BIOL 2401 Unit 3 Lab: Skeletal Muscles of Upper & Lower Extremities

Vocabulary review flashcards covering the skeletal muscles, muscle groups, actions, and connective tissues of the upper and lower extremities for BIOL 2401 Lab Exam 3.

Coracobrachialis

A skeletal muscle of the anterior upper arm located medially near the armpit and medial to the biceps brachii.

Brachialis

An upper arm muscle located deep to the biceps brachii that flexes the forearm; visible along both anterior and posterior/lateral views of the arm.

Biceps brachii

A two-headed muscle on the anterior compartment of the arm that flexes and supinates the forearm.

Triceps brachii

A three-headed muscle occupying the posterior compartment of the arm that acts as the primary extensor of the forearm.

Deltoid

The large, triangular muscle covering the shoulder joint responsible for arm abduction, visible on both anterior and posterior arm views.

Supraspinatus

A rotator cuff muscle situated on the posterior aspect of the scapula superior to the scapular spine.

Infraspinatus

A rotator cuff muscle located on the posterior aspect of the scapula inferior to the scapular spine.

Teres minor

A narrow rotator cuff muscle located on the posterior shoulder immediately inferior to the infraspinatus.

Teres major

A thick shoulder muscle located inferior to the teres minor that extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm.

Pronator teres

An anterior forearm muscle that runs obliquely from the medial epicondyle to the lateral radius to pronate the forearm.

Brachioradialis

A superficial muscle located on the lateral (radial) side of the forearm that flexes the elbow.

Flexor carpi radialis

An anterior superficial forearm muscle located lateral to the palmaris longus that flexes and abducts the wrist.

Palmaris longus

A superficial anterior forearm muscle positioned between the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris whose slender tendon passes into the palmar aponeurosis.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

A forearm muscle running along the medial (ulnar) border that flexes and adducts the wrist; visible on both anterior and posterior views.

Flexor digitorum superficialis

An anterior forearm muscle located deep to the superficial flexor tendons that flexes the middle phalanges of the fingers.

Extensor carpi radialis longus

A posterior/lateral forearm muscle that extends and abducts the wrist, located proximal to the extensor carpi radialis brevis.

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

A posterior forearm muscle located immediately medial and distal to the extensor carpi radialis longus that extends and abducts the wrist.

Extensor digitorum

A superficial posterior forearm muscle whose tendons divide to insert onto the dorsal aspects of digits 2 through 5 to extend the fingers.

Extensor carpi ulnaris

A superficial muscle on the posterior ulnar side of the forearm that extends and adducts the wrist.

Anconeus

A small triangular muscle located at the posterior aspect of the elbow adjacent to the triceps brachii that assists in forearm extension.

Supinator

A deep muscle of the proximal forearm, visible when superficial extensor muscles are removed, that supinates the forearm.

Abductor pollicis longus

A deep posterior forearm muscle that emerges laterally above the wrist to abduct the thumb.

Abductor digiti minimi (hand)

A superficial hypothenar muscle on the medial edge of the palm that abducts the little finger; specifically highlighted for the lab practical exam.

Flexor pollicis brevis

A thenar muscle situated at the base of the thumb that flexes the thumb; specifically highlighted for the lab practical exam.

Gluteus maximus

The largest, most superficial gluteal muscle that forms the mass of the buttock, acts as the prime hip extensor, and provides most of the lift when climbing stairs.

Gluteus medius and minimus

Muscles of the posterior and lateral hip that abduct and medially rotate the thigh.

Tensor fasciae latae

A lateral hip and thigh muscle that stabilizes the pelvis and knee by extending and laterally rotating the knee.

Quadriceps femoris group

The anterior thigh extensor muscle group comprised of four muscles: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius.

Vastus intermedius

A member of the quadriceps femoris group located deep to the rectus femoris.

Sartorius

A long, strap-like muscle that courses obliquely across the anterior thigh from the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial proximal tibia.

Gracilis

A slender, superficial medial thigh muscle that adducts the thigh and flexes the leg at the knee.

Adductor longus

A prominent muscle located on the anteromedial aspect of the thigh that adducts and flexes the thigh.

Adductor magnus

A large, triangular medial thigh muscle situated posterior to the adductor longus and gracilis.

Iliopsoas

A composite muscle formed by the psoas major and iliacus in the anterior hip and upper thigh that serves as a powerful hip flexor.

Hamstring group

A posterior thigh muscle group consisting of the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris; only the semitendinosus and biceps femoris are tested on the lab exam.

Iliotibial tract

A thick band of connective tissue on the lateral thigh that receives the insertions of the tensor fasciae latae and gluteus maximus.

Gastrocnemius

The superficial, two-bellied posterior calf muscle that plantarflexes the foot and flexes the knee.

Soleus

A broad, flat posterior calf muscle situated deep to the gastrocnemius that plantarflexes the foot.

Calcaneal tendon

A large band of dense regular connective tissue (also known as the Achilles tendon) that anchors the gastrocnemius and soleus to the calcaneus bone.

Tibialis anterior

The principal muscle of the anterior compartment of the lower leg responsible for dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot.

Extensor digitorum longus

An anterior compartment lower leg muscle that dorsiflexes the foot and extends digits 2 through 5.

Fibularis longus

A superficial muscle in the lateral compartment of the lower leg that everts and plantarflexes the foot.

Fibularis brevis

A muscle in the lateral compartment of the lower leg situated deep to the fibularis longus that assists in foot eversion.

Popliteus

A deep muscle situated on the posterior knee/proximal tibia, visible when the gastrocnemius and soleus are removed, that unlocks the knee joint.

Tibialis posterior

A deep posterior lower leg muscle situated between flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus that inverts and plantarflexes the foot.

Flexor hallucis longus

A deep muscle in the posterior compartment of the lower leg that flexes the hallux (great toe).

Flexor digitorum longus

A deep posterior lower leg muscle running medially that plantarflexes the foot and flexes digits 2 through 5.

Flexor digitorum brevis

A central intrinsic muscle on the plantar (inferior) surface of the foot that flexes digits 2 through 5.

Abductor hallucis

An intrinsic muscle on the medial side of the plantar foot that abducts the great toe.

Abductor digiti minimi (foot)

An intrinsic muscle on the lateral side of the plantar foot that abducts the fifth toe.