Muscle group
Muscle of Facial Expression
Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Epicranius Occipital bone Skin and muscles Raises eyebrow as
around eye when surprised
Orbicularis oculi Maxillary and frontal Skin around eye Closes eye as blinking
bone
Orbicularis oris Muscles near the Skin of central lip Closes lips, protrudes
mouth lips as for kissing
Buccinators Outer surfaces of Orbicularis oris Compresses cheeks
maxilla and mandible inward as when
blowing air
Zygomaticus major Zygomatic bone Corner of the mouth Raises corner of mouth
as when smiling
Zygomaticus minor Zygomatic bone Corner of the mouth Raises corner of mouth
as when smiling
Platysma Fascia in upper chest Lower border of Draws angle of mouth
mandible downward as when
pouting
Muscles that Move the Head and Vertebral Column
Muscles Origin Insertion Action
Sternocleidomastoid Anterior surface of Mastoid process of Pulls head to one side,
sternum and upper temporal bone flexes neck or elevates
surface of clavicle sternum
Splenius capitis Spinous processes of Occipital bone Rotates head, bends head
lower cervical and to one side, or extends
upper thoracic neck
vertebrae
Semispinalis capitis Processes of lower Occipital bone Cervical and thoracic
cervical and upper spinal nerves
thoracic vertebrae
Iliocostalis
(lateral) group
Iliocostalis lumborum
Iliac crest Lower six ribs Extends lumbar region of
vertebral column
Iliocostalis thoracis Hold spine erect
Lower six ribs Upper six ribs
Iliocostalis cervicis Extends cervical region of
Upper six ribs Fourth through sixth vertebral column
cervical vertebrae
Longissimus
(intermediate)
group
Longissimus thoracis Lumbar vertebrae Thoracic and upper Extends cervical region of
lumbar vertebrae and vertebral column
9 and 10
Longissimus cervicis Extend cervical region of
Fourth and fifth Second through sixth vertebral column
thoracic vertebrae cervical vertebrae
Extends and rotates head
Longissimus capitis Mastoid process of
Upper thoracic and temporal bone
lower cervical
vertebrae
Spinalis (medial)
group
Spinalis thoracic Upper lumbar and Upper thoracic Extend vertebral column
lower thoracic vertebrae
vertebrae
Extend vertebral column
Spinalis cervicis Ligamentum nuchae Axis
and seventh cervical
vertebrae Extend vertebral column
Spinalis capitis Upper thoracic and Occipital bone
lower cervical
vertebrae
Muscles that move the Pectoral Girdle
Muscles Origin Insertion Action
Trapezius Occipital bone and Clavicle, spine, and Rotates scapula; various
spines of cervical and acromion process of fibers raise scapula , pull
thoracic vertebrae scapula scapula medially, or pull
scapuls and shoulder
downward
Rhomboid major Spines of upper Medial border of Retracts, elevates, and
thoracic vertebrae scapula rotate scapula
Rhomboid minor Spines of lower Medial border of Retracts, elevates scapula
cervical vertebrae scapula
Levator scapulae Transverse processes Medial margin of Elevates scapula
of cervical vertebrae scapula
Serratus anterior Outer surfaces of Ventral surface of Pulls scapula anteriorly
upper ribs scapula and downward
Pectoralis minor Sternal ends of upper Coracoid process of Pulls scapula forward and
ribs scapula downward or raises ribs
Muscles of the Abdominal Wall
Muscles Origin Insertion Action
External oblique Outer surfaces of Outer lip of iliac crest Tenses abdominal wall and
lower ribs and lines alba compresses abdominal
contents
Internal oblique Crest of ilium and Cartilages of lower Same as above
inguinal ligament ribs, linea alba, and
crest of pubis
Transversus Costal cartilages of Linea alba and crest Same as above
abdominis lower ribs, processes of pubis
of lower lumbar
vertebrae, lip of iliac
crest, and inguinal
ligament
Rectus abdominis Crest of pubis and Xiphoid process of Same as above, also flexes
symphysis pubis sternum and costal vertebral column
cartilages
Muscles that Move the Arm
Muscles Origin Insertion Action
Coracobralchialis Coracoid process of Shaft of humerus Flexes and adducts the
scapula arm
Pectoralis major Clavicle, sternum, and Intertubercular Flexes, adducts, and
costal cartilages of groove of humerus rotates arm medially
upper ribs
Teres major Lateral border of Intertubercular Extends, adducts, and
scapula groove of humerus rotates arm medially
Latissimus dorsi Spines of sacral, Intertubercular Extends, adducts, and
lumbar, and lower groove of humerus rotates arm medially, or
thoracic vertebrae, pulls the shoulder
iliac crest, and lower downward and back
ribs
Supraspinatus Posterior surface of Greater tubercle of Abducts the arm
scapula above spine humerus
Deltoid Acromion process, Deltoid tuberosity of Abducts, extends and
spine of the scapula, humerus flexes arm
and the clavicle
Subscapularis Anterior surface of Lesser tubercle of Rotates arm medially
scapula humerus
Infruspinatus Posterior surface of Greater tubercle of Rotates arm laterally
scapula below spine humerus
Teres minor Lateral border of Greater tubercle of Rotates arm laterally
scapula humerus
Muscles that Move the Forearm
Muscles Origin Insertion Action
Biceps brachii Coracoid process and Radial tuberosity of Flexes forearm at elbow
tubercle above radius and rotates hand laterally
glenoid cavity scapula
Brachialis Anterior shaft ofCoronoid process of Flexes forearm at elbow
humerus ulna
Brachioradialis Distal lateral end of Lateral surface of Flexes forearm at elbow
humerus radius above styloid
process
Triceps brachii Tubercle below Olecranon process of Extends forearm at elbow
glenoid cavity and ulna
lateral and medial
surfaces of humerus
Supinator Lateral epicondyle of Lateral surface of Rotates forearm laterally
humerus and crest of radius
ulna
Pronator teres Medial epicondyle of Lateral surface of Rotates forearm medially
humerus and cronoid radius
process of ulna
Pronator quadratus Anterior distal end of Anterior distal end of Rotates forearm medially
ulna radius
Muscles that move the Leg
Muscles Origin Insertion Action
Hamstring Group Ischial tuberosity and Head of fibula and Flexes and rotates leg
Biceps femoris linea aspera of femur lateral condyle of tibia laterally and extends thigh
Semitendinosus Ischial tuberosity Medial surface of tibia Flexes and rotates leg
medially and extend thigh
Semimembranosus Ischial tuberosity Medial condyle of tibia Flexes and rotates leg
medially and extend thigh
Sartorius Anterior superior iliac Medial surface of tibia Flexes leg and thigh,
spine abducts and rotates thigh
laterally
Quadriceps Femoris Group Spine of ilium and
Rectus femoris margin of acetabulum
Vastus lateralis Greater trochanter Patella by common Extend leg at knee
and posterior surface tendon, which
of femur continues as patellar
ligament to tibial
tuberosity
Vastus medialis Medial surface of
femur
Vastus intermedius Anterior and lateral
surfaces of femur
Muscle that move the Thigh
Muscles Origin Insertion Action
Psoas major Lumbar intervertebral Lesser trochanter of Flexes thigh
discs; bodies and femur
transverse processes
of lumbar vertebrae
Iliacus Iliac fossa of ilium Lesser trochanter of Flexes thigh
femur
Gluteus maximus Sacrum, coccyx, and Posterior surface of Extends thigh at hips
posterior surface o femur and fascia of
ilium thigh
Gluteus medius Lateral surface of Greater trochanter of Abducts and rotates thigh
ilium femur medially
Gluteus minimus Lateral surface of Greater trochanter of Abducts and rotates thigh
ilium femur medially
Tensor fasciae latae Anterior Iliac crest Iliotibial tract (fascia Abducts, flexes, and
of thigh) rotates thigh laterally
Pectineus Spine of pubis Femur distal to lesser Flexes and adducts thigh
trochanter
Adductor brevis Pubic bone Posterior surface of Adducts, flexes and
femur rotates thigh laterally
Adductor longus Pubic bone near Posterior surface of Adducts, flexes and
symphysis pubis femur rotates thigh laterally
Adductor magnus Ischial tuberosity Posterior surface of Adducts thigh, posterior
femur portion extends and
anterior portion flexes
thigh
Gracilis Lower edge of Medial surface of tibia Adducts thigh and flexes
symphysis pubis leg at the knee