MUSCLES OF THE HEAD,

TRUNKAND ARMS
David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology and Chemistry
University of Cincinnati Clermont
College,
Batavia OH 45103
deltoid
(clavobrachialis in the
cat)

File "Muscles_Head&Trunk.htm" was last modified on

19 Nov 2009.
This page has been accessed
November 2002.

times since 25

trapezius

4 November 1987, rvsd 15Sept93, 12Sept95, 16Nov95, 23Sept96,

21Nov96, 19Sept99, 19Sept00

(Page numbers refer to Pictorial Anatomy of the Cat, rvsd, by Gilbert.)

We will be studying head and trunk muscles of the cat, most of which are analogous to those in
the human. Working with a skinned cat ( see previous protocol ) remove cutaneous muscle layer
(allows cat to twitch its skin) and a white layer of superficial fascia to better see muscle fiber
directions and make the muscles more apparent. Carefully outline, separate and lift the muscles
by use of a blunt probe. If the structure in question has multiple fibers in it, it is muscle. Look for
intersections between fiber directions, this often indicates two muscles. Fingers are the best
blunt probes...
When you need to cut separated superficial muscles to see deep muscles, the superficial
muscle to be reflected should be snipped midway between insertion and origin, and laid back to
its origin and insertion, noting where they are located. Make four illustrations:
1) ventral thorax, upper appendage and abdomen, superficial
2) Ventral thorax and upper appendage, deep
3) Dorsal (back) deep and dorsal superficial
4) Second illustration of the deep dorsal muscles.
I. VENTRAL NECK, CHEST AND ABDOMEN:
(See Gilbert, p. 18)

Undissected chest. Remove as much adipose

tissue and fascia as you can so that the fibers of the
muscles can be seen.
Can you find the pectoantebracialis, pectoralis
major, latissimus dorsi and triceps brachii?
Here is the same image with the chest muscles
labeled.

pectoantebrachilis:
The pectoantebrachialis has been separated from
the underlying pectoralis major, and is being lifted in
the image.
Origin: manubrium, insertion: proximal fascia of
forearm.
"deltoid:"

The deltoid (called clavobrachialis in the cat) has

been freed from unterlying tissues.
Origin: clavicle. Insertion: lateral humerus.

Lift deltoid and

pectoantebrachialis as a unit and
cut and reflect.

pectoralis
major
and
pectoralis
minor

pectoralis major:
Origin: upper sternum.
Insertion: proximal 2/3 of humerus
between the biceps and brachialis
pectoralis minor:
Origin: lower sternum.
Insertion: proximal 1/2 of humerus
in the cat. (Gilbert, p. 24)
(Human insertion: coracoid process)

pectoralis
minor

epitrochlearis

biceps
brachii

triceps
brachii

The pectoralis major has been

pushed aside and pectoralis minor
is being lifted by the probe.
In humans, pectoralis originates
from ribs and inserts in the coracoid
process of scapula.
The superficial-most muscle of the
anterior surface of the arm is the
epitrochlearis. It has no homolog
in humans. It must be cut and
reflected to see the underlying
triceps brachii and biceps brachii.

biceps brachii
Origin:
1) long head: superior border of
glenoid fossa.
2) humerus
Insertion: radial tuberosity
triceps brachii:
Origin:
1) axillary border of scapula below
glenoid fossa,
2) & 3) humerus
Insertion: olecranon process
Here is a labeled view of the ventral
surface of the upper appendage.

retinaculum

transverse carpal ligament on cat,

holds down tendons of insertion

2. Separate pectoralis major from pectoralis minor, cut both, reflect to see: (Gilbert p. 24)

With the pectoralis major and minor

cut and reflected, the scapula will
fall away from the chest to reveal
the subscapularis on its underside.
subscapularis
subscapularis Origin: subscapular fossa.
Insertion: lesser tuberosity of
humerus.
Here is a labeled version of the
deep muscles of the chest and
scapula.
closest to axillary border of scapula
teres major

teres major
Origin: axillary border of scapula
Insertion: proximal humerus (same
as latissimus dorsi)
(serratus ventralis in the cat)

serratus
anterior

serratus anterior
Origin: first nine or ten ribs
Insertion: vertebral border of
scapula

3. Identify the external muscles of the abdomen (p. 24)

external
oblique

superficial most muscle of the

abdomenal wall

rectus
abdominis

anterior most muscle of abdomen

II. BACK: (p. 22) Caution: the trapezius is very thin and easily torn when outlining it with the
probe. Remove cutaneous muscle layer, note the boundary between trapezoid and the
latissimus dorsi which plunges below it.
1. Lift trapezius from underlying latissimus dorsi.

trapezius

called acromio- and spinotrapezius

in the cat

latissimus
dorsi

fr. spine of lower back to medial

humerus

2. Cut and reflect trapezius to see muscles related to or on the scapula:(p. 25). Here is a
labeled view of the deep muscles of the back and scapula.

infraspinatus

muscle of the glenohumoral

joint, lies below spine of scapula

supraspinatus

muscle of the glenohumoral

joint, lies above spine of
scapula

teres major

muscle of the glenohumoral

joint, inserts ant. surf. humerus

teres minor

muscle of the glenohumoral

joint, inserts post. surf. humerus

levator scapulae

superior to rhomboideus
muscles

rhomboideus & from spine and skull to vertebral

r. capitis
border of scapula

Seen below the rhomboideus

muscles.
The "bandage" muscle in the
posterior neck.

splenius capitis
Origin: upper thoracic spinous
(to the left and
processes.
below the tip of
Insertion: mastoid process.
the probe)
process
Here again is a labeled view of
the deep muscles of the back
and scapula.
Return to the Anatomy and Physiology Table of Contents
or
Go to David Fankhauser's Main Page
Send Email to: FANKHADB@UC.EDU
Brachial plexus: To be studied Winter Quarter:

deltoid and cutting the latissimus dorsi so that it can be reflected:

Cutting the pectoralis. The trapezius has been cut and reflected to show the scapula and
rhomboideuses