Muscle Name | Origin | Insertion | Action |
platysma | fascia of chest | mandible, corner of mouth | tenses neck, pull down lower lip |
scalenes | transverse process of cervical vertebrae | first two ribs | elevate first two ribs (inspiration), flex and rotate neck |
trapezius | occipital bone, vertebrae | clavicle, scapula | rotate scapula |
latissimus dorsi | spines of vertebrae, iliac crest | humerus | extend, rotate arm |
pectoralis major | clavicle, sternum | humerus | flex, adduct humerus |
serratus anterior | upper ribs | scapula | pull scapula anterior and down |
deltoid | scapula, clavicle | deltoid tuberosity on humerus | adduct, extend, flex arm |
triceps brachii | scapula, humerus | olecranon process of ulna | extend forearm |
biceps brachii | scapula | radial tuberosity of radius | flex forearm |
brachioradialis | distal lateral humerus | radius | flex forearm at elbow |
flexors | anterior forearm | | flex hand and wrist |
extensors | posterior forearm | | extend hand and wrist |
external oblique | lower ribs | iliac crest | compress abdomen, flex laterally |
rectus abdominus | pubic symphysis | xiphoid process of sternum | compress, flex trunk |
internal oblique | iliac crest | lower ribs | compress abdomen, flex laterally |
sartorius | anterior superior iliac crest (ASIS) | medial tibia | flex, adduct, rotate thigh |
gracilis | pubic symphysis | tibia | adduct thigh |
soleus | fibula, posterior tibia | calcaneus | plantar flexion |
gastrocnemius | condyles of femur | calcaneus | plantar flexion |
tibialis anterior | lateral condyle of tibia | tarsals | dorsiflexion, inversion of foot |
gluteus maximus | sacrum coccyx, ilium | femur | major extensor of thigh |
adductor brevis | pubis | posterior femur | adduct and rotate thigh |
adductor magnus | pubis | posterior femur | adduct and rotate thigh |
adductor longus | pubis | posterior femur | adduct and rotate thigh |
zygomaticus major/minor | zygomatic bone | corner of mouth | "smile"; raises corners of mouth |
masseter | zygomatic arch and bone | angle and ramus of mandible | prime mover of jaw closure |
sternocleidomastoid | sternum, clavicle | temporal, occipital bone | rotate head |
orbicularis oculi | frontal bone, maxilla | eyelid | closes eye |
temporalis | temporal fossa | coronoid process of mandible | close jaw |
rhomboids | neck/spine | scapula | stabilize scapula |
teres major | posterior scapula | humerus | rotate humerus laterally |
brachialis | front of distal humerus | coronoid process of ulna | major forearm flexor |
supraspinatous | supraspinous fossa of scapula | greater tubercle of humerus | initiates abduction, stabilize shoulder |
infraspinatous | infraspinous fossa of scapula | greater tubercle of humerus | rotates humerus laterally |
iliopsoas | sacrum, lower spine | lesser trochanter of femur | flex thigh, or flex trunk on thigh |
pectineus | pubis | lesser trochanter of femur | adduct, flex, medially rotate thigh |
tensor fasciae latae | iliac crest/iliac spine | iliotibial tract | steadies knee |
biceps femoris | ischial tuberosity, distal femur | head of fibula, lateral condyle of tibia | extends thigh and flexes knee |
semimembranosus | ischial tuberosity | medial condyle of tibia | extend thigh and flex knee |
semitendinosus | ischial tuberosity | medial upper tibia | extend thigh and flex knee |
vastus intermedius | anterior lateral shaft of femur | patella/patellar ligament | extend knee |
vastus medialis | linea aspera | patellar ligament | extend knee |
vastus lateralis | greater trochanter/linea aspera | patellar ligament | extend and stabilize knee |
rectus femoris | anterior inferior iliac spine/acetabulum | patellar ligament | extend knee, flex thigh at hip |
fibularis longus | head, upper portion of fibula | via long tendon to metatarsal | plantar flexion and eversion of foot |
erector spinae | ribs | cervical vertebrae | prime mover of back extension |
digastric | mandible, mastoid process of temporal bone | hyoid bone via connective tissue | open mouth |
orbicularis oris | maxilla, mandible | encircle mouth | close lips |