Muscle Actions

Orbicularis Oculis Action

Blinking

Orbicularis Oris Action

Closes lips

Zygomaticus Major Action

Smiling

Risorius Action

Draws corner of mouth laterally

Levator Labii Superioris Action

Raises upper lip

Depressor Labii Inferioris Action

Pulls down lower lip

Depressor Anguli Oris Action

Draws corner of mouth down - frowning

Mentalis Action

Pouting

Buccinator Action

Placing food for chewing

Platysma Action

Depresses mandible and pulls lower lip back and down

Masseter Action

Elevates the mandible

Temporalis Action

Elevates and retracts mandible

Digastric Action

Elevates hyoid bone and depresses mandibleand stabilizes hyoid during swallowing. S

Stylohyoid Action

Elevates hyoid

Mylohyoid Action

Elevates hyoid and floor of the mouth

Geniohyoid Action

Elevates hyoid

Sternohyoid Action

Depresses hyoid

Omohyoid Action

Depresses hyoid

Sternocleidomastoid Action

Flexion of neck

Scalenes Action

Flexion of neck

Splenius Capitis Action

Extension of neck

Erector Spinae Action

Extend neck and vertebral column

Quadratus Lumborum Action

Extend lower back and flex ribs

External Intercostals Action

Elevates ribs and inhalation

Internal Intercostals Action

Depresses ribs and exhalation

Diaphragm Action

Assists in breathing

Rectus Abdominis Action

Flexes vertebral column and compresses abdominal contents

External Abdominal Oblique Action

Flexes vertebral column and compresses abdominal contents

Internal Oblique Action

Flexes vertebral column and compresses abdominal contents

Transverse Abdominis Action

Compresses abdominal contents

Pectoralis Minor Action

Protracts and depresses scapula

Subclavius Action

Depresses clavicle

Trapezius Action

Retracts (adducts) scapula and extends neck

Levator Scapulae Action

Elevates, retracts and rotates scapula

Rhomboids (major and minor) Action

Retracts (adducts) scapula

Pectoralis Major Action

Flexes, adducts, and rotates whole arm medially

Deltoid Action

Abduction of whole arm

Latissimus Dorsi Action

Extends, adducts and rotates whole arm medially

Teres Major Action

Extends, adducts and rotates whole arm medially

Coracobrachialis Action

Flexion and adduction of whole arm

Subscapularis Action

Rotates whole arm medially

Supraspinatus Action

Abduction of whole arm

Infraspinatus Action

Laterally rotates arm

Teres Minor Action

Rotates whole arm laterally

Triceps Brachii Action

Extends forearm

Anconeus Action

Extends elbow

Biceps Brachii Action

Flexes forearm and supinates palm

Brachialis Action

Flexes forearm

Brachioradialis Action

Flexes forearm

Pronator Teres Action

Pronation of palm

Flexor Carpi Radialis Action

Flexion at wrist

Palmaris Longus Action

Flexion at wrist

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Action

Flexes and adducts wrist

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Action

Flexes fingers and eventually wrist

Flexor Pollicis Longus Action

Flexes thumb

Flexor Digitorum Profundus Action

Flexes fingers

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Action

Extends wrist

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Action

Extends and abducts wrist

Extensor Digitorum Action

Extends fingers

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Action

Extends wrist

Supinator Action

Supinates palm

Abductor Pollicis Longus Action

Abducts thumb

Extensor Pollicis Brevis Action

Extends and abducts thumb

Levator Ani Action

Fights gravity to support pelvic contents

Coccygeus Action

Fights gravity to support pelvic contents

External Urethral Sphincter Action

Constricts opening of urethra

External Anal Sphincter Action

Constricts anus

Iliacus Action

Flexion at hip

Psoas Major Action

Flexion at hip

Sartorius Action

Flexion of whole leg, flexion at knee, lateral rotation of leg

Adductor Magnus Action

Adducts leg

Adductor Longus Action

Adducts leg

Pectineus Action

Adducts, flexes and medially rotates thigh

Gracilis Action

Adducts at hip, flexes at knee and medially rotates whole leg

Rectus Femoris Action

Flexion at hip and extension at knee

Vastus Lateralis Action

Extension at knee

Vastus Medialis Action

Extension at knee

Vastus Intermedius Action

Extension at knee

Tensor Fasciae Lata Action

Flexes and medially rotates at hip

Gluteus Maximus Action

Extension and lateral rotation at hip

Gluteus Medius Action

Abduction at hip

Piriformis Action

Lateral rotation at hip

Quadratus Femoris Action

Lateral rotation at hip

Superior Gemellus Action

Lateral rotation at hip

Inferior Gemellus Action

Lateral rotation at hip

Obturator Internus Action

Lateral rotation at hip

Biceps Femoris Action

Extension of whole leg and flexion at knee

Semitendinosus Action

Extends thigh and flexes leg

Semimembranosus Action

Extension at hip and flexion at knee

Tibialis Anterior Action

Dorsiflexion and inversion at ankle

Extensor Digitorum Longus Action

Extension of toes and dorsiflexion at ankle

Fibularis Longus Action

Eversion at ankle

Fibularis Brevis Action

Plantar flexion and eversion of foot

Gastrocnemius Action

Plantar flexion at the ankle

Soleus Action

Plantar flexion at ankle

Plantaris Action

Plantar flexion at ankle and flexion at knee

Popliteus Action

Flexion at knee

Flexor Digitorum Longus Action

Flexion of toes, planter flexion at ankle and inversion at ankle

Tibialis Posterior Action

Foot inversion and plantar flexion