Biol 241 – Muscle List and Actions

Vocabulary flashcards covering the muscle names and their specific actions from the Biol 241 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 1 muscle list.

epicranius (frontalis)

raises eyebrows; fixes aponeurosis and pulls scalp posteriorly

orbicularis oculi

closes eye, produces blinking, squinting, and draws eyebrows inferiorly

zygomaticus

raises lateral corners of mouth upward (smiling muscle)

orbicularis oris

closes lips, purses and protrudes lips (kissing and whistling muscle)

buccinator

draws corner of mouth laterally, compresses cheeks (as in whistling), holds food between teeth during chewing

platysma

tenses skin of neck, depresses mandible, pulls lower lip back and down

masseter

prime mover of jaw closure, elevates mandible

temporalis

closes jaw, elevates and retracts mandible

sternocleidomastoid

both cause flexion of neck, individually rotate head toward shoulder on opposite side

erector spinae

extend and bend the vertebral column laterally

pectoralis major

prime mover of arm flexion; adducts, medially rotates arm

serratus anterior

prime mover to protract and hold scapula against chest wall; rotates scapula

pectoralis minor

with ribs fixed draws scapula forward and inferiorly; aid in inspiration

external intercostals

pulls ribs toward one another to elevate rib cage; aid in inspiration

internal intercostals

draws ribs together to depress rib cage; aid forced expiration

rectus abdominis

flexes and rotates vertebral column; increases abdominal pressure; used in sit ups and curls

external oblique

flexes and rotates vertebral column; compresses abdominal wall; aids back muscles in trunk rotation and lateral flexion; used in oblique curls

internal oblique

flexes and rotates vertebral column; compresses abdominal wall; aids back muscles in trunk rotation and lateral flexion; used in oblique curls

transversus abdominis

compresses abdominal contents

trapezius

extends head; raises, rotates, and retracts (adducts) scapula and stabilizes it

latissimus dorsi

prime mover of arm extension; adducts and medially rotates arm; brings arm down in power stroke as in striking a blow

teres minor

lateral rotation of arm; stabilizes shoulder

teres major

extends, medially rotates, and adducts arm

levator scapula

elevates and adducts scapula

rhomboid major

pulls scapula medially (retraction), stabilizes scapula

rhomboid minor

pulls scapula medially (retraction), stabilizes scapula

deltoid

prime mover of arm abduction

triceps brachii

powerful forearm extensor; antagonist of forearm flexors

biceps brachii

flexion (powerful) and supination of forearm; "turns the corkscrew and pulls the cork"

brachioradialis

synergist in forearm flexion

brachialis

flexor of forearm

pronator teres

pronates forearm

flexor carpi radialis

powerful flexor and abductor of the hand

flexor carpi ulnaris

flexes and adducts hand

flexor digitorum superficialis

flexes hand and middle phalanges of fingers II-V

extensor carpi radialis longus

extends and abducts hand

extensor digitorum

prime mover of finger extension

extensor carpi ulnaris

extends and adducts hand

supinator

synergist of biceps brachii to supinate forearm

iliopsoas

flex trunk at hip joint; flex thigh, lateral flexion of vertebral column

sartorius

flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates thigh; flexes leg

adductor longus

adducts, and medially rotates and flexes thigh

gracilis

adducts thigh; flexes and medially rotates leg, especially during walking

rectus femoris

extends leg and flexes thigh

vastus lateralis

extends leg and stabilizes knee

vastus medialis

extends knee; stabilizes patella

vastus intermedius

extends leg

tensor fasciae latae

steadies trunk

gluteus maximus

powerful thigh extensor (as in climbing stairs), laterally rotates and abducts thigh

gluteus medius

abducts and medially rotates thigh

gluteus minimus

abducts and medially rotates thigh

biceps femoris

extends thigh; laterally rotates leg; flexes leg

semitendinosus

extends thigh; flexes leg; medially rotates leg

semimembranosus

extends thigh; flexes leg; medially rotates leg

fibularis (peroneus) longus

plantar flexes and everts foot

tibialis anterior

prime mover of dorsiflexion; inverts foot

extensor digitorum longus

prime mover of toe extension; dorsiflexes foot

gastrocnemius

plantar flexes foot when leg is extended

soleus

plantar flexion; important for locomotion

flexor digitorum longus

flexes toes; plantar flexes and inverts foot