Selected Muscles and Functional Groups

Vocabulary flashcards covering human muscle functional groups, origins, insertions, and actions from Table 5-1.

Biceps brachii

A muscle moving the forearm that flexes the forearm at the elbow and supinates the forearm and hand; originates on the scapula and inserts into the radius.

Brachialis

A muscle moving the forearm that flexes the forearm at the elbow; originates on the humerus and inserts into the ulna.

Brachioradialis

A muscle moving the forearm that flexes the forearm at the elbow; originates on the humerus and inserts into the radius.

Triceps brachii

A muscle moving the forearm that extends the forearm at the elbow; originates on the scapula and humerus, and inserts into the ulna.

Iliacus

A muscle moving the thigh that flexes and rotates the thigh (and trunk); originates on the ilium and inserts into the femur.

Gluteus maximus

The largest and most superficial of gluteal muscles; extends the thigh, rotates the thigh laterally (outward), and tilts the pelvis; originates on the ilium, sacrum, and coccyx, and inserts into the femur.

Gluteus medius

A muscle moving the thigh that abducts the thigh and rotates the thigh outward; originates on the ilium and inserts into the femur.

Gluteus minimus

A muscle moving the thigh that abducts the thigh and rotates the thigh medially (inward); originates on the ilium and inserts into the femur.

Abductor longus and magnus

Muscles moving the thigh that adduct the thigh; originate on the symphysis pubis, pubis, and ischium, and insert into the femur.

Gracilis

A muscle moving the thigh that adducts the thigh and flexes the leg at the knee; originates on the pubis and inserts into the tibia.

Sartorius

A muscle moving the lower leg that flexes the leg at the knee and thigh, adducts the leg, and allows you to cross your legs; originates on the ilium and inserts into the tibia.

Quadriceps femoris

A group of four muscles that extend the leg at the knee; originates on the ilium and femur, and inserts into the tibia.

Hamstring muscles

A group of four muscles, including biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, that flex the lower leg and extend the thigh at the hip; originate on the ischiurn and femur, and insert into the tibia and fibula.

Tibialis anterior

A muscle moving the foot and ankle that dorsiflexes the foot at the ankle; originates on the tibia and inserts into tarsal and metatarsal bones.

Peroneus

A muscle moving the foot and ankle that plantarflexes and everts the foot; originates on the fibula and tibia, and inserts into the metatarsals.

Gastrocnemius

A muscle moving the foot and ankle that plantarflexes the foot and flexes the leg at the knee; originates on the femur and inserts into the calcaneus (attaches by Achilles tendon).

Soleus

A muscle moving the foot and ankle that plantarflexes the foot; originates on the tibia and fibula, and inserts into the calcaneus (attaches by Achilles tendon).