◊◊ NLS ◊◊
Northern Lights
Science
©2019
Published Since 2002
mcmurryjulie @ [Link]
Name ________________________________ Period ______
Muscle Naming/Nomenclature Worksheet
1. Scientists name skeletal muscles based on one or multiple characteristics. List six of them.
2. Match the muscle name with the appropriate shape description.
1. _____ Deltoid (Think delta) a. wide
2. _____ Latissimus b. round
3. _____ Trapezius c. rhomboid
4. _____ Rhomboideus d. triangle
5. _____ Teres e. trapezoid
3. Match the muscle name with the correct direction of fibers.
1. _____ Rectus a. circular
2. _____ Oblique b. across
3. _____ Transverse c. diagonal
4. _____ Circularis d. straight
4. Match the muscle suffix with the correct size description.
1. _____ Vastus a. large
2. _____ Maximus b. short
3. _____ Longus c. small
4. _____ Minimus d. long
5. _____ Brevis e. huge
5. Match the muscle name with the proper location.
1. _____ Pectoralis a. above
2. _____ Infra b. chest
3. _____ Supra c. below
4. _____ Brachii d. arm
5. _____ Gluteus e. buttock
6. _____ Tibialis f. lateral
7. _____ Lateralis g. tibia
6. How many origins do the muscles below have?
Triceps ____ Biceps ____ Quadriceps ____
7. What is the origin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle? _____________________________________
8. What is the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle? ___________________________________
9. Some muscles are named according to their action. State the actions of the following muscles.
a) Abductor = __________________________________________________________________
b) Adductor = _________________________________________________________________
c) Flexor = ____________________________________________________________________
d) Extensor = __________________________________________________________________
e) Levator = ___________________________________________________________________
f) Masseter = _________________________________________________________________
Characteristic Categories
Anatomical position Direction of fibers
Location Muscle action
Shape Number of origins Name ___________________________ Period ____
Muscle Name Breakdown Table
Muscle Characteristic(s) that Influenced the Specific Meaning
Muscle Naming Process
Latissimus dorsi Shape, location Wide, back region
Tibialis anterior
Subscapularis
Deltoid
Gluteus maximus
External intercostal
Adductor gracilis
Transverse abdominis
Peroneus longus
Biceps brachii
Muscle Characteristic(s) that Influenced the Specific Meaning
Muscle Naming Process
Gluteus minimus
Internal oblique
Temporalis
Orbicularis oculi
Quadriceps femoris
◊◊ NLS ◊◊
Northern Lights
Science
©2019 Name ________________________________ Period ______
Muscle Naming/Nomenclature Worksheet Key
1. Scientists name skeletal muscles based on one or multiple characteristics. List six of them.
Muscle action, shape, the direction of fibers, number of origins, size, origin/insertion, and location
2. Match the muscle name with the appropriate shape description.
1. __d__ Deltoid (think delta) a. wide
2. __a__ Latissimus b. round
3. __e__ Trapezius c. rhomboid
4. __c__ Rhomboideus d. triangle
5. __b__ Teres e. trapezoid
3. Match the muscle name with the correct direction of fibers.
1. __d__ Rectus a. circular
2. __c__ Oblique b. across
3. __b__ Transverse c. diagonal
4. __a__ Circularis d. straight
4. Match the muscle suffix with the correct size description.
1. __e__ Vastus a. large
2. __a__ Maximus b. short
3. __d__ Longus c. small
4. __c__ Minimus d. long
5. __b__ Brevis e. huge
5. Match the muscle name with the proper location.
1. __b__ Pectoralis a. above
2. __c__ Infra b. chest
3. __a__ Supra c. below
4. __d__ Brachii d. arm
5. __e__ Gluteus e. buttock
6. __g__ Tibialis f. lateral
7. __f__ Lateralis g. tibia
6. How many origins do the muscles below have?
Triceps __3__ Biceps __2__ Quadriceps __4__
7. What is the origin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle? ____________The sternum_______________
8. What is the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle? ________The mastoid process________
9. Some muscles are named according to their action. State the actions of the following muscles.
a) Abductor = Moves limbs away from the midline (Think abductor ≈ abduction – to take
away)
b) Adductor = Moves limbs toward the midline
c) Flexor = Causes flexion, which shortens muscles and decreases the angle between muscles
of adjacent bones on a limb
d) Extensor = Straightens a limb and increases the angle between muscles of adjacent bones
on a limb
e) Levator = Elevate or lift a structure
f) Masseter = Chew
Characteristic Categories ◊◊ NLS ◊◊
Anatomical position Direction of the fibers Northern Lights
Location Muscle action Science
©2019
Shape Number of origins
Muscle Name Breakdown Table Key
Muscle Characteristic(s) that Influenced the Specific Meaning
Muscle Naming Process
Latissimus dorsi Shape, location Wide, back region
Tibialis anterior Location, anatomical position Tibia, front side
Subscapularis Location, anatomical position Below, scapula
Deltoid Shape Triangle
Gluteus maximus Location, size Buttocks, large
External intercostal Anatomical position, location Outer, ribs
Adductor gracilis Muscle action Toward the midline
Transverse abdominis Direction of the fibers, location Fibers across, abdomen
Peroneus longus Location, size Outer side of the leg (fibula),
long
Biceps brachii Number of origins, location Two origins, arm
Muscle Characteristic(s) that Influenced the Specific Meaning
Muscle Naming Process
Gluteus minimus Location, size Buttocks, small
Internal oblique Anatomical position, direction of the Internal, diagonal fibers
fibers
Temporalis Location Temporal region of the skull
Orbicularis oculi Shape, location Encircling, eye
Quadriceps femoris Number of origins, location Four origins, femur