Human Muscular Anatomy and Actions

Vocabulary practice flashcards reviewing major muscles and their anatomical actions across the face, neck, back, thorax, abdomen, and limbs.

Frontalis

Raises eyebrows

Occipitalis

Pulls scalp posteriorly

Orbicularis Oculi

Closes eye

Orbicularis Oris

Closes and protrudes lips (puckering lips for kiss)

Buccinator

Manipulate food during chewing; expels air through pursed lips

Zygomaticus Major

Pulls angle of mouth superiorly and laterally (smiling)

Zygomaticus Minor

Raises lateral portion of upper lip (smiling)

Platysma

Depresses lower lip; depresses mandible; tenses skin of neck

Masseter

Elevates mandible

Temporalis

Elevates and retracts mandible

Digastric

Depresses mandible; fixator of the hyoid bone during swallowing

Mylohyoid

Elevates hyoid bone and floor of mouth, assisting tongue to push food toward the pharynx

Sternohyoid

Depresses hyoid bone and larynx

Sternocleidomastoid

Bilateral (together) action: flexes head (chin moves towards the chest); unilateral (individual) action: flex and rotate the head toward opposite side

Scalenes (anterior, middle, posterior)

Bilateral (together) action: flexes head (when 1st rib is fixed), elevate rib cage with vertebral column during forced inspiration (when neck is fixed); unilateral (individual) action: rotate head laterally

Trapezius

Extends the head (raises head from "bowed" position); retracts scapula; depresses scapula; rotates scapula upward

Deltoid

Abducts the arm; secondarily flexes and extends arm

Latissimus Dorsi

Adducts and extends the arm; rotates arm medially

Supraspinatus

Assists abduction of arm; holds the humerus and stabilizes the shoulder joint

Infraspinatus

Rotates arm laterally; stabilizes shoulder joint

Subscapularis

Adducts and rotates arm medially; stabilizes shoulder joint

Teres Minor

Rotates arm laterally; stabilizes shoulder joint

Levator Scapulae

Elevates scapula

Rhomboid Major and Rhomboid Minor

Retracts scapula

Teres Major

Adducts and extends the arm; rotates arm medially

Splenius Capitis

Extends the head; rotates the head to the same side

Pectoralis Major

Flexes and adducts the arm; rotates arm medially

Pectoralis Minor

Protracts and depresses scapula

Serratus Anterior

Protracts scapula; assists in upward rotation of scapula

Diaphragm

Flattens to lower floor of thoracic cavity, increasing volume

External Intercostals

Elevates rib cage

External Oblique, Internal Oblique, and Transversus Abdominus

Bilateral (together) action: flexes the trunk; with the vertebral column fixed, compresses abdominal contents. Unilateral (individual) action: laterally bends the trunk

Rectus Abdominus

Flexes the trunk; with the vertebral column fixed, compresses abdominal contents

Biceps Brachii

Flexes elbow; supinates forearm

Brachialis

Flexes elbow

Triceps Brachii

Extends elbow

Pronator Teres

Pronates forearm

Flexor Carpi Radialis

Flexes and abducts wrist

Palmaris Longus

Flexes wrist; tenses skin and fascia of palm

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris

Flexes and adducts wrist

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

Extends and abducts wrist

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

Extends and abducts wrist

Extensor Digitorum

Extends wrist; extends fingers

Extensor Digiti Minimi

Extends little finger

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

Extends and adducts wrist

Brachioradialis

Flexes elbow (forearm in mid-position between supine and prone)

Iliopsoas (illacus and psoas major)

Flexes hip; laterally bends vertebral column

Sartorius

Flexes, abducts, laterally rotates hip; flexes knee

Pectineus

Adducts, medially rotates (and flexes) hip

Adductor Longus,Adductor Magnus,

Adducts, medially rotates (and flexes) hip

Adductor Magnus

Adducts, medially rotates (and flexes) hip

Adductor Brevis

Adducts, medially rotates (and flexes) hip

Gracilis

Adducts, medially rotates (and flexes) hip; flexes knee

Biceps Femoris

Extends hip, flexes knee

Semitendinosus

Extends hip, flexes knee

Semimembranosus

Extends hip, flexes knee

Gluteus Maximus

Extends and laterally rotates hip

Gluteus Medius

Abducts and medially rotates hip; stabilizes pelvis when walking

Tensor Fasica Latae

Abducts and medially rotates hip

Tibialis Anterior

Dorsiflexion; inversion

Extensor Digitorum Longus

Dorsiflexion; extends toes

Extensor Hallicus Longus

Dorsiflexion; extends great toe

Fibularus (Peroneus) Longus

Eversion; weak plantar flexion

Fibularus (Peroneus) Brevis

Eversion; weak plantar flexion

Gastrocnemius

Plantar flexion; flexes knee

Soleus

Plantar flexion

Flexor Digitroum Longus

Flexes toes

Flexor Hallicus Longus

Flexes great toe

Quadriceps femoris

Group of four muscles in the anterior thigh responsible for knee extension.

Rectus femoris

extending the knee and flexing the hip joint.

Vastus muscles

Extend the knee