Muscles for Human Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards covering the key muscles in human anatomy and their actions, origins, and insertions.

Frontalis

Muscle that raises eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead.

Occipitalis

Muscle that tenses and retracts the scalp.

Temporalis

Muscle that elevates the mandible.

Zygomaticus major

Muscle that elevates and retracts the corner of the mouth, known as the "smile" muscle.

Nasalis

Muscle that compresses the bridge of the nose and elevates nostril corners.

Masseter

Muscle that elevates the mandible.

Orbicularis oculi

Muscle that closes eyelids.

Orbicularis oris

Muscle that closes lips, puckers, and shapes lips for speech.

Buccinator

Muscle that compresses cheeks and creates a suckling action in infants.

Mentalis

Muscle that elevates or protrudes the lower lip (pout).

Sternocleidomastoid

Muscle that flexes the neck when both sides contract; rotates head when one side contracts.

Platysma

Muscle that tenses the skin of the neck and depresses the mandible.

Semispinalis capitis

Muscle that extends the head when both sides contract; tilts head when one side contracts.

Trapezius

Muscle that elevates the clavicle and moves the scapula.

Latissimus dorsi

Muscle responsible for extending, adducting, and rotating the shoulder.

Teres major

Muscle that extends, adducts, and medially rotates the shoulder.

Infraspinatus

Muscle that laterally rotates the shoulder.

Supraspinatus

Muscle that abducts the shoulder.

Deltoid

Muscle that abducts, flexes, extends, and rotates the shoulder.

Pectoralis major

Muscle that flexes, adducts, and medially rotates the shoulder.

Pectoralis minor

Muscle that depresses and protracts the shoulder, rotates the scapula downward.

Serratus anterior

Muscle that laterally and upward rotates the scapula.

External intercostals

Muscle that elevates the ribs during inhalation.

Internal intercostals

Muscle that pulls ribs in and down during forced exhalation.

Diaphragm

Muscle that serves as the floor of the thoracic cavity and aids in breathing.

Triceps brachii

Muscle that extends the shoulder and forearm.

Biceps brachii

Muscle that flexes the shoulder and forearm, and supinates the forearm.

Brachialis

Muscle that flexes the forearm.

Brachioradialis

Muscle that flexes and supinates the forearm.

Pronator teres

Muscle that pronates the forearm.

Flexor carpi radialis

Muscle that flexes and abducts the wrist.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Muscle that flexes and adducts the wrist.

Palmaris longus

Muscle that flexes the wrist.

Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis

Muscles that extend and abduct the wrist.

Rectus abdominis

Muscle that compresses the abdomen and flexes the vertebral column.

External oblique

Muscle that compresses the abdomen and flexes the spine laterally.

Internal oblique

Muscle that compresses the abdomen and flexes the spine laterally.

Transverse abdominis

Muscle that compresses the abdomen.

Gluteus maximus

Muscle that extends and laterally rotates the thigh.

Gluteus medius

Muscle that abducts and medially rotates the thigh.

Tensor fasciae latae

Muscle that flexes, abducts, and medially rotates the thigh.

Adductor magnus

Muscle that adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the thigh.

Gracilis

Muscle that flexes the leg and adducts the thigh.

Iliacus

Muscle that flexes and laterally rotates the thigh.

Psoas major

Muscle that flexes and laterally rotates the thigh.

Sartorius

Muscle that flexes the leg and thigh; crosses the leg.

Rectus femoris

Muscle that extends the knee and flexes the thigh.

Vastus medialis

Muscle that extends the knee.

Vastus lateralis

Muscle that extends the knee.

Vastus intermedius

Muscle that extends the knee.

Biceps femoris

Muscle that flexes the knee and extends the thigh.

Semitendinosus

Muscle that flexes the knee and extends the thigh.

Semimembranosus

Muscle that flexes the knee and extends the thigh.

Tibialis anterior

Muscle that dorsiflexes and inverts the foot.

Gastrocnemius

Muscle that plantar flexes, inverts, and adducts the foot.

Soleus

Muscle that plantar flexes and inverts the foot.

Fibularis longus

Muscle that everts and plantar flexes the foot, supporting the arch.