Muscles and Function
Serratus Anterior
• Protracts, and holds scapula against thoracic
wall
Trapezius
• Moving, rotating and stabilizing the scapula
and extending the head at the neck
Clavicular Head of
Pectoralis Major
• Flexion and rotation of humerus bone
Sternocostal head of
Pectoralis Major
• Adduction with humerus bone
Abdominal head of
Pectoralis Major
• Moves arms across body
Deltoid
• Results in wide range of movement of the arm
and shoulder
Triceps Brachii (lateral
head)
• Extensor of the elbow
Triceps Brachii (long
head)
• Primary extensor of the elbow and stabilizes
the shoulder
Brachialis
• Flexor of the elbow
Extensor Carpi Radialis
Brevis
• Extends wrist and adducts the hand
Extensor Carpi Radialis
Longus
• Extends wrist and assists in abducting the
hand
Flexor Carpi Radialis
• Flexes the wrist
Palmaris Longus
• Flex the hand at the wrist
Flexor Digitorum
Superficialis
• Flex or curl the fingers
Pronator Quadratus
• Rotating arm toward the inside
Flexor Pollicis Brevis
• Bends the thumb toward the palm
External Abdominal
Oblique
• Lateral flexion and rotation of the trunk
Rectus Abdominis
• Flexing the torso and spine in the abdomen
region
Biceps Brachii (short
head)
• Flexor and supinator of elbow joint
Biceps Brachii (Long
head)
• With the short head, it flexes the arm at the
elbow and supinates the forearm
Pronator Teres
• Rotate the arm toward the inside
Brachioradialis
• Flexes elbow
Latissimus Dorsi
• Adduction of the arm and extension of the
arm, medially rotates the arm
Gluteus Minimus
• Move thigh out and rotates medially
Iliopsoas
• Flexors of thigh at the hip joint
Pectineus
• Flexes and moves thigh toward the body and
rotates it towards the center
Gracilis
• Adduct thigh to flex and rotate leg medially at
the knee
Adductor Longus
• Adduct or move thigh inward and assists
flexing and rotating it to the side
Iliacus
• Flexor of thigh at hip joint
Iliotibial Band
• Movements of thigh by connecting hip
muscles to tibia of lower leg
Adductor Brevis
• Adducts and helps in lateral rotation of the hip
Rectus Femoris
• Primary extensor of the knee and flexion of
hip
Rotator Cuff Muscles
1. Subscapularis
2. Teres minor
3. Infraspinatus
4. Supraspinatus
Vastus Lateralis
• Extensor of the leg at the knee
Vastus Medialis
• Primary extensor of the knee
Infraspinatus
• Stabilize the shoulder joint and form the
rotator cuff
Pectoralis Minor
• Moves shoulder down and forward
Subscapularis
• Internally or medially rotates the humerus and
rotator cuff muscle
Supraspinatus
• Abduct the arm
Teres Minor
• Laterally brings arm toward body
Teres Major
• Brings arm toward body and assists in
extending arm when in a flexed position