Lab Human Muscle Anatomy

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the superficial and deep musculature of the pectoral girdle, upper arm, forearm, pelvic girdle, thigh, and lower leg as presented in the anatomical lecture diagrams.

Pectoralis major

A large superficial muscle of the anterior chest wall possessing clavicular, sternocostal, and abdominal heads.

Deltoid

A triangular muscle capping the shoulder joint that originates along the clavicle and acromion and covers the proximal humerus.

Serratus anterior

A saw-toothed muscle located on the lateral thoracic wall over the ribs, situated inferior and lateral to the pectoralis major.

Latissimus dorsi

A broad back muscle that sweeps anterolaterally beneath the axilla to attach onto the anterior proximal humerus.

Biceps brachii

An anterior upper arm muscle composed of a long head and a short head that insert onto the radius via the biceps brachii tendon and bicipital aponeurosis.

Supraspinatus

A posterior scapular muscle situated in the supraspinous fossa superior to the scapular spine, inserting onto the greater tubercle of the humerus.

Infraspinatus

A posterior rotator cuff muscle situated inferior to the spine of the scapula and superior to the teres minor.

Teres minor

A narrow muscle of the posterior upper arm and scapula positioned directly inferior to the infraspinatus and superior to the teres major.

Teres major

A thick posterior shoulder muscle situated inferior to the teres minor that passes forward to insert anteriorly on the proximal humerus.

Triceps brachii

A three-headed muscle on the posterior aspect of the upper arm comprising lateral, long, and medial heads that converge to insert at the olecranon of the ulna.

Pectoralis minor

A deep muscle of the anterior chest situated beneath the pectoralis major that inserts into the coracoid process of the scapula.

Subscapularis

A large, triangular deep muscle covering the anterior costal surface of the subscapular fossa and inserting onto the lesser tubercle of the humerus.

Coracobrachialis

A deep anterior upper arm muscle arising from the coracoid process medial to the short head of the biceps brachii and inserting onto the medial shaft of the humerus.

Brachialis

A powerful muscle situated deep to the biceps brachii on the lower anterior humerus crossing the anterior elbow joint.

Pronator teres

An anterior forearm muscle that runs obliquely from the medial epicondyle of the humerus across to the mid-lateral radius.

Brachioradialis

A prominent superficial muscle along the radial side of the forearm originating from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus.

Flexor carpi radialis

An anterior superficial forearm muscle passing obliquely from the medial epicondyle along the radial border toward the base of the metacarpals.

Palmaris longus

A slender anterior forearm muscle located between the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris that connects distally to the palmar aponeurosis.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

A superficial muscle lying along the medial border of the anterior and posterior forearm that inserts toward the pisiform bone.

Flexor digitorum superficialis

A muscle located deep to the superficial flexor muscles in the anterior forearm, giving off four long tendons that extend to digits two through five.

Extensor carpi radialis longus

A posterior/lateral forearm muscle situated directly medial to the brachioradialis that extends the wrist on the radial side.

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

A muscle of the posterior compartment of the forearm situated adjacent to and deeper/medial to the extensor carpi radialis longus.

Extensor digitorum

A major superficial muscle of the posterior forearm whose tendon splits into four branches traveling to the dorsal aspects of digits two through five.

Extensor digiti minimi

A slender muscle located on the medial side of the extensor digitorum in the posterior forearm that sends a dedicated tendon to the little finger.

Extensor carpi ulnaris

A superficial muscle positioned on the ulnar border of the posterior forearm that inserts onto the ulnar side of the wrist/hand.

Anconeus

A small, triangular muscle located on the posterior aspect of the elbow adjacent to the lateral head of the triceps brachii and olecranon.

Abductor pollicis longus

A deep posterior forearm muscle emerging distally on the radial side to abduct the thumb.

Extensor pollicis longus

A deep muscle of the posterior forearm possessing a long tendon that passes along the dorsal aspect of the wrist to the distal phalanx of the thumb.

Tensor fasciae latae

A muscle located on the anterolateral hip and proximal thigh that tenses and inserts into the iliotibial band (IT band).

Psoas major

A deep anterior pelvic and abdominal muscle originating along the lumbar vertebrae that passes under the inguinal ligament to form the iliopsoas.

Sartorius

A long, strap-like muscle that extends diagonally across the anterior thigh from the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial proximal tibia at the pes anserinus.

Rectus femoris

The central superficial muscle of the quadriceps femoris group situated on the anterior thigh directly over the vastus intermedius.

Vastus lateralis

The large lateral component of the quadriceps femoris muscle group situated on the anterolateral thigh.

Vastus medialis

The tear-shaped medial component of the quadriceps femoris group located on the distal anteromedial thigh.

Pectineus

A flat, quadrangular muscle of the proximal anterior-medial thigh situated between the psoas major and the adductor longus.

Adductor longus

A large fan-shaped muscle on the medial aspect of the thigh positioned between the pectineus and gracilis.

Gracilis

A long, slender muscle running vertically down the medial side of the thigh that inserts at the pes anserinus on the proximal medial tibia.

Tibialis anterior

A prominent superficial muscle of the anterior leg lying against the lateral surface of the tibia, crossing the ankle to invert and dorsiflex the foot.

Extensor digitorum longus

An anterior leg muscle located lateral to the tibialis anterior that passes under the extensor retinacula to insert onto the lateral four digits.

Peroneus longus

A superficial muscle of the lateral compartment of the lower leg whose tendon passes behind the lateral malleolus to the plantar foot.

Gluteus maximus

The largest and most superficial muscle of the posterior gluteal region, extending from the iliac crest and sacrum to the femur and iliotibial tract.

Gluteus medius

A fan-shaped muscle of the lateral hip positioned deep and superior to the gluteus maximus along the iliac crest.

Piriformis

A landmark deep gluteal muscle located inferior to the gluteus medius and superior to the superior gemellus, passing over the sciatic nerve.

Superior gemellus

A small, deep gluteal muscle located immediately inferior to the piriformis and superior to the tendon of the obturator internus.

Obturator internus

A deep muscle of the pelvis and gluteal region whose horizontal tendon passes between the superior and inferior gemelli toward the greater trochanter.

Inferior gemellus

A small deep rotator muscle of the hip situated immediately inferior to the obturator internus and superior to the quadratus femoris.

Quadratus femoris

A rectangular deep muscle of the posterior hip located between the inferior gemellus and the superior border of the adductor magnus.

Adductor magnus

A massive triangular muscle of the medial/posterior thigh situated deep to the hamstrings and inferior to the quadratus femoris.

Biceps femoris

The lateral hamstring muscle of the posterior thigh, comprised of a long head and a short head that converge toward the head of the fibula.

Semitendinosus

A superficial posterior medial hamstring muscle characterized by a notably long distal tendon contributing to the pes anserinus.

Semimembranosus

A flat, broad posterior medial thigh hamstring muscle positioned directly deep and medial to the semitendinosus.

Gastrocnemius

A superficial posterior calf muscle composed of distinct medial and lateral heads that attach distally into the calcaneal tendon.

Soleus

A broad, flat posterior calf muscle situated directly deep to the gastrocnemius that joins the common calcaneal tendon.

Plantaris

A small posterior leg muscle featuring a short belly and a very long, slender tendon passing between the gastrocnemius and soleus.

Iliotibial band (IT Band)

A thickened longitudinal tract of deep fascia extending along the lateral thigh from the tensor fasciae latae and gluteus maximus to the tibia.