De Jesus, Kimberly Cris March 5, 2025
BFH- FRSCMS2
MAJOR MUSCLES OF THE HUMAN BODY
AXIAL REGION
MUSCLES LOCATION FUNCTION
Temporalis In the temporal fossa skull, helps with chewing
near the temples.
Masseter In the cheek and extends primary chewing muscle
down to the jaw angle.
Orbicularis Oculi Around the eye socket, just closes the eyelids
beneath the skin
Orbicularis Oris Around the mouth, encircling controls mouth movement
the lips.
Sternocleidomastoid on either side of the front of turns and flexes the head
your neck, just below the
skin.
Scalene Muscles on the sides of the neck, assist in breathing and
connecting the upper two ribs neck movement
to the cervical vertebrae
Pectoralis Major upper chest that stretches moves the shoulder and
from the collarbone to the arm
breastbone
Pectoralis Minor in the upper chest, beneath stabilizes the shoulder
the pectoralis major muscle. blade
Serratus Anterior on the sides of the body, on pulls the scapula forward
top of the ribs, and extends to
the back of the body
Trapezius on either side of your upper moves the shoulders and
back, extending from your extends the neck
neck to your middle back
Latissimus Dorsi Below the shoulder blades, moves the arms and
To the left and right of the shoulders
spine, and In the lower thorax
Rectus Abdominis in the middle of the abdomen, flexes the spine; “six-pack”
running vertically from the rib muscle
cage to the pelvic bone
External and Internal help with twisting and
Obliques on the sides of your abdomen bending
that run from the ribs to the
pelvis
Transversus Abdominis in the abdomen, deep within supports the core and
the abdominal wall, on either spine
side of the spine
Erector Spinae vertically along either side of extends the spine and
the spine, from the base of helps with posture
the skull to the pelvis
Quadratus Lumborum in the lower back, deep within stabilizes the lower back
the abdominal cavity
APPENDICULAR REGION
MUSCLES LOCATION FUNCTION
Deltoid in the shoulder, which is the responsible for raising the
ball-and-socket joint that arm
connects your arm to the
trunk of your body.
Biceps Brachii
Located on the front of the flexes the elbow.
upper arm, between the
shoulder and elbow
Triceps Brachii
Found on the back of the extends the elbow.
upper arm, opposite the
biceps;
Brachialis
underneath the biceps, on assists in elbow flexion.
the lower front of the upper
arm;
Flexor carpi radialis
Along the front of the bends the wrist.
forearm, from the elbow to
the wrist;
Extensor carpi radialis
On the back of the forearm, straightens the wrist.
from the elbow to the wrist
straightens the wrist.
Flexor digitorum on the palm side of the helps bend the fingers.
forearm, running to the
fingers
Extensor digitorum On the back of the forearm, straightens the fingers.
extending to the fingers
Gluteus Maximus
In the buttocks; extends the hip and helps
with standing from a sitting
position.
Gluteus Medius Abduction and medial
On the side of the hip, rotation of the lower limb. It
underneath the gluteus stabilises the pelvis during
maximus; locomotion, preventing
‘dropping’ of the pelvis on
the contralateral side.
Gluteus Minimus Deep to the Gluteus Abduction and medial
Medius in the Gluteal rotation of the lower limb. It
Region. stabilises the pelvis during
locomotion, preventing
‘dropping’ of the pelvis on
the contralateral side.
Quadriceps femoris On the front of the thigh straightens the knee
Hamstring
On the back of the thigh flexes the knee and
extends the hip.
Adductor Group Inner thigh Adduct the thigh at the hip
joint; external/lateral
rotation and flexion of the
thigh.
Gastrocnemius On the back of the lower helps with walking and
leg jumping.
Soleus Underneath the assists in standing and
gastrocnemius, also in the walking.
back of the lower leg
Flexor & Extensor In the lower leg and foot; control toe movement.
digitorum
Pectineus Femoral triangle is the Helps in flexion and
junction between the hip adduction of the thigh at
and the leg. the hip joint
Gracilis Medial compartment of the Hip joint: Thigh flexion,
thigh. Thigh adduction; Knee
joint: Leg flexion, Leg
internal rotation