Muscles to know, grouped…

Skull
Facial:
Masseter ( lateral), helps to chew solid food

Neck:
Platysma (anterior) Pulling the corner of the lips out to the side and down.
Scalenes ( 3 muscles, anterior, middle, posterior and on each side of the neck,
elevate the 1st and 2nd ribs). The scalene muscles collectively act to elevate the first
and second ribs, and in doing so they increase the intrathoracic volume.

Sternocleidomastoid ( long muscle on side of neck, from base of skull to thorax),

function is to rotate the head to the opposite side or obliquely rotate the head.

Thoracic:
Pectoralis Major(anterior), does the movement of the shoulder joint
Pectoralis Minor(anterior) it moves the scapula both forward and downward, which helps
to maintain the mobility of the shoulder joint

Serratus Anterior(anterior,lateral), responsible for the protraction of the scapula — that

is, the pulling of the scapula forward and around the rib cage that occurs when someone throws
a punch.

Shoulder and Upper arm:

Deltoid( anterior and posterior), is responsible for several actions of the arm:
 Anterior (Clavicular) Deltoid = flexes and medially rotates the arm
 Posterior (Spinal) Deltoid = extends and laterally rotates the arm
 Middle (Acromial) Deltoid = adbucts the arm beyond initial 15 degrees done by the
supraspinatus

Biceps brachii( anterior), it helps control the motion of two different joints, the shoulder and
the elbow.

Triceps brachii(posterior), to extend the forearm at the elbow joint, which means it
functions to straighten the arm. Additionally, this muscle functions to pull the upper arm toward
the body (adduction) and pull the upper arm backward (extension).

Infraspinatus ( posterior, on the scapulae, rotates humerus) to externally rotate the

humerus and stabilize the shoulder joint.

Lower arm:
Pronator teres( anterior, below the elbow), rotates the arm medially
Flexor digitorum superficialis( anterior), function is flexion of the middle phalanges of
the fingers at the proximal interphalangeal joints, however under continued action it also flexes
the metacarpophalangeal joints and wrist joint.

Flexor digitorum profundus(anterior), is a muscle in the forearm of humans that flexes

the fingers

Extensor digitorum ( posterior,back of the forarm) main extensor of the fingers . It

extends the medial four digits of the hand.

Flexor carpi ulnaris( lateral side of forarm), acts to flex and adduct (medial deviation) the
hand.

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus (posterior & lateral side of forearm), aids in moving
the hand. Specifically, it abducts and extends the hand at the wrist joint. The muscle works in
concert with the extensor carpi radialis longus

Brachioradialis (posterior and lateral side of forearm, flexes the elbow), is a muscle
of the forearm that flexes the forearm at the elbow
Abdominal:
Rectus abdominis (anterior), performs the important task of flexing the torso and spine in
the abdominal region. it is activated while doing crunches because it pulls the ribs and the
pelvis in and curves the back. The muscles are also used when a child is delivered, during
bowel movements, and coughing.

External oblique (anterior) help rotate the trunk, but they perform a few other vital
functions. These muscles help pull the chest, as a whole, downwards, which compresses the
abdominal cavity.

Abdominopelvic:
Psoas major (anterior, starts from lumbar vertebrae, goes over os coxa and ontop
head of femur…and inner thigh) contributes to flexion in the hip joint.

Pelvis/hip:
Tensor Fascia Latae( lateral) flexes the hip, is a hip abductor muscle. The tensor
fasciae latae works in synergy with the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles to abduct
and medially rotate the femur

Back:
Trapezius(posterior, medial, from neck to mid-back), is a postural and active
movement muscle, used to tilt and turn the head and neck, shrug, steady the shoulders, and
twist the arms. The trapezius elevates, depresses, rotates, and retracts the scapula, or
shoulder blade.

Latissimus Dorsi(posterior, covers middle back), Rhomboids( medial, upper

posterior), is the adductor, extensor and internal rotator of the arm.
Itis responsible for extension, adduction, transverse extension also known as horizontal
abduction, flexion from an extended position, and (medial) internal rotation of the shoulder joint.

Erector Spinae( posterior, from base of neck to top of sacrum, extends the back) It
lies on each side of the vertebral column and extends alongside the lumbar, thoracic and
cervical sections of the spine. The erector spinae functions to straighten the back and
provides for side-to-side rotation. An injury or strain to this muscle may cause back spasms and
pain.
Lumbar:
Quadratus Lumborum(posterior, deep, extends from floating ribs to Ilium) it
contributes to the stabilization and movement of the spine and the pelvis

Gluteal:
Gluteus maximus(posterior), performs hip extension. It is regarded as one of the
strongest muscles in the human body. It is connected to the coccyx, or tailbone, as well as other
surrounding bones. The gluteus maximus muscle is responsible for movement of the hip and
thigh

Piriformis( medial, posterior), abducts femur when hip is flexed, like in yoga tree
pose. It helps rotate the hip and works with rotators such as the obturator externus and the
gemellus inferior. It will rotate the thigh while extended and will abduct, or pull inward, the thigh
when flexed.

Upper legs:
Rectus Femoris(anterior, attached to the hip), helps to extend or raise the knee. This
muscle is also used to flex the thigh. The rectus femoris is the only muscle that can flex the hip

Vastus Lateralis( lateral, anterior), Extends and stabilizes knee

Vastus Medialis( medial, anterior, above knee), used to extend the leg at the knee and
to stabilize the patella.

Adductor Longus ( medial anterior, extends from pubis of os coxa to mid-femur),

its main function is to adduct the thigh

Adductor Magnus ( most medial, anterior, extends from pubis of os coxa to the
knee), Adduction of hip (both portions) flexion of hip (adductor portion) extension of hip
(hamstring portion)

Biceps Femoris ( lateral, posterior, extends from back of ischium to lateral side of
knee), perform knee flexion and extends femur.
Semitendinosus( posterior, back of the thigh), flex the knee and extend the hip
Semimembranosus (medial, posterior) performs Extension of hip and flexion of knee.
Lower legs:
Tibialis anterior( anterior), flexes the foot muscle on your shin bone. It is the
Dorsiflexor of ankle joint and invertor of the foot

Fibularis Longus(lateral side of lower leg), performs plantar flexion and eversion
of foot
Gastrocnemius( posterior, upper calf muscle), performs plantar flexion which
allows you to stand on tip of your toes
Soleus( lateral, posterior) Stabilizes the ankle joint. Performs the plantarflexion of the
foot (that is, they increase the angle between the foot and the leg). They are powerful muscles
and are vital in walking, running, and keeping balance.