Introduction:

Themuscularsystemisoneofthelargestsystemsinthecat'sbody.Itis
composedofunitsoftissuethathavethepowertocontract,andproducemovement.
Themusculoskeletalsystemprovidesthebasicframeworkforcats'anditstremendous
athleticabilities.Thecat'sskeletalmusclesaresimilartomanyotherspecies,including
humans.Thetriceps,biceps,glutealmuscles,deltoidsandtrapeziusaresomeofthe
commonlyknownskeletalmuscles.Belowisarethemuscleswehavelocatedand
examinedinthelab.

ThoracicMuscles:

MuscleName:

MuscleOrigin:

MuscleInsertion:

MuscleAction:

(A)Clavobrachialis

Anterosuperior
borderofthelateral
thirdoftheclavicle

deltoidtuberosityof
humerusonthe
anterolateral
surface

horizontaladductor,
primeflexor,and
medial(internal)
rotationofshoulder
(arm)

(B)Pectoantebrachialis

Manubrium

Fasciaofforearm

Adductsforelimb

(C)PectoralisMajor

Cranialsternebrae

Humerus

Adductsforelimb

(D)PectoralisMinor

Sternum

Humerus

Adductsforelimb

(E)Xiphihumeralis

Xiphoidprocess

Himerus

Adductsforelimb

AbdominalMuscles:

MuscleName:

MuscleOrigin:

MuscleInsertion:

(A)External
Oblique

Lumbodorsalfascia Lineaalbaand
andribs
pubis

MuscleAction:
Constricts
abdomen

(B)InternalOblique Lumbodorsalfascia Lineaalba

Compresses
abdomen

(C)Transversus
Abdominis

Costalribs

Lineaalba

Compresses
abdomen

(D)Rectus
Abdominis

Pubis

Sternumandcostal Compresses
ribs
abdomen

Head&NeckMuscles:

MuscleName:

MuscleOrigin:

MuscleInsertion:

(A)Masseter:

Zygomaticarch

Mandibularangle Elevatesmandible
Mandibularramus

(B)Digastric

Lowermarginof
Byaconnective
mandible&mastoid tissuelooptohyoid
processofthe
bone
temporalbone

Actinginconcert,
elevatehyoidbone
&steadyitduring
swallowing&
speechActing
frombehind,open
mouth&depress
mandible

(C)Mylohyoid

medialsurfaceof
mandible

Elevateshyoid
bone&floorof

Hyoidbone

MuscleAction:

mouth,enabling
tonguetoexert
backward&upward
pressurefor
swallowing

(D)Cleidomastoid

Manubriumof
sternum,
Medialclavicle

Mastoidprocessof Flexeshead,
thetemporalbone Rotateshead
laterally

(E)Clavotrapezius

Lambdoidalridge

Clavicle

(F)Sternothyroid

Posteriorsurfaceof Thyroidcartilage
manubrium

Pullsthyroid
cartilage(plus
larynx&hyoid)
inferiorly

(G)Sternomastoid

Manubrium

Lambdoidalridge
andmastoid
process

Turnsandlowers
head

(H)Sternohyoid

Manubrium&
medialendof
clavicle

Lowermarginof
hyoidbone

Depresseslarynx&
hyoidboneif
mandibleisfixed

Pullsclavicledorsal
andanterior

ArmMuscles:

MuscleName:

MuscleOrigin:

MuscleInsertion:

MuscleAction:

(A)FlexorDigitorum Medialolecranon,
Distalphalangesof Flexesdistal
Profundus
upperthree
medialfourfingers interphalangeal
quartersofanterior
joints,then
andmedialsurface
secondarilyflexes
ofulnaasfarround
proximal
assubcutaneous
interphalangealand
borderandnarrow
metacarpophalang
stripof
ealjointsandwrist
interosseous
membrane
(B)FlexorCarpi
Radialis

Medialepicondyle
ofhumerus

Secondandthird
metacarpals

Flexessecondand
3rdmetacarpals

(C)Brachioradialis

Humerus

Ulna

Flexesforearm

(D)TricepsMedial
Head

Humerus

Olecranonprocess Flexesforearm

(E)TricepsLong
Head

Axillaryborderof
scapula

Olecranonprocess

Extendsforearm

(F)TricepsLateral
Head

Greatertuberosity
ofhumerus

Olecranonprocess

Extendsforearm

(G)PronatorTeres

Medialepicondyle
ofhumerus

Radius

Pronatorofhand

(H)Palmaris
Longus

Medialepicondyle
ofhumerus

Phalanges

Flexesdigits

(I)FlexorCarpi
Ulnaris

Medialepicondyle
ofhumerus,
Olecranonprocess

Pisiform

Flexescarpels

LegMuscles:

MuscleName:

MuscleOrigin:

(A)VastusMedialis Femur

MuscleInsertion:

MuscleAction:

Patella

Extendsshank

(B)VastusLateralis Greatertrochanter

Patella

Extendsshank

(C)RectusFemoris Ilium

Patella

Extendsshank

(D)Sartorius

Ilium

Patellaandtibia

adductsandrotates
thigh,extends
shank

(E)Gracilis

Ischialandpubic
symphysis

Tibia

Adductsthigh

(F)TensorFascia
Latae

Ilium

Fascialata

Tightens
fascialata

(G)Semitendinosus

Ischium

Tibia

FlexesShank

(H)Semimembrano
sus

Ischium

Medialepicondyle
offemur

Extendsthigh

(I)Adductor
Femoris

Pubis

Femur

Adductsand
extendsthigh

(J)Adductor
Longus

Pubis

Femur

Adductsand
extendsthigh

(K)FlexorDigitorum Tibia&Fibula
Longus

Digits

FlexesDigits

(L)TibialisAnterior

Firstmetatarsal

Flexesfoot

(M)Gastrocnemius Femur,Tendon,&
Fascialataof
plantaris

Calcaneus

Extendsfoot

(N)Soleus

Calcaneus

Extendsfoot

BackMuscles:

Tibia&Fibula

Fibula


MuscleName:

MuscleOrigin:

MuscleInsertion:

MuscleAction:

(A)Acromiodeltoid

Acromionprocess

Spinodeltoid

Flexesandrotates
humerus

(B)Spinodeltoid

Spineofthe
scapula

Deltoidridgeofthe Flexesandrotates
humerus
humerus

(C)Acromiotrapeziu
s

Spineofcervical
vertebrae

Spineofscapula

Pullsscapula
dorsally

(D)Spinotrapezius

Spineofthoracic
vertebrae

Fasciaofscapular
muscles

Pullsscapula
dorsally

(E)Latissimus
Dorsi

Thoracicand
lumbarvertebrae

Humerus

Pullsarmcaudo
dorsally

(F)GluteusMedius Sacralandcaudal
vertebrae

Greatertrochanter

Abductsthigh

(G)Gluteus
Maximus

Greatertrochanter

Abductsthigh

(H)Caudofemoralis Caudalvertebrae

Patella

Abductsthigh,
extendsshank

(I)BicepsFemoris

Patellaandtibia

Abductsthigh,

Sacralandcaudal
vertebrae

Ischium

flexesshank