Origin

Coracoid process of scapula.

Coracobrachialis Insertion

Anteromedial surface of humeral shaft.

Coracobrachialis Action

Adduction and flexion of arm at shoulder joint.

Biceps Brachii Origin

Long head: supraglenoid tubercle (scapula); Short head: coracoid process (scapula); Humerus.

Biceps Brachii Insertion

radial tuberosity; Aponeurosis: deep fascia proximal medial forearm

Biceps Brachii Action

Supination of forearm; flexion of forearm

Brachialis Origin

Anterior distal shaft of humerus.

Brachialis Insertion

Ulnar tuberosity.

Brachialis Action

Flexion of forearm.

Pronator Teres Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus; coronoid process of ulna.

Pronator Teres Insertion

Lateral mid-shaft of radius.

Pronator Teres Action

Pronation of forearm.

Flexor Carpi Radialis Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus.

Flexor Carpi Radialis Insertion

Metacarpals II and III (base).

Flexor Carpi Radialis Action

Flexion of wrist and hand; abduction of hand (lateral deviation).

Palmaris Longus Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus.

Palmaris Longus Insertion

Palmar aponeurosis.

Palmaris Longus Action

Flexion of wrist (weak); tense palmar aponeurosis.

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus; olecranon and posterior border of ulna.

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Insertion

Carpal bones (pisiform and hamate); metacarpal V (base).

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Action

Flexion of wrist; adduction of hand (medial deviation).

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Origin

Medial epicondyle of humerus; coronoid process of ulna; proximal anterior shaft of radius.

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Insertion

Middle phalanges of fingers 2-5.

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Action

Flexion of hand and middle phalanges 2-5; assist in flexion of wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints.

Flexor Pollicis Longus Origin

Radius (anterior mid-shaft); interosseous membrane; coronoid process of ulna.

Flexor Pollicis Longus Insertion

Distal phalanx of thumb.

Flexor Pollicis Longus Action

Flexion of thumb.

Flexor Digitorum Profundus Origin

Ulna (proximal anterior shaft); interosseous membrane.

Flexor Digitorum Profundus Insertion

Distal phalanges of fingers 2-5.

Flexor Digitorum Profundus Action

Flexion of fingers 2-5 at distal interphalangeal joints; assists in flexion of wrist at metacarpophalangeal joints.

Pronator Quadratus Origin

Distal shaft of ulna.

Pronator Quadratus Insertion

Distal shaft of radius.

Pronator Quadratus Action

Forearm pronation.

Brachioradialis Origin

Lateral distal shaft of humerus.

Brachioradialis Insertion

Styloid process of radius.

Brachioradialis Action

Flexion of forearm; assists in pronation and supination of forearm

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus.

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Insertion

Metacarpal III (base).

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Action

Extension of wrist; abduction of hand (lateral deviation).

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Origin

Lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus.

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Insertion

Metacarpal II (base).

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Action

Extension of wrist; abduction of hand (lateral deviation).

Extensor Digitorum Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus.

Extensor Digitorum Insertion

Extensor expansion (each expansion attaches distally to the middle and distal phalanges of fingers 2-5).

Extensor Digitorum Action

Extension of fingers 2-5; assists in extension of wrist.

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus.

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Insertion

Metacarpal V (base).

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Action

Extension of wrist and hand; adduction of hand (medial deviation).

Anconeus Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus.

Anconeus Insertion

Lateral surface of olecranon.

Anconeus Action

Assists in forearm extension at the elbow joint; stabilization of elbow joint.

Extensor Digiti Minimi Origin

Lateral epicondyle of humerus.

Extensor Digiti Minimi Insertion

Extensor expansion of digit 5.

Extensor Digiti Minimi Action

Digit 5 extension.

Supinator Origin

Ulna (posterior proximal shaft); lateral epicondyle of humerus.

Supinator Insertion

Radius (lateral proximal shaft).

Supinator Action

Supination of forearm.

Abductor Pollicis Longus Origin

Radius (proximal posterior); ulna (proximal posterior);

Abductor Pollicis Longus Insertion

Metacarpal I (base).

Abductor Pollicis Longus Action

Abduction of thumb; extension of thumb.

Extensor Pollicis Longus Origin

Posterior ulna.

Extensor Pollicis Longus Insertion

Distal phalanx of thumb.

Extensor Pollicis Longus Action

Extension of thumb.

Extensor Pollicis Brevis Origin

Radius (posterior distal shaft).

Extensor Pollicis Brevis Insertion

Proximal phalanx of thumb (dorsal side).

Extensor Pollicis Brevis Action

Extension of thumb.

Extensor Indicis Origin

Posterior ulna.

Extensor Indicis Insertion

Extensor expansion of digit 2.

Extensor Indicis Action

Extension of digit 2.

Abductor Pollicis Brevis Origin

Carpal bones (scaphoid, trapezium) and flexor retinaculum.

Abductor Pollicis Brevis Insertion

Proximal phalanx of thumb.

Abductor Pollicis Brevis Action

Abduction of thumb.

Flexor Pollicis Brevis Origin

Carpal bones (scaphoid, trapezium) and flexor retinaculum.

Flexor Pollicis Brevis Insertion

Proximal phalanx of thumb.

Flexor Pollicis Brevis Action

Flexion of thumb.

Opponens Pollicis Origin

Carpal bone (trapezium) and flexor retinaculum.

Opponens Pollicis Insertion

Metacarpal I.

Opponens Pollicis Action

Opposition of thumb.

Abductor Digiti Minimi (Hand) Origin

Carpal bone (pisiform) and tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris.