Muscle Exam Muscles

Trapezius

Scapular retraction, rotates, elevates, and depresses scapula
Spinal accessory
Originates from external occipital protuberance, ligamentum nuchae, spines of c7-t12
Inserts into scapular spine, acromion, and lateral 1/3 clavicle

Latissimus dorsi

Adducts, extends the arm, rotates arm medially, and depresses scapula

Thoracodorsal

Originates from Iliac crest, spinous process of t7-t12, ribs 9-12

Inserts into Intertubercular sulcus of humerus

Levator scapulae

Elevates and downward rotation of scapula
Dorsal scapular
Originates from transverse process of c1-c4
Inserts into superior angle of scapula

Rhomboid major and minor

Scapular retraction
Dorsal scapular
Originates from spines of vertebrae
Inserts into medial border of scapula

Deltoid

Abducts, flexes, extends the arm, rotates arm medially
Axillary
Originates from acromion process, lateral 1/3 of clavicle, spine of scapula
Inserts into deltoid tuberosity of humerus

Teres major

Extends, medially rotates, adducts arm
Lower subscapular
Originates from inferior angle of scapula
Inserts into intertubercular sulcus of humerus

Pectoralis major

Flexes and horizontal adducts the arm, rotates arm medially
Medial and lateral pectoral
Originates from medial clavicle, sternum, costal cartilages 1-6
Inserts into greater tubercle and lateral lip of intertubercular sulcus of humerus

Pectoralis minor

Depresses scapula and elevates ribs
Medial pectoral
Originates from anterior part of ribs 3-5
Inserts into coracoid process

Subscapularis

Rotates arm medially
Subscapular
Originates from subscapular fossa of scapula
Inserts into lesser tubercle of humerus
Rotator cuff

Supraspinatus

Initiates abduction of arm
Suprascapular
Originates from supraspinous fossa of scapula
Inserts into greater tubercle of humerus
Rotator cuff

Infraspinatus

Rotates arm laterally
Suprascapular
Originates from infraspinous fossa of scapula
Inserts into greater tubercle of humerus
Rotator cuff

Teres minor

Rotates arm laterally
Axillary
Superolateral border of scapula
Greater tubercle of humerus
Rotator cuff

Biceps brachii

Flexes arm and forearm, supinates forearm
Musculocutaneous
Originates from supraglenoid tubercle and coracoid process
Inserts into radial tuberosity of radius

Coracobrachialis

Flexes and adducts the arm
Musculocutaneous
Originates from coracoid process
Inserts into medial diaphysis of humerus

Brachialis

Flexes forearm
Musculocutaneous
Originates from distal half of diaphysis of anterior humerus
Inserts into coronoid process of ulna

Triceps brachii

Extends forearm and extends arm at shoulder joint
Radial
Originates from diaphysis of humerus
Inserts into olecranon process

Pronator teres

Flexes and pronates forearm
Median
Originates from medial epicondyle of humerus
Inserts into midshaft of radius

Flexor carpi radialis

Flexes forearm, flexes wrist, wrist abduction
Median
Originates from medial epicondyle of humerus
Inserts into base of 2nd and 3rd metacarpals

Palmaris longus

Flexes forearm and wrist
Median
Originates from medial epicondyle of humerus
Inserts into palmar aponeurosis

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Flexes forearm, flexes wrist, adducts wrist
Ulnar
Originates from medial epicondyle of humerus
Inserts into base of 5th metacarpal

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Flexes middle interphalangeal joints, flexes forearm, flexes wrist
Median
Originates from medial epicondyle of humerus, coronoid process of ulna
Inserts into middle phalanges of digits of 2-5

Flexor pollicis longus

Flexes distal phalanx of thumb
Median
Inserts into distal phalanx of digit 1

Flexor digitorum profundus

Flexes distal interphalangeal joints, flexes wrist
Median and ulnar
Originates from medial/anterior ulna, interosseous membrane
Inserts into distal phalanges of digits 2-5

Pronator quadratus

Pronates forearm
Median

Brachioradialis

Flexes forearm
Radial
Originates from lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus
Inserts into radial styloid process

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extends wrist, abducts wrist
Radial
Originates from lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus
Inserts into base of 2nd metacarpal

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Extends wrist, abducts wrist
Radial
Originates from lateral epicondyle of humerus
Inserts into base of third metacarpal

Extensor digitorum

Extends digits 2-5, extends wrist
Radial
Originates from lateral epicondyle of humerus
Inserts into middle and distal phalanges of fingers 2-5

Extensor digiti minimi

Extends little finger
Radial

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Extends wrist, adducts wrist
Radial
Originates from lateral epicondyle of humerus
Inserts into base of 5th metacarpal

Alconeus

Extends forearm
Radial

Supinator

Supinates forearm
Radial

Abductor pollicis longus

Abducts and extends thumb
Radial

Extensor pollicis brevis and longus

Extends thumb
Radial

Extensor indicis

Extends index finger
Radial

Thenar eminence

Abduct and flex the thumb, opposition
Median

Hypothenar eminence

Abducts and flex the little finger
Ulnar

Adductor pollicis

Adducts and helps oppose thumb
Ulnar

Adductor longus and brevis

Adducts the thigh, flexes the thigh, rotates the thigh medially
Obturator

Adductor magnus

Adducts the thigh, flexes the thigh, rotates the thigh medially
Obturator and sciatic
Originates from ischial tuberosity, ischial ramus, inferior ramus of pubis
Inserts into Linea aspera and adductor tubercle of femur

Pectineus

Adducts the thigh, flexes the thigh, rotates the thigh medially

Femoral

Gracilis

Adducts the thigh, flexes the thigh, rotates the thigh laterally
Obturator
Originates from body and inferior ramus of pubis
Inserts into medial surface of proximal tibia (pes anserinus)

Biceps femoris

Extends the thigh, flexes the knee
Long head: sciatic short head: common fibular
Originates from long head: ischial tuberosity short head: linea aspera
Inserts into head of fibula, lateral condyle of tibia
Hamstrings

Semitendinosus

Extends the thigh, flexes the knee
Sciatic
Originates from ischial tuberosity
Inserts into medial surface of proximal tibia
Hamstrings

Semimembranosus

Extends the thigh, flexes the knee
Sciatic
Hamstrings

Tensor fascia latae

Abducts the thigh, flexes the thigh, rotates the thigh medially, tightens (tenses) the fascia lata and deep fascia of lateral thigh
Superior gluteal
Originates from iliac crest and ASIS
Inserts into iliotibial tract

Iliotibial band

Laterally supports the knee when the tensor fasciae lata contracts
Originates from iliac crest
Inserts into lateral condyle of tibia

Tibialis anterior

Dorsiflexes the foot, inverts the foot
Deep fibular
Originates from lateral condyle and upper diaphysis of tibia
Inserts into first cuneiform and base of first metatarsal

Extensor hallucis longus

Extends the big toe, dorsiflexes the foot
Deep fibular

Extensor digitorum longus

Extends the toes, dorsiflexes the foot
Deep fibular

Fibularis (peroneus) tertius

Dorsiflexes and everts foot

Deep fibular

Fibularis longus and brevis

Everts the foot, plantar flexes the foot
Superficial fibular

Gastrocnemius

Plantar flexes the foot, assists with knee flexion
Tibial
Originates from medial and lateral condyles of femur
Inserts into posterior surface of calcaneus

Soleus

Plantar flexes the foot
Tibial
Originates from head of fibula, proximal tibia, and interosseus membrane
Inserts into posterior surface of calcaneus

Plantaris

Plantar flexes the foot, assists with knee flexion
Tibial

Popliteus

Knee flexion, laterally rotating the femur on the tibia when walking
Tibial

Tibialis posterior

Inverts the foot and plantar flexion
Tibial

Flexor digitorum longus

Flexes digits 2-5 and plantar flexion
Tibial

Flexor hallucis longus

Flexes the great toe and plantar flexion
Tibial
Originates from posterior fibula and interosseus membrane
Inserts into the base of distal phalanx of great toe

Intercostal muscles

External intercostal: elevates the rib cage, spreading the ribs, assisting in inspiration internal intercostal: depresses the rib cage, pulling ribs closer together, assisting expiration
Intercostal

Serratus anterior

Scapular protraction, and upward scapular rotation
Long thoracic nerve
Originates from first nine ribes
Inserts into medial border of scapula

Serratus posterior

Superior: elevates ribs inferior: depresses ribs
Intercostal

Splenius capitis

Bilaterally: neck extension Unilaterally: ipsilateral lateral flexion, and ipsilateral head rotation
Intercostal
Dorsal rami

Splenius cervicis

Bilaterally: extend cervical spine Unilaterally: ipsilateral lateral flexion and rotation of cervical spine
Dorsal rami

Iliocostalis

Extend and ipsilateral lateral flexion of vertebral column
Dorsal rami

Longissimus

Extend the vertebral column (particularly thoracis), and ipsilateral lateral flexion of vertebral column
Dorsal rami

Spinalis

Extend the vertebral column
Dorsal rami

Semispinalis

Extend the vertebral column capitis and cervicis extend the head, contralateral trunk/head rotation
Dorsal rami
Originates transverse processes
Inserts into spinous processes

Sternocleidomastoid

Bilaterally: flex head Unilaterally: flex and contralateral rotation the accessory muscle of respiration
Spinal accessory nerve
Originates manubrium of sternum
Inserts into mastoid process of temporal bone

Scalenes

Elevates first two ribs, neck flexion
Cervical spinal nerves

Rectus abdnominis

Flexes the trunk, depresses ribs
Intercostal

External abdominal oblique

Compresses abdomen, trunk ipsilateral lateral flexion, contralateral trunk rotation, active in forced expiration
Intercostal

Internal abdominal oblique

Compresses abdomen, trunk ipsilateral lateral flexion, ipsilateral trunk rotation, active in forced expiration
Intercostal

Transversus abdominis

Compresses abdominal cavity
Intercostal