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Anatomy: Major Muscles and Actions

The main skeletal muscles, where they are and what they do.

84 cardsGrades 9–12, College#anatomy#muscles

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84 cards
  • FrontalisMuscle
    Forehead; raises the eyebrows
  • Orbicularis oculiMuscle
    Around the eye; closes the eyelid
  • Orbicularis orisMuscle
    Around the mouth; closes and purses the lips
  • Zygomaticus majorMuscle
    Cheek; lifts the corner of the mouth to smile
  • MasseterMuscle
    Cheek; closes the jaw to chew
  • TemporalisMuscle
    Side of head; closes the jaw
  • BuccinatorMuscle
    Cheek; presses the cheek against the teeth
  • PlatysmaMuscle
    Neck; pulls the lower lip and jaw down
  • SternocleidomastoidMuscle
    Side of the neck; turns and flexes the head
  • TrapeziusMuscle
    Upper back and neck; raises and pulls back the shoulder blades
  • Latissimus dorsiMuscle
    Wide back muscle; pulls the arm down and back
  • RhomboidsMuscle
    Between shoulder blades; pull the scapula toward the spine
  • Erector spinaeMuscle
    Along the spine; extends the back
  • DeltoidMuscle
    Shoulder cap; raises the arm
  • Pectoralis majorMuscle
    Chest; moves the arm across the body
  • Serratus anteriorMuscle
    Side of the ribs; moves the shoulder blade forward
  • Rotator cuffMuscle
    Four small muscles that stabilize the shoulder
  • SupraspinatusMuscle
    Rotator cuff muscle that starts raising the arm
  • Biceps brachiiMuscle
    Front of the upper arm; flexes the elbow
  • Triceps brachiiMuscle
    Back of the upper arm; extends the elbow
  • BrachialisMuscle
    Deep upper-arm muscle that flexes the elbow
  • BrachioradialisMuscle
    Forearm muscle that flexes the elbow
  • Flexor carpiMuscle
    Front of forearm; bends the wrist
  • Extensor carpiMuscle
    Back of forearm; straightens the wrist
  • Rectus abdominisMuscle
    Front of the abdomen; flexes the trunk
  • External obliqueMuscle
    Side of the abdomen; twists and bends the trunk
  • Internal obliqueMuscle
    Beneath the external oblique; twists the trunk
  • Transversus abdominisMuscle
    Deepest abdominal muscle; compresses the abdomen
  • DiaphragmMuscle
    Under the lungs; main muscle of breathing
  • IntercostalsMuscle
    Between the ribs; help breathing
  • Gluteus maximusMuscle
    Buttock; extends the hip
  • Gluteus mediusMuscle
    Side of hip; moves the leg out and steadies the pelvis
  • IliopsoasMuscle
    Deep hip flexor
  • Tensor fasciae lataeMuscle
    Upper outer thigh; flexes and abducts the hip
  • Quadriceps femorisMuscle
    Front of the thigh; extends the knee
  • Rectus femorisMuscle
    Quadriceps part that also flexes the hip
  • Vastus lateralisMuscle
    Outer quadriceps
  • SartoriusMuscle
    Longest muscle; crosses the thigh and flexes the hip and knee
  • HamstringsMuscle
    Back of the thigh; flex the knee
  • Biceps femorisMuscle
    Outer hamstring
  • AdductorsMuscle
    Inner thigh; pull the leg toward the midline
  • GracilisMuscle
    Inner thigh muscle that adducts the leg
  • GastrocnemiusMuscle
    Calf; points the foot and flexes the knee
  • SoleusMuscle
    Deep calf muscle; points the foot
  • Tibialis anteriorMuscle
    Front of the shin; lifts the foot
  • Peroneus longusMuscle
    Outer lower leg; turns the foot outward
  • Achilles tendonMuscle
    Joins calf muscles to the heel bone
  • FlexorMuscle
    A muscle that decreases a joint angle
  • ExtensorMuscle
    A muscle that increases a joint angle
  • AbductorMuscle
    Moves a limb away from the midline
  • AdductorMuscle
    Moves a limb toward the midline
  • AgonistMuscle
    The prime mover in a movement
  • AntagonistMuscle
    A muscle that opposes the prime mover
  • SynergistMuscle
    A muscle that helps the prime mover
  • OriginMuscle
    The attachment that stays fixed
  • InsertionMuscle
    The attachment that moves
  • Isotonic contractionMuscle
    Muscle changes length while producing force
  • Isometric contractionMuscle
    Muscle produces force without changing length
  • Concentric contractionMuscle
    Muscle shortens under tension
  • Eccentric contractionMuscle
    Muscle lengthens under tension
  • Muscle toneMuscle
    Slight constant tension in resting muscles
  • FasciaMuscle
    Connective tissue wrapping muscles
  • Motor unitMuscle
    One motor neuron and the fibers it controls
  • Neuromuscular junctionMuscle
    Synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber
  • AcetylcholineMuscle
    Neurotransmitter that triggers muscle contraction
  • Creatine phosphateMuscle
    Quick energy store in muscle
  • Fast-twitch fibersMuscle
    Muscle fibers for quick, powerful action that tire quickly
  • Slow-twitch fibersMuscle
    Muscle fibers for endurance
  • Rigor mortisMuscle
    Stiffening of muscles after death
  • TetanyMuscle
    Sustained, involuntary muscle contraction
  • AtrophyMuscle
    Wasting of muscle from disuse
  • HypertrophyMuscle
    Enlargement of muscle fibers
  • StrainMuscle
    Overstretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon
  • SprainMuscle
    Overstretching or tearing of a ligament
  • SpasmMuscle
    Sudden involuntary contraction
  • MyoglobinMuscle
    Oxygen-storing pigment in muscle
  • Lactic acidMuscle
    Product of anaerobic energy production in muscles
  • Pectoralis minorMuscle
    Beneath the pectoralis major; pulls the shoulder blade forward
  • Teres majorMuscle
    Back of the shoulder; rotates the arm inward
  • Psoas majorMuscle
    Deep muscle linking the spine to the thigh
  • PiriformisMuscle
    Deep buttock muscle that rotates the hip outward
  • PopliteusMuscle
    Behind the knee; unlocks the knee for bending
  • Pronator teresMuscle
    Forearm; turns the palm down
  • SupinatorMuscle
    Forearm; turns the palm up

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