BSC 2085 Lab 8 – Shoulder, Arm, Hip, Thigh & Leg Muscles

Traditional vocabulary flashcards covering key muscles, their locations, origins or functions from BSC 2085 Lab 8 lecture notes.

Rotator cuff

Tendinous sleeve formed by supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis; stabilizes the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint.

Supraspinatus

Abducts the humerus; part of the rotator cuff; originates on the supraspinous fossa of the scapula.

Infraspinatus

Laterally rotates the humerus; rotator-cuff muscle arising from the infraspinous fossa.

Teres minor

Produces lateral rotation and adduction of the humerus; rotator-cuff muscle on posterior scapula.

Teres major

Medially rotates, extends, and adducts the humerus; NOT part of the rotator cuff.

Subscapularis

Medially rotates the humerus; anterior rotator-cuff muscle lining the subscapular fossa.

Deltoid

Triangular shoulder muscle that flexes, extends, and abducts the arm; covers the glenohumeral joint.

Biceps brachii

Two-headed anterior arm muscle; flexes elbow and supinates forearm.

Brachialis

Deep to biceps; primary flexor of the elbow regardless of forearm position.

Triceps brachii

Three-headed posterior arm muscle; primary elbow extensor.

Brachioradialis

Forearm muscle that flexes elbow; originates on lateral humerus and inserts on distal radius.

Pronator teres

Forearm anterior muscle that pronates the forearm; originates on medial epicondyle.

Flexor carpi radialis

Anterior forearm flexor that abducts and flexes the wrist; medial-epicondyle origin.

Palmaris longus

Slender anterior forearm muscle; flexes wrist and tenses palmar aponeurosis.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Anterior forearm muscle that flexes and adducts the wrist; medial-epicondyle origin.

Forearm flexor group

Anterior compartment muscles; originate mainly on the medial epicondyle and flex the wrist/fingers.

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Posterior forearm muscle; extends and abducts the wrist; lateral-epicondyle origin.

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Shorter companion to ECR longus; extends and abducts the wrist.

Extensor digitorum

Primary extensor of digits 2-5; posterior forearm.

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Posterior forearm muscle; extends and adducts the wrist.

Abductor pollicis longus

Posterior forearm muscle that abducts the thumb (pollex).

Extensor pollicis brevis

Short posterior muscle that extends the proximal phalanx of the thumb.

Extensor pollicis longus

Long posterior muscle that extends the distal phalanx of the thumb.

Forearm extensor group

Posterior compartment muscles; originate on the lateral epicondyle and extend wrist/fingers.

Gluteus maximus

Largest gluteal muscle; powerful hip extensor and lateral rotator.

Gluteus medius

Abducts and medially rotates the thigh; deep to gluteus maximus.

Gluteus minimus

Smallest gluteal muscle; assists gluteus medius in abduction and medial rotation.

Piriformis

Pear-shaped deep hip lateral rotator located inferior to gluteus minimus.

Superior gemellus

Small lateral rotator of the hip located above obturator internus.

Obturator internus

Deep lateral rotator passing through lesser sciatic foramen; between gemelli muscles.

Inferior gemellus

Small lateral rotator of the hip located below obturator internus.

Iliopsoas

Primary hip flexor composed of psoas major and iliacus; inserts on lesser trochanter.

Psoas major

Lumbar-origin muscle that flexes the hip and trunk; part of iliopsoas.

Iliacus

Fan-shaped muscle filling iliac fossa; joins psoas to form iliopsoas.

Quadriceps femoris

Four-headed anterior thigh muscle group; extends the knee.

Rectus femoris

Most superficial quadriceps head; flexes hip and extends knee.

Vastus intermedius

Deep quadriceps head; extends knee under rectus femoris.

Vastus lateralis

Lateral quadriceps head; extends knee and stabilizes patella.

Vastus medialis

Medial quadriceps head; extends knee and stabilizes patella.

Sartorius

Longest muscle in body; flexes, abducts, laterally rotates hip and flexes knee (‘tailor’s muscle’).

Tensor fasciae latae

Lateral thigh muscle tightening iliotibial tract; assists in hip abduction and medial rotation.

Pectineus

Short medial thigh muscle; flexes and adducts hip.

Adductor longus

Medial thigh muscle; adducts and flexes hip.

Gracilis

Slender medial thigh muscle; adducts hip and flexes knee.

Hamstrings

Posterior thigh group (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus); extend hip & flex knee.

Biceps femoris

Lateral hamstring with long & short heads; flexes knee and extends hip.

Semitendinosus

Medial hamstring; flexes knee, extends hip; has long tendon.

Semimembranosus

Deepest hamstring; flexes knee and extends hip.

Tibialis anterior

Anterior leg muscle; dorsiflexes and inverts foot.

Extensor digitorum longus

Anterior leg muscle; extends toes 2-5 and dorsiflexes foot.

Fibularis (peroneus) longus

Lateral leg muscle; everts and plantarflexes foot.

Soleus

Deep calf muscle; plantarflexes foot; joins gastrocnemius on calcaneal tendon.

Gastrocnemius

Two-headed superficial calf muscle; plantarflexes foot and flexes knee.

Plantaris

Small posterolateral calf muscle with long thin tendon; weak plantarflexor.

Calcaneal (Achilles) tendon

Common tendon of gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris inserting into calcaneus.