Actions and Muscles of Lower Extremeties

Hip flexion (anterior hip/thigh m) Hip extension (posterior hip/thigh m)

Iliopsoas (femoral n) Gluteus maximus (inferior gluteal n)
Pectineus (femoral n) Biceps femoris (tibial n – long head, fibular n –
Sartorius (femoral n) short head)
Rectus femoris (femoral n) Semitendinous (tibial n)
Semimembranous (tibial n)
Hip adduction (anterior/medial hip m) Hip abduction (posterior hip m)
Iliopsoas (femoral n) Gluteus minimus, medius (superior gluteal n)
Gracilis (obturator n) Tensor fasciae latae (superior gluteal n)
Adductor longus, brevis, magnus (obturator n)
Medial rotation (posterior/medial thigh m) Lateral rotation (posterior hip/thigh/anterior
Semimembranous (tibial n) thigh m)
Semitendinous (tibial n) Gluteus maximus (inferior gluteal n)
Obturator externus (obturator n) Piriformis (n to)
Obturator internus (n to)
Superior gemellus (n to obturator internus)
Inferior gemellus (n to quadratus femoris)
Quadratus femoris (n to)
Sartorius (femoral n)
Biceps femoris (tibial n)
Semitendinous (tibial n)
Knee extension (anterior thigh m) Knee flexion (anterior/medial/posterior
Rectus femoris (femoral n) thigh/posterior crural m)
Vastus lateralis, intermedius, medialis (femoral Sartorius (femoral n)
n) Gracilis (obturator n)
Semimembranous (tibial n)
Semitendinous (tibial n)
Biceps femoris (tibial n)
Plantaris (tibial n)
Grastrocnemius (tibial n)
Popliteus (tibial n)
Ankle dorsiflexion (anterior crural m) Ankle plantarflexion (posterior/lateral crural
Tibialis anterior (deep fibular n) m)
Extensor digitorum longus (deep fibular n) Plantaris (tibial n)
Extensor hallicus longus (deep fibular n) Gastrocnemius (tibial n)
Fibularis tertius (deep fibular n) Soleus (tibial n)
Flexor hallicus longus (tibial n)
Flexor digitorum longus (tibial n)
Fibularis longus, brevis (superficial fibular n)

Ankle eversion (anterior/ lateral crural m) Ankle inversion (anterior/posterior crural m)

Fibularis tertius (deep fibular n) Tibialis anterior (deep fibular n)
Fibularis longus, brevis (superficial fibular n) Tibialis posterior (tibial n)
Digit extension (anterior crural, intrinsic foot Digit flexion (posterior crural, intrinsic foot
m) m)
Extensor digitorum longus (deep fibular n) Flexor digitorum longus (tibial n)
Extensor hallicus longus (deep fibular n) Flexor hallicus longus (tibial n)
Extensor digitorum brevis (deep fibular n) Flexor digitorum brevis (tibial n → medial
Extensor hallicus brevis (deep fibular n) planter n)
Lumbricals (medial plantar n) Quadratus plantae (tibial n → lateral plantar n)
Interosseus (lateral planter n) Flexor hallicus brevis (medial plantar n)
Flexor digiti minimi brevis (lateral plantar n)
Abductor digiti minimi (lateral plantar n)
Abductor hallucis (medial plantar n)
Adductor hallucis (deep branch of lateral plantar
n)
Lumbricals (medial plantar n)
Interosseus (lateral plantar n)

General trends:
Tibial in the back
Femoral → Fibular (deep) in the front
(Superficial fibular in the lateral crural m)
Anterior: hip flexion, knee extension, ankle dorsiflexion, digit extension
Posterior: hip extension, knee flexion, ankle plantarflexion, digit flexion
Actions and Muscles of Upper Extremeties
Scapular depression (anterior/posterior Scapular elevation (posterior scapular m)
scapular m) Trapezius, superior to scapular spine (spinal
Pectoralis minor (medial pectoral n) accessory n)
Trapezius, inferior to scapular spine (spinal Levator scapulae (dorsal scapular n)
accessory n) Rhomboid major, minor (dorsal scapular n)

Scapular protraction (anterior scapular m) Scapular retraction (posterior scapular m)

Pectoralis minor (medial pectoral n) Trapezius (spinal accessory n)
Serratus anterior (long thoracic n) Rhomboid major, minor (dorsal scapular n)
Glenoid upward rotation (anterior/posterior Glenoid downward rotation (posterior
scapular m) scapular m)
Serratus anterior (long thoracic n) Trapezius, superior to scapular spine (spinal
Trapezius, inferior to scapular spine (spinal accessory n)
accessory n) Rhomboid major, minor (dorsal scapular n)
Shoulder flexion (posterior shoulder, anterior Shoulder extension (posterior
shoulder/brachial m) shoulder/brachial m)
Deltoid, clavicular part (axillary n) Deltoid, scapular part (axillary n)
Pectoralis major (pectoral n) Latissimus dorsi (thoracodorsal n)
Coracobrachialis (musculocutaneous n) Teres major (lower subscapular n)
Biceps brachii, long head (musculocutaneous n) Triceps brachii, long head (radial n)

Shoulder adduction (anterior/posterior Shoulder abduction (lateral

shoulder/posterior rotator cuff m) shoulder/posterior rotator cuff m)
Pectoralis major (pectoral n) Deltoid, acromial part (axillary n)
Latissimus dorsi (thoracodorsal n) Supraspinatus (suprascapular n) – first 30°
Teres major (lower subscapular nerve)
Medial rotation (posterior shoulder, anterior Lateral rotation (posterior shoulder/rotator
shoulder/ rotator cuff m) cuff m)
Deltoid, clavicular part (axillary n) Deltoid, scapular part (axillary n)
Latissimus dorsi (thoracodorsal n) Infraspinatus (suprascapular n)
Teres major (lower subscapular n) Teres minor (axillary n)
Pectoralis major (pectoral n)
Subscapularis (subscapular n)
Elbow flexion (anterior brachial/posterior Elbow extension (posterior brachial m)
antebrachial m) Triceps brachii (radial n)
Biceps brachii (musculocutaneous n)
Brachialis (musculocutaneous n)
Brachioradialis (radial n)
Pronation (anterior antebrachial m) Supination (posterior antebrachial m)
Pronator teres (median n) Supinator (radial n)
Pronator quadratus (median n)
Wrist flexion (anterior antebrachial m) Wrist extension (posterior antebrachial m)
Flexor carpi radialis (median n) Extensor carpi radialis (radial n)
Flexor carpi ulnaris (ulnar n) Extensor carpi ulnaris (radial n)
Palmaris longus (median n) Extensor digitorum (radial n)
Flexor digitorum superficialis (median n) Extensor pollicis brevis and longus (radial n)
Flexor digitorum profundus (digit 2,3-median n; Extensor indicis (radial n)
4,5-ulnar n) Extensor digiti minimi (radial n)
Flexor pollicis longus (media n)
Wrist adduction (anterior/posterior Wrist abduction (anterior/posterior
antebrachial m) antebrachial m)
Flexor carpi ulnaris (ulnar n) Flexor carpi radialis (median n)
Extensor carpi ulnaris (radial n) Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis (radial
(Extensor pollicis brevis and longus (radial n)) n)
(Extensor indicis (radial n))
Digital flexion (anterior antebrachial, Digital extension (posterior antebrachial,
intrinsic m) intrinsic m)
Flexor digitorum superficialis (median n) Extensor digitorum (radial n)
Flexor digitorum profundus (digit 2,3-median n; Extensor digit minimi (radial n)
4,5-ulnar n) Extensor indicis (radial n)
Flexor digiti minimi (ulnar n → deep branch) Lumbricals (lumbrical 1,2-median n; 3,4-ulnar
Lumbricals (lumbrical 1,2-median n; 3,4-ulnar deep branch)
deep branch)
Digital adduction (intrinsic m) Digital abduction (intrinsic m)
Palmar interosseous (ulnar n → deep branch) Abductor digiti minimi (ulnar n → deep branch)
Dorsal interossesous (ulnar n → deep palmar
branch)
Thumb adduction (intrinsic m) Thumb abduction (posterior antebrachial,
Adductor pollicis (ulnar n → deep branch) intrinsic m)
Abductor pollicis longus (radial n)
 Abductor pollicis brevis (median n → recurrent
branch)
Thumb flexion (anterior antebrachial, Thumb extension (posterior antebrachial)
intrinsic m) Extensor pollicis longus and brevis (radial n)
Flexor pollicis longus (median n)
Flexor pollicis brevis (median n → recurrent
branch)
Thumb opposition – pull and rotate (intrinsic Digiti minimi opposition (intrinsic m)
m) Opponens digiti minimi (ulnar n → deep branch)
Opponens pollicis (median n → recurrent
branch)

Wrist extension – all extensors of the forearm (posterior antebrachial)

Wrist flexion – all flexors of the forearm + Palmaris longus
Wrist abduction – extensor/flexor carpi radialis
Wrist adduction – extensor/flexor carpi ulnaris
Radial n – all extensors of the arm/forearm!
Musculocutaneous n – all flexors of the arm
Median n – all flexors of the forearm, except flexor carpi ulnaris and digit 4, 5 of flexor
digitorum profundus
Median and ulnar – all intrinsic m
Thenar – recurrent branch of the median n
Hypothenar – deep branch of the ulnar n
Interosseus – ulnar n
Lumbricals – ulnar and median n
compartment I – muscles attach proximally to the epicondyle of the humerus
compartment II – muscles attach proximally to the radius, ulna, or interrosseus muscles
Anterior – medial epicondyle (anterior II – pollicus, profundus, pronator quadratus)
Posterior – lateral epicondyle (posterior II – pollicus, indicus)
Brachioradialis – odd innervation (radial n) and compartment (posterior antebrachial rather than
anterior brachial like other elbow flexors)

Rotator Cuff
Supraspinatus (suprascapular n) – also adducts
Infraspinatus (suprascapular n) – also lateral rotation
Teres minor (axillary n) – also lateral rotation
Subscuplaris (subscapular n) – also medial rotation
● All stabilize
● All posterior except for subscapularis