Upper Limb Muscles: Origin, Insertion, Action

Pectoralis major — Origin

Clavicle and sternum

Pectoralis major — Insertion

Greater tubercle of the humerus

Pectoralis major — Action

Flexes, adducts, and medially rotates the arm

Pectoralis minor — Origin

Ribs 3-5

Pectoralis minor — Insertion

Coracoid process of the scapula

Pectoralis minor — Action

Pulls the scapula anteriorly

Serratus anterior — Origin

Ribs 1-8 (or 1-9)

Serratus anterior — Insertion

Medial border of the scapula

Serratus anterior — Action

Protracts and holds the scapula against the ribs

Subscapularis — Origin

Subscapular fossa of the scapula

Subscapularis — Insertion

Lesser tubercle of the humerus

Subscapularis — Action

Adducts and medially rotates the arm; stabilizes shoulder joint

Coracobrachialis — Origin

Coracoid process of the scapula

Coracobrachialis — Insertion

Medial surface of the humerus

Coracobrachialis — Action

Flexes and adducts the arm

Biceps brachii (long head) — Origin

Supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula

Biceps brachii (long head) — Insertion

Radial tuberosity

Biceps brachii (long head) — Action

Flexes and supinates the forearm

Biceps brachii (short head) — Origin

Coracoid process of the scapula

Biceps brachii (short head) — Insertion

Radial tuberosity

Biceps brachii (short head) — Action

Flexes and supinates the forearm

Brachialis — Origin

Anterior distal humerus

Brachialis — Insertion

Coronoid process of the ulna

Brachialis — Action

Flexes the forearm

Trapezius — Origin

Occipital bone, spines of C7, and all thoracic vertebrae

Trapezius — Insertion

Acromion, spine of the scapula, and clavicle

Trapezius — Action

Rotates, adducts, elevates, or depresses the scapula; extends head

Latissimus dorsi — Origin

Spines of T7-L5 and iliac crest

Latissimus dorsi — Insertion

Intertubercular sulcus of the humerus

Latissimus dorsi — Action

Extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm

Teres major — Origin

Inferior angle of the scapula

Teres major — Insertion

Intertubercular sulcus of the humerus

Teres major — Action

Extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm

Deltoid — Origin

Acromion, spine of the scapula, and clavicle

Deltoid — Insertion

Deltoid tuberosity of the humerus

Deltoid — Action

Abducts, flexes, extends, and rotates the arm

Rhomboid minor — Origin

Spines of C7-T1

Rhomboid minor — Insertion

Medial border of the scapula

Rhomboid minor — Action

Adducts and fixes the scapula to the ribs

Rhomboid major — Origin

Spines of T2-T5

Rhomboid major — Insertion

Medial border of the scapula

Rhomboid major — Action

Adducts and fixes the scapula to the ribs

Levator scapulae — Origin

Transverse processes of C1-C4

Levator scapulae — Insertion

Medial border of the scapula

Levator scapulae — Action

Elevates the scapula

Supraspinatus — Origin

Supraspinous fossa of the scapula

Supraspinatus — Insertion

Greater tubercle of the humerus

Supraspinatus — Action

Abducts the arm and stabilizes the shoulder joint

Infraspinatus — Origin

Infraspinous fossa of the scapula

Infraspinatus — Insertion

Greater tubercle of the humerus

Infraspinatus — Action

Laterally rotates the arm and stabilizes the shoulder joint

Teres minor — Origin

Lateral border of the scapula

Teres minor — Insertion

Greater tubercle of the humerus

Teres minor — Action

Laterally rotates the arm and stabilizes the shoulder joint

Pronator teres — Origin

Medial epicondyle of the humerus

Pronator teres — Insertion

Lateral radius (midshaft)

Pronator teres — Action

Pronates and flexes the forearm

Flexor carpi radialis — Origin

Medial epicondyle of the humerus

Flexor carpi radialis — Insertion

Base of metacarpals 2 and 3

Flexor carpi radialis — Action

Flexes and abducts the hand

Palmaris longus — Origin

Medial epicondyle of the humerus

Palmaris longus — Insertion

Palmar aponeurosis

Palmaris longus — Action

Tenses the skin of the palm and flexes the hand

Flexor carpi ulnaris — Origin

Medial epicondyle of the humerus

Flexor carpi ulnaris — Insertion

Pisiform, lunate, and base of metacarpal 5

Flexor carpi ulnaris — Action

Flexes and adducts the hand; stabilizes the wrist

Flexor digitorum superficialis — Origin

Medial epicondyle, coronoid process of ulna, and radius shaft

Flexor digitorum superficialis — Insertion

Middle phalanges of digits 2-5

Flexor digitorum superficialis — Action

Flexes the hand and middle phalanges of digits 2-5

Flexor digitorum profundus — Origin

Anterior surface of the ulna and interosseous membrane

Flexor digitorum profundus — Insertion

Distal phalanges of digits 2-5

Flexor digitorum profundus — Action

Flexes the hand and distal phalanges of digits 2-5

Flexor pollicis longus — Origin

Anterior surface of the radius and interosseous membrane

Flexor pollicis longus — Insertion

Distal phalanx of the thumb

Flexor pollicis longus — Action

Flexes the distal phalanx of the thumb

Pronator quadratus — Origin

Anterior distal shaft of the ulna

Pronator quadratus — Insertion

Anterior distal radius

Pronator quadratus — Action

Pronates the forearm and stabilizes the radioulnar joint

Brachioradialis — Origin

Lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus

Brachioradialis — Insertion

Styloid process of the radius

Brachioradialis — Action

Flexes the forearm and stabilizes the elbow joint

Extensor carpi radialis longus — Origin

Lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus

Extensor carpi radialis longus — Insertion

Metacarpal 2

Extensor carpi radialis longus — Action

Extends and abducts the hand

Extensor carpi radialis brevis — Origin

Lateral epicondyle of the humerus

Extensor carpi radialis brevis — Insertion

Metacarpal 3

Extensor carpi radialis brevis — Action

Extends and abducts the hand

Extensor digitorum — Origin

Lateral epicondyle of the humerus

Extensor digitorum — Insertion

Distal phalanges of digits 2-5

Extensor digitorum — Action

Extends and abducts the fingers; extends the hand

Extensor digiti minimi — Origin

Lateral epicondyle of the humerus

Extensor digiti minimi — Insertion

Distal phalanx of digit 5

Extensor digiti minimi — Action

Extends the little finger (and hand)

Extensor carpi ulnaris — Origin

Lateral epicondyle of the humerus

Extensor carpi ulnaris — Insertion

Metacarpal 5

Extensor carpi ulnaris — Action

Extends and adducts the hand

Abductor pollicis longus — Origin

Posterior surface of radius, ulna, and interosseous membrane

Abductor pollicis longus — Insertion

Trapezium and metacarpal 1

Abductor pollicis longus — Action

Abducts and extends the thumb

Extensor pollicis brevis — Origin

Posterior surface of radius, ulna, and interosseous membrane