Jerry Goure

BIOL-40A
December 12, 2013

Anatomy & Physiology of Selected Skeletal Muscles

Muscles of the head and neck (9):

Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Frontalis Galea aponeurotica. Skin, superior to orbit. Wrinkles the forehead.
Temporalis Temporal & frontal bones. Coronoid process & ramus Elevates mandible & closes
of mandible. jaw.
Buccinator Alveolar processes of Orbicularis oris. Presses cheeks against
maxilla & mandible & teeth, draws corners of
pterygomandibular raphe. mouth laterally, and assists
in mastication.
Occipitalis Occipital bone & mastoid Galea aponeurotica. Draws scalp posteriorly.
process of temporal bone.
Sternocleidomastoid Sternum and clavicle. Mastoid process of Flexes neck.
temporal bone.
Platysma Fascia over deltoid and Mandible, muscles around Draws outer part of lower
pectoralis major. angle of mouth, and skin of lip inferiorly and posteriorly
lower face. as in pouting; depresses
mandible.
Masseter Maxilla and zygomatic Angle and ramus of Elevates and retracts
arch. mandible. mandible.
Orbicularis oris Muscle fibers surrounding Skin at corner of mouth. Closes & purses lips, shapes
opening of mouth. lips for speech.
Orbicularis oculi Medial wall of orbit. Circular path around orbit. Closes eye.

Muscles of the trunk (10):

Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Rectus abdominus Pubic crest and pubic Cartilage of 5th to 7th ribs Flexes vertebral column &
symphisis. and xiphoid process. compresses abdomen.
Transversus abdominus Iliac crest, inguinal Xiphoid process, linea alba, Compresses abdomen.
ligament, lumbar fascia and and pubis.
cartilages of inferior six
ribs.
External Obliques Inferior 8 ribs. Iliac crest and linea alba. Compresses abdomen;
flexes, laterally flexes, and
rotates vertebral column.
Internal Obliques Iliac crest, inguinal Cartilage of inferior 3-4 ribs Compresses abdomen;
ligament, and and linea alba. laterally flexes and rotates
thoracolumbar fascia. vertebral column.
Pectoralis major Clavicle, sternum and costal Greater tubercle and Adducts & medially rotates
cartilages of 2nd to 6th ribs. intertubercular sulcus of arm at shoulder joint; flexes
humerus. & extends arm.

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Muscle Origin Insertion Action

Pectoralis minor 2nd - 5th, 3rd - 5th, or 2nd - 4th Coracoid process ofDepresses, abducts, and
ribs. scapula. rotates scapula downward;
elevates attached ribs.
Latissimus dorsi Spines of inferior 6 thoracic Intertubercular sulcus of Extends, adducts and
vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, humerus. medially rotates arm at
iliac and sacral crests, shoulder joint; draws arm
inferior 4 ribs. inferiorly and posteriorly.
Trapezius Superior nuchal line of Clavicle and acromion and Stabilizes, elevates,
occipital bone, ligamentum spine of scapula. adducts, depresses, and
nuchae and spines of C7 rotates scapula upward.
and T1-T12.
Supraspinatus Supraspinous fossa of Greater tubercle of Assists deltoid in abducting
scapula. humerus. arm.
Infraspinatus Infraspinous fossa of Greater tubercle of Laterally rotates and
scapula. humerus. adducts arm at shoulder
joint.

Muscles of the upper limb (9):

Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Deltoid Acromial end of clavicle, Deltoid tuberosity of Abducts, flexes, extends
acromion and spine of humerus. and rotates arm at shoulder.
scapula.
Biceps brachaii Supraglenoid tubercle (long Radial tuberosity and Flexes forearm at elbow,
head) and coracoid process bicipital aponeurosis. supinates forearm at
of scapula (short head). radioulnar joint and flexes
arm at shoulder.
Biceps brachialis Distal anterior surface of Ulnar tuberosity and Flexes forearm at elbow.
humerus. coronoid process of ulna.
Triceps brachaii Infraglenoid tubercle (long Olecranon of ulna. Extends forearm at elbow
head), lateral and posterior and extends arm at
surface of humerus superior shoulder.
to radial groove (lateral
head), and posterior surface
of humerus (medial head).
Brachioradialis Medial and lateral borders Superior to styloid process Flexes forearm at elbow
of distal end of humerus. of radius. joint and pronates forearm
at radioulnar joint.
Flexor carpi radialis Medial epicondyle of 2 and 3 metacarpals.
nd rd
Flexes and abducts (radially
humerus. deviates) hand at wrist.
Flexor carpi ulnaris Medial epicondyle of Pisiform, hamate, and base Flexes and adducts hand
humerus and superior of 5th metacarpal. (ulnar deviation) at wrist.
posterior border of
humerus.
Palmaris longus Medial epicondyle of Flexor retinaculum and Weakly flexes hand at
humerus. palmar aponeurosis. wrist.

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Muscle Origin Insertion Action

Extensor digitorum Lateral epicondyle of 3rd metacarpal. Extends and abducts
humerus. (radially deviates) hand at
wrist.

Muscles of the lower limb (13):

Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Gluteus maximus Iliac crest, sacrum, coccyx Iliotibial tract & lateral part Extends thigh at hip and
& aponeurosis of of linea aspera (gluteal laterally rotates thigh.
sacrospinalis. tuberosity).
Gluteus medius Ilium. Greater trochanter of femur. Abducts thigh at hip and
medially rotates thigh.

Gluteus minimus Ilium. Greater trochanter of femur. Abducts thigh at hip and
medially rotates thigh.
Gracilis Pubic symphisis and pubic Medial surface of diaphysis Adducts and medially
arch. of tibia. rotates thigh at hip; flexes
leg at knee.
Sartorius Anterior superior iliac Medial surface of diaphysis Flexes leg at knee; flexes,
spine. of tibia. abducts and laterally rotates
thigh at hip.
Quadriceps femoris Anterior inferior iliac spine Patella via quadriceps Extends leg at knee, flexes
(rectus femoris), greater tendon, then tibial thigh at hip (rectus femoris
trochanter & linea aspera tuberosity via patellar only).
(vastus lateralis), linea ligament.
aspera (vastus intermedius),
and anterior & lateral
surfaces of diaphysis of
femur (vastus medialis).
Hamstrings: Ischial tuberosity and linea Head of fibula and lateral Flexes leg at knee and
Biceps femoris aspera. condyle of tibia. extends thigh at hip.
Hamstrings: Ischial tuberosity. Proximal part of medial Flexes leg at knee and
Semitendinosus surface of tibia. extends thigh at hip.
Hamstrings: Ischial tuberosity. Medial condyle of tibia. Flexes leg at knee and
Semimembranosus extends thigh at hip.
Popliteus Lateral condyle of femur. Proximal tibia. Flexes leg at knee, medially
rotates tibia to unlock
extended knee.
Gastrocnemius Lateral and medial condyles Calcaneus via calcaneal Plantar flexes foot at ankle
of femur and capsule of tendon. and flexes leg at knee.
knee.
Soleus Head of fibula and medial Calcaneus via calcaneal Plantar flexes foot at ankle.
border of tibia. tendon.
Tibialis anterior Lateral condyle and body of First metatarsal and first Dorsiflexes and inverts foot
tibia, and interosseous (medial) cuneiform. at ankle.
between tibia and fibula.

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Muscles of the rotator cuff (4):

Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Supraspinatus Supraspinous fossa of Greater tubercle of Assists deltoid in abducting
scapula. humerus. arm.
Infraspinatus Infraspinous fossa of Greater tubercle of Laterally rotates and
scapula. humerus. adducts arm at shoulder
joint.
Subscapularis Subscapular fossa of Lesser tubercle of humerus. Medially rotates arm at
scapula. shoulder.
Teres Minor Inferior lateral border of Greater tubercle of Laterally rotates, extends
scapula. humerus. and adducts arm at
shoulder.

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