Muscle Origin and Insertion You Need to Know

Tensor fasciae latae (TFL)

Origin: Iliac crest and anterior superior iliac spine

Insertion: Iliotibial tract (iliotibial band)

Deltoid

Origin: Lateral clavicle, acromion and

spine of scapula

Insertion: Deltoid tuberosity of humerus

Vastus intermedius

Origin: Anteriolateral surface of femur

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament

Rhomboid major

Origin: Spinous processes of T2-T5

Insertion: Medial border of scapula from spine to inferior angle

Temporalis

Origin: Along superior and inferior temporal lines

Insertion: Coronoid process of mandible

Rectus femoris

Origin: Anterior inferior iliac spine

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament

Adductor longus

Origin: Inferior ramus of pubis

Insertion: Linea aspera of femur

Semitendinosus

Origin: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Medial condyle (posterior surface) of tibia

Pectineus

Origin: Superior ramus of pubis

Insertion: Distal to lesser trochanter (at pectineal line) of femur

Serratus anterior

Origin: Anteriolateral surface of ribs 1-9

Insertion: Anterior surface of medal border of scapula

Peroneus (fibularis) brevis

Origin: Mid-lateral fibula

Insertion: Base of 5th metatarsal

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Origin: Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Insertion: Posterior surface of metacarpal III

Abductor pollicis longus

Origin: Posterior surface of proximal radius and ulna

Insertion: Posterior surface of 1st metacarpal

Subscapularis

Origin: Subscapular fossa of scapula

Insertion: Lesser tubercle of humerus

Flexor digitorum longus

Origin: Posterior tibia

Insertion: Inferior surface distal phalanges 2-5

Extensor digiti minimi

Origin: Shares common extensor tendon from lateral epicondyle of humerus

Insertion: Posterior surface of digit V

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Origin: Proximal to lateral epicondyle of humerus (on lateral supracondylar ridge)

Insertion: Posterior surface of metacarpal II

Latissimus dorsi

Origin: Spinous processes of lower thoracic, lumbar

vertebrae, sacrum and lower ribs

Insertion: Intertubercular sulcus (groove) of humerus

Occipital belly of Occipitofrontalis

(Occipitalis muscle)

Origin: Superior nuchal line

Insertion: Galea aponeurotica (epicranial

aponeurosis)

Iliacus

Origin: Iliac fossa

Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur (tendon fused with Psoas major)

Obturator internus

Origin: Margins of obturator foramen

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Levator labii superioris

Origin: Maxilla and zygomatic bone just inferior to orbit

Insertioin: Skin of upper lip and orbicularis oris

Diaphragm

Origin: Xiphoid process, lower 6 ribs and their

cartilage, L1-L3 vertebral bodies

Insertion: Fibers converge on a central tendon

External intercostals

Origin: Inferior border of each rib

Insertioin: Superior border of rib below

Orbicularis oculi

Origin: Frontal and maxillary bones

around orbit

Insertion: On itself and skin around eye

Brachioradialis

Origin: Proximal to lateral epicondyle of humerus (on lateral supracondylar ridge)

Insertion: Styloid process of radius

Extensor digitorum longus

Origin: Lateral condyle of tibia and anterior fibula

Insertion: Superior surface of toes (phalanges 2-5)

Posterior scalene

Origin: Transverse processes (TPs) C5-7

Insertion: 2nd rib

Quadratus femoris

Origin: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Intertrochanteric crest of femur

Triceps brachii

Origin: Long head – inferior to glenoid fossa of scapula, lateral and medial head on shaft of humerus

Insertion: Olecranon process of ulna

Popliteus

Origin: Lateral condyle of femur

Insertion: Posterior surface of proximal tibia

Semispinalis capitis

Origin: Posterior transverse processes and laminae of lower cervical/upper thoracic vertebrae

Insertion: Between superior and inferior nuchal lines of occipital bone

Risorius

Origin: Fascia surrounding parotid gland

Insertion: Angle of mouth

Flexor pollicus longus

Origin: Anterior shaft of radius

Insertion: Distal phalanx of pollex (digit I)

Teres minor

Origin: Lateral border of scapula near inferior angle

Insertion: Greater tubercle of humerus

Flexor carpi radialis

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus

Insertion: Metacarpals II and III

Flexor digitorum profundus

Origin: Medial and anterior surface of ulna

Insertion: Distal phalanx of digits II-V

Tibialis anterior

Origin: Lateral condyle and upper half of tibia

Insertion: Medial cuneiform and 1st metatarsal

Gemellus inferior

Origin: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Internal intercostals

Origin: Superior border of each rib

Insertion: Inferior border of rib above

Middle scalene

Origin: Transverse processes (TPs) C2-7

Insertion: 1st rib

Buccinator

Origin: Outer surface of alveolar processes of mandible and maxilla

Insertion: Deep part of orbicularis oris

Peroneus (fibularis) longus

Origin: Lateral condyle of tibia, proximal lateral fibula

Insertion: Under foot to medial cuneiform and 1st metatarsal

Frontal belly of Occipitofrontalis

(Frontalis muscle)

Origin: Galea aponeurotica (epicranial aponeurosis)

Insertion: Skin above eyes and nose

Levator scapulae

Origin: Transverse processes of C1-C4

Insertion: Superior medial border/ superior angle of

scapula

Pectoralis major

Origin: Sternum, clavicle and costal cartilage of ribs 2-6

Insertion: Greater tubercle and intertubercular sulcus of

humerus

Mentalis

Origin: Incisive fossa of mandible

Insertion: Skin of chin

Anterior scalene

Origin: Transverse processes (TPs) C3-6

Insertion: 1st rib

Extensor pollicis longus

Origin: Posterior surface of mid ulna

Insertion: Distal phalanx of pollex

Adductor magnus

Origin: Inferior ramus of pubis and ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Linea aspera to adductor tubercle of femur

Extensor hallucis longus

Origin: Anterior mid fibula

Insertion: Superior surface distal phalanx of hallux

Quadratus lumborum

Origin: Posterior margin of iliac crest

Insertion: 12th rib, transverse processes of L1-L4

Biceps femoris

Origin: Ischial tuberosity (long head), Linea aspera (short head)

Insertion: Head of fibula and lateral condyle of tibia

Flexor hallucis longus

Origin: Posterior fibula

Insertion: Inferior surface distal phalanx of hallux

Zygomaticus minor

Origin: Zygomatic bone

Insertion: Upper lip

Coracobrachialis

Origin: Coracoid process of scapula

Insertion: Medial shaft of humerus

Piriformis

Origin: Sacrum

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Pronator teres

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus and

coronoid process of ulna

Insertion: Anterior mid-radius

Gastrocnemius

Origin: Femoral condyles

Insertion: Calcaneus via calcaneal tendon

Zygomaticus major

Origin: Zygomatic bone

Insertion: Angle of mouth

Gemellus superior

Origin: Ischial spine

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Pectoralis minor

Origin: Anterior surface ribs 3-5

Insertion: Coracoid process of scapula

Splenius capitis

Origin: Spinous processes of lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae

Insertion: Mastoid process of temporal bone and lateral part of superior nuchal line

Sternocleidomastoid

Origin: Manubrium of sternum, medial clavicle

Insertion: Mastoid process and lateral part of superior nuchal line

Soleus

Origin: Head and shaft of fibula and shaft of tibia

Insertion: Calcaneus via calcaneal tendon

Tibialis posterior

Origin: Posterior tibia and fibula

Insertion: Tarsals and metatarsals

Palmaris longus

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus

Insertion: Palmar aponeurosis and flexor retinaculum (connective tissues of anterior palm)

Psoas major

Origin: Anterior bodies and transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae

Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Origin: Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Insertion: Posterior surface of metacarpal V

Supinator

Origin: Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Insertion: Posterior mid-radius

Longissimus thoracis

Origin: Transverse processes of lower thoracic and lumbar vertebrae; sacrum

Insertion: Transverse processes (TPs) of thoracic vertebrae, posterior surface of lower 10 ribs

Supraspinatus

Origin: Supraspinous fossa of scapula

Insertion: Greater tubercle of humerus

Rhomboid minor

Origin: Spinous processes of C7-T1

Insertion: Medial border of scapula near spine of scapula

Teres major

Origin: Inferior angle of scapula

Insertion: intertubercular sulcus/groove of humerus

Semimembranosus

Origin: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Medial surface of proximal tibia

Infraspinatus

Origin: Infraspinous fossa of scapula

Insertion: Greater tubercle of humerus

Biceps brachii

Origin: long head – superior to glenoid fossa; short head at coracoid process of scapula

Insertion: Radial tuberosity

Gluteus maximus

Origin: Posterior iliac crest, posterior superior iliac spine, sacrum and thoracolumbar fascia

Insertion: Distal to greater trochanter at gluteal tuberosity and into iliotibial tract

Vastus medialis

Origin: Linea aspera

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via patellar

ligament

Masseter

Origin: Zygomatic bone and zygomatic arch

Insertion: Angle and ramus of mandible

Gracilis

Origin: Inferior pubic ramus

Insertion: Proximal medial tibia

Gluteus medius

Origin: Posterior iliac crest

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Vastus lateralis

Origin: Proximal femur and linea aspera

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament

Trapezius

Origin: Superior nuchal line of occipital bone, spinous

processes (SPs) of C7-T12

Insertion: Lateral clavicle, acromion process and spine of scapula

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus,

proximal ulna and radius

Insertion: Middle phalanx of digits II-V

(tendon splits)

Extensor pollicis brevis

Origin: Posterior surface of mid radius

Insertion: Proximal phalanx of pollex

Gluteus minimis

Origin: Lateral surface of ilium

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Orbicularis oris

Origin: Maxilla and mandible

Insertion: On itself and other muscles around mouth

Brachialis

Origin: Diaphysis of humerus

Insertion: Coronoid process and proximal ulna

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus, proximal anterior ulna

Insertion: Pisiform, hamate and metacarpal V

Extensor digitorum

Origin: Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Insertion: Posterior surface of digits II-V

Sartorius

Origin: Anterior superior iliac spine

Insertion: Proximal medial tibia near tibial tuberosity