MUSCLES OF THE APPENDICULAR SKELETON

UPPER LIMB
The muscles that act on the upper limb fall into four groups: those that stabilize the pectoral girdle, those that move the arm, those that move the
forearm, and those that move the wrist, hand, and fingers.

Muscles Stabilizing Pectoral Girdle (Marieb / Hoehn – Chapter 10; Pgs. 346 – 349; Figure 1)

MUSCLE: ORIGIN: INSERTION: INNERVATION: ACTION:

ANTERIOR THORAX:

anterior surface coracoid process protracts & depresses

Pectoralis minor* pectoral nerves
of ribs 3 – 5 of scapula scapula

medial border rotates scapula

Serratus anterior* ribs 1 – 8 long thoracic nerve
of scapula laterally

inferior surface stabilizes / depresses

Subclavius* rib 1 ---------------
of clavicle pectoral girdle

POSTERIOR THORAX:
occipital bone /
Trapezius* spinous processes
of C7 – T12
acromion / spine of stabilizes / elevates /
accessory nerve
scapula; lateral third retracts / rotates
(cranial nerve XI)
of clavicle scapula

transverse processes upper medial border elevates / adducts

Levator scapulae* dorsal scapular nerve
of C1 – C4 of scapula scapula

Rhomboids* spinous processes medial border adducts / rotates

dorsal scapular nerve
(major / minor) of C7 – T5 of scapula scapula

* Need to be familiar with on both ADAM and the human cadaver

 Figure 1: Muscles stabilizing pectoral girdle, posterior and anterior views

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Muscles Moving Arm (Marieb / Hoehn – Chapter 10; Pgs. 350 – 352; Figure 2)

MUSCLE: ORIGIN: INSERTION: INNERVATION: ACTION:

intertubercular sulcus /
sternum / clavicle / flexes / medially rotates /
Pectoralis major* greater tubercle pectoral nerves
ribs 1 – 6 adducts arm
of humerus
acromion / spine of
deltoid tuberosity
Deltoid* scapula; lateral third axillary nerve abducts arm
of humerus
of clavicle
spinous processes of
intertubercular groove
Latissimus dorsi* T7 – L5 / ribs 9 – 12 / thoracodorsal nerve extends / adducts arm
of humerus
iliac crest of os coxa

subscapular fossa lesser tubercle

Subscapularis* subscapular nerves rotates arm medially
of scapula of humerus

supraspinous fossa greater tubercle

Supraspinatus* suprascapular nerve abducts arm
of scapula of humerus

infraspinous fossa greater tubercle

Infraspinatus* suprascapular nerve rotates arm laterally
of scapula of humerus

lateral border greater tubercle

Teres minor* subscapular nerves rotates arm laterally
of scapula of humerus

inferior border lesser tubercle rotates medially /

Teres major* subscapular nerves
of scapula of humerus adducts arm

coracoid process medial shaft musculocutaneous

Coracobrachialis* flexes / adducts arm
of scapula of humerus nerve

* Need to be familiar with on both ADAM and the human cadaver

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 Figure 2: Muscles that move the arm, anterior and posterior views (note: subscapularis not shown)

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Muscles Moving Forearm (Marieb / Hoehn – Chapter 10; Pgs. 352 – 353; Figure 3)

MUSCLE: ORIGIN: INSERTION: INNERVATION: ACTION:

POSTERIOR MUSCLES:
below glenoid cavity of
olecranon process
Triceps brachii* scapula / posterior shaft radial nerve extends forearm
of ulna
of humerus

lateral epicondyle olecranon process

Anconeus radial nerve extends forearm
of humerus of ulna

ANTERIOR MUSCLES:
coracoid process /
radial tuberosity musculocutaneous
Biceps brachii* above glenoid cavity flexes forearm
of radius nerve
of scapula

anterior face coronoid process musculocutaneous

Brachialis* flexes forearm
of distal humerus of ulna nerve

lateral epicondyle styloid process

Brachioradialis* radial nerve flexes forearm
of ulna (radius)

* Need to be familiar with on both ADAM and the human cadaver

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 Figure 3: Muscles that move the forearm, anterior and posterior views

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Muscles Moving Wrist, Hand, and Fingers - Anterior (Marieb / Hoehn – Chapter 10; Pgs. 354 – 356; Figure 4)

MUSCLE: ORIGIN: INSERTION: INNERVATION: ACTION:

SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES:
medial epicondyle of
Pronator teres* humerus; coronoid lateral shaft of radius median nerve pronates forearm
process of ulna

medial epicondyle
Flexor carpi radialis* metacarpals 2 – 3 median nerve flexes / abducts wrist
of humerus

medial epicondyle tenses skin of palm during

Palmaris longus palmar aponeurosis median nerve
of humerus hand movement

Flexor carpi ulnaris*
medial epicondyle
pisiform / hamate bone
of humerus; olecranon ulnar nerve flexes / adducts wrist
of carpals
process of ulna

medial epicondyle
Flexor digitorum
of humerus; coronoid process middle phalanges 2 – 5 median nerve flexes wrist / fingers
superficialis* of ulna ; shaft of radius

DEEP MUSCLES:
coronoid process /
Flexor digitorum
anteriomedial surface distal phalanges 2 – 5 ulnar / median nerves flexes wrist / fingers
profundus*
of ulna

anterior surface distal phalanx

Flexor pollicis longus median nerve flexes thumb
of radius of thumb

distal surface of distal surface of

Pronator quadratus median nerve pronates forearm
anterior ulna anterior radius

* Need to be familiar with on both ADAM and the human cadaver

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 Figure 4: Anterior muscles that move the wrist, hand, and fingers

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Muscles Moving the Wrist, Hand, and Fingers - Posterior (Marieb / Hoehn – Chapter 10; Pgs. 356 – 357; Figure 5)

MUSCLE: ORIGIN: INSERTION: INNERVATION: ACTION:

SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES:
Extensor carpi
lateral epicondyle
radialis* metacarpals 2 – 3 radial nerve extends / abducts wrist
of humerus
(longus / brevis)

lateral epicondyle
Extensor digitorum* distal phalanges 2 – 5 radial nerve extends fingers
of humerus

Extensor carpi lateral epicondyle

metacarpal 5 radial nerve extends / adducts wrist
ulnaris* of humerus

DEEP MUSCLES:
lateral epicondyle of
proximal end
Supinator humerus; proximal end radial nerve supinates forearm
of radius
of ulna

Abductor pollicis posterior surface metacarpal 1 / trapezium abducts / extends

radial nerve
longus* of radius and ulna of carpals thumb

Extensor pollicis* dorsal shaft proximal / distal

radial nerve extends thumb
(longus / brevis) of radius / ulna ends of phalange 1

posterior surface
Extensor indicis phalange 2 radial nerve extends index finger
of distal ulna

* Need to be familiar with on both ADAM and the human cadaver

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 Figure 5: Posterior muscles that move the wrist, hand, and fingers

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 Out-of-Class Assignment: Intrinsic Muscles of the Hand

Intrinsic muscles are found only in the palm of the hand (none on the dorsal surface). These small, relatively weak muscles control the precise
movements of the metacarpals and the fingers, leaving the powerful movements of the fingers (e.g., power grip) to the forearm muscles. The intrinsic
muscles of the palm are divided into three groups: those in the thenar eminence (ball of thumb), the hypothenar eminence (ball of the little finger),
and the midpalm. The thenar and hypothenar eminence groups are responsible for flexing, abducting, and opposing the respective digits. The
midpalm muscles extend the fingers at the interphalangeal joints.

Below is a table listing the individual muscles in each functional group. For each muscle, fill in the appropriate origin, insertion, innervation, and
action and then correctly label the muscle on the associated figure(s). This exercise is to introduce you to these muscles; you will not be responsible
for these groups of muscles for the practical exam.

MUSCLE: ORIGIN: INSERTION: INNERVATION: ACTION:

THENAR MUSCLES:

Abductor pollicis
brevis

Flexor pollicis
brevis

Opponens pollicis

Adductor pollicis

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 MUSCLE: ORIGIN: INSERTION: INNERVATION: ACTION:
HYPOTHENAR MUSCLES:

Abductor digiti
minimi

Flexor digiti
minimi brevis

Opponens digiti
minimi

MIDPALMAR MUSCLES:

Lumbricals

Palmar interossei

Dorsal interossei

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