Anatomy and Physiology: Human Muscular System

A collection of practice questions and answers detailing the names, locations, and functions of various muscles in the human body.

How many muscles are in the human body, each with a specific role?

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What is the function of the frontalis or occipitofrontalis muscle?

It raises and lowers the eyebrows.

What is the role of the temporalis muscle?

It moves the lower jaw up and back to close the mouth.

Which muscle is described as one of the strongest in the body and closes the mouth during chewing?

The masseter muscle

What constitutes the bulk of the chest muscles in males?

The pectoralis major

Where is the pectoralis major located in females?

It lies under the breast.

What are the functions of the external oblique muscles?

They flex and rotate the vertebral column, flex the torso, and compress the abdomen.

What roles do the internal oblique muscles perform?

They flex the spine, support the abdominal contents, help us breathe, and rotate the spine.

What are the functions of the rectus abdominis?

It helps flex the trunk, assists in breathing, and supports the spine.

Where is the transverse abdominis located and when is it typically engaged?

It is located on the side of the abdomen and is engaged when a person laughs or coughs.

Which muscle forms the muscular cap of the shoulder?

The deltoid

What movement does the trapezius muscle perform?

It moves the head on the shoulder blade.

Contrast the biceps brachii and triceps brachii in terms of location and function.

The biceps brachii is in the anterior upper arm and flexes the elbow, while the triceps brachii is in the posterior upper arm and extends the elbow.

What are the functions of the rectus femoris?

It extends the leg of the knee and flexes the thigh at the hip joint.

What movements are the hamstring group involved in?

Knee flexion and hip extension.

What is the gastrocnemius and what does it do?

It is the calf muscle that flexes the knee and bends the foot downward.

What is the Latin meaning behind the name gastrocnemius?

It comes from the Latin word for stomach of the leg because of the way the muscle bulges out.