Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Function |
epicranius frontalis | epicranial aponeurosis | skin of eyebrows | raises eyebrows |
epicranius occipitalis | occipital and temporal bones | epicranial aponeurosis | fixes aponeurosis and pulls scalp posteriorly |
orbicularis oculi | frontal and maxillary bones | tissue of eyelid | closes eyelid |
levator palpebrae superioris | lesser wing of sphenoid bone | skin of upper eyelid | opens upper eyelid |
corrugator supercilii | arch of frontal bone | skin of eyebrow | draws eyebrows together and inferiorly (frown) |
orbicularis oris | maxilla and mandible | encircles mouth | closes lips (kissing) |
zygomaticus major | zygomatic bone | skin and muscle at corner of mouth | Raises corner of mouth upwards (smiling) |
buccinator | molar region of maxilla and mandible | orbicularis oris | compresses cheek (whistling & trumping) |
platysma | fascia of chest | mandible | tenses skin of neck (growling/pouting) |
superior rectus | n/a | n/a | elevates eye and turns it medially |
inferior rectus | n/a | n/a | depresses eye and turns it medially |
medial rectus | n/a | n/a | moves eye medially |
lateral rectus | n/a | n/a | moves eye laterally |
superior oblique | n/a | n/a | depresses eye and turns it laterally |
inferior oblique | n/a | n/a | elevates eye and turns it laterally |
temporalis | temporal fossa of temporal bone | coronoid process of mandible | closes jaw |
masseter | zygomatic arch and zygomatic bone | angle and ramus of mandible | prime mover of jaw closure (chewing) |
pterygoids:medial | sphenoid, palatine, and maxillary bones | mandible | aids in grinding movements of teeth |
pterygoids:lateral | greater wing of sphenoid bone | condylar process of mandible | aids in grinding movements of teeth |
tongue | n/a | n/a | speaking and chewing |
sternocleidomastoid | manubrium of sternum and clavicle | mastoid process of temporal bone & occipital bone | flexes and laterally rotates head |
splenius capitis | vertebra | Mastoid process | extend or hyperextend head |
diaphragm | n/a | n/a | prime mover of inspiration |
intercostals (external) | inferior border of rib above | superior border of rib below | elevates rib cage |
intercostals (internal) | superior border of rib below | inferior border of rib above | depresses rib cage |
scalenes | Transverse processes of cervical vertebrae | ribs 1-2 | elevates ribs 1-2 (aid in inspiration) |
external oblique | lower 8 ribs | linea alba & iliac crest | Flex spine, rotate trunk, flex laterally, compress viscera |
internal oblique | lumbar fascia, iliac crest | linea alba & costal cartilage of lower ribs | Flex spine, rotate trunk, flex laterally, compress viscera |
transverse abdominus | iliac crest, costal cartilage of lower ribs, & lumbar fascia | linea alba | compresses abdominal contents |
rectus abdominis | pubic symphysis | xiphoid process & costal cartilage of ribs | flexes and rotates vertebral column (sit-ups) |
erector spinae | Iliac crest,transverse processes of vertebrae | ribs & transverse processes of vertebrae | Prime mover of spine extension |
quadratus lumborum | Iliac crest and lumbar fascia | inferior border of rib 12 and transvers processes of lumbar vert | flexs vertebral column laterally - core muscle that forms most of posterior abdominal wall and is most often "pulled" |