Muscles of the Human Body (Origin, Insertion, Innervation, Action)

1. Head

MUSCLE ORIGIN INSERTION INNERVATION ACTION

Frontalis Epicranial Skin above Facial nerve Raises eyebrows,
aponeurosis supraorbital wrinkles skin of
margin forehead
Orbicularis oris Skin at the Encircles mouth Facial nerve Puckers lips,
corners of the shaping of the lips
mouth
Orbicularis oculi Medial side of Encircles eye Facial nerve Closes eye
orbit
Buccinator Maxilla and Orbicularis oris Facial Nerve Lateral movement
Mandible of cheeks (sucking
on a straw)
Masseter Maxilla and Mandible Facial nerve Closes jaw
Zygomatic
Corrugator Frontal bone Skin underneath Facial nerve Draws eyebrows
supercilii eyebrow medially and
downward,
frowning
Nasalis Maxilla Nasal bone Facial nerve Widens nostrils
Levator labii Maxilla Underneath skin Facial nerve Elevates upper lip
superioris at corners of the
mouth; orbicularis
oris
Depressor labii Mandible Underneath the Facial nerve Draws lower lip
inferioris skin of lower lip downward
Depressor anguli Mandible Underneath the Facial nerve Opening mouth
oris skin of the and sliding lower
corners of the jaw left and right
mouth
Zygomaticus Zygomatic bone Underneath of Facial nerve Draws angle of
major the skin at the mouth upward
corners of the and laterally;
mouth (dimple smiling
area), orbicularis
oris
Risorius Fascia of parotid Underneath skin Facial nerve Draws angle of
salivary gland of the mouth mouth laterally
Mentalis Mandible Underneath skin Facial nerve Elevates and
of chin protrudes lower
lip and skin of the
chin

2. Trunk and Back

 Trunk

 Back
 MUSCLE ORIGIN INSERTION INNERVATION ACTION
Pectoralis Major Clavicle, sternum, Greater Lateral and Adducts and medially
cartilage of ribs (1-6 tubercle of medial pectoral rotates the arm
or 1-7th), humerus nerve
aponeuorosis of
external oblique
muscle
Serratus anterior Superior 8 or 9 ribs Anterior Long thoracic Holds scapula against
surface of nerve (C5-7) chest wall, rotates
vertebral scapula, important to
border of stabilize shoulder for
scapula arm movements
(pushing, punching)
Deltoid Clavicle, acromion Deltoid Axillary nerve Abducts arm,
and spine of scapula tuberosity of anterior fibers flex
humerus and medially rotate
arm, posterior fibers
extend and laterally
rotate arm
Rhomboideus major T2 to T5 Medial border Retracts scapula (as
 of scapula in pulling the
shoulders back)
Levator scapulae Transverse Medial border Dorsal scapular Elevates and retracts
processes of C1 to of scapula, nerve (C5) and scapula (as in
C4 superior to ventral primary bringing shoulder up
spine rami of C3 and and in toward ear)
C4
Trapezius Superior nuchal line Clavicle, Spinal accessory Stabilize scapula,
of occipital bone, acromion and nerve (C1-5) superior fibers
ligamentum nuchae, spine of elevate scapula and
spines of C7 and all scapula extend head, middle
thoracic vertebrae fibers adduct
scapula, inferior
fibers depress
scapula
Infraspinatus Infraspinous fossa Greater Suprascapular Laterally rotates arm,
of scapula tubercle nerve stabilizes shoulder
Supraspinatus Supraspinous fossa Greater Suprascapular Abducts the arm,
of scapula tubercle of nerve stabilizes the
humerus shoulder joint
Teres minor Lateral border of Greater Lower and Laterally rotates arm,
posterior surface of tubercle upper stabilizes shoulder
scapula subscapular
nerve
Teres major Inferior angle of Lesser Lower Extends arm, adducts
scapula on posterior tubercle on subscapular arm, medially rotates
surface anterior nerve arm
humerus
Latissimus dorsi Thoracic vertebrae Intertubecular Thoracodorsal Adducts the arm;
(T7-T12); lumbar sulcus of nerve (C6-C8) rotates the arm
vertebrae; lower Humerus medially at the
ribs (9-12th); iliac shoulder
crest
sternocleidomastoi Sternum clavicle Mastoid Branches of Rotates and tilts
d process of cervical plexus head to the side, tilts
temporal (C2-3) head forward
bone and
Rectus Abdominis Pubis Sternum; ribs 7-12 Sitting up
5 and 7 intercoastal
nerve
Transverse Ilium; ribs 5-10 Ribs 7-10; the terminal Twisting at waist,
abdominal linea alba; branches of bending to the side
ilium intercostal
nerves T7-T11,
the subcostal
nerve (T12), the
iliohypogastric
 nerve (L1) and
ilioinguinal
nerves (L1).

3. Arm and Forearm

MUSCLE ORIGIN INSERTION INNERVATION ACTION

Brachialis Front of distal humerus Coronoid Musculo- Flexes the elbow
process of ulna cutaneous
nerve; radial
nerve
Brachioradialis Lateral supracondylar Base of styloid Radial nerve Flexes the forearm
ridge at the distal end process of
of humerus radius
Biceps Coracoid process; Radial Musculo- Flexes and
tubercle above glenoid tuberosity cutaneous nerve supinates forearm
cavity
Triceps Projection inferior to Olecranon Radial nerve Extends the
glenoid cavity (long process of ulna forearm
head), posterior
surface of humerus
(lateral and medial
heads)
Anconeus Lateral epicondyle of Lateral aspect of Radial nerve Extends elbow
humerus olecranon
process of ulna
Flexor carpi radialis Medial epicondyle of Based of 2nd and Median nerve Flexes and abducts
humerus 3rd metacarpals the hand
Palmaris longus Medial epicondyle of Palmar Median nerve Tenses skin and
humerus aponeurosis; fascia of palm, aids
skin and fascia in flexion of wrist
of palm and elbow
Flexor digitorum Medial epicondyle of Middle Median nerve; Flexes wrist and
superficialis humerus; coronoid phalanges of ulnar nerve middle phalanges
process of ulna; shaft fingers of 2nd to 5th fingers
of radius
Flexor pollicis longus Anterior surface of Distal phalanx of Median nerve Flexes distal
radius; interosseous thumb phalanx of thumb
membrane
Extensor carpi Lateral supracondylar Base of 2nd Radial nerve Extends and
radialis longus ridge of humerus metacarpal abducts the hand
Extensor carpi Lateral epicondyle of Base of 3rd Posterior Extends and
radialis brevis humerus metacarpal interosseous abducts the hand
nerve
Extensor digitorum Lateral epicondyle of Extensor Posterior Extends the hand
humerus expansions; interosseus and abducts the
distal phalanges nerve fingers
of fingers
Extensor digiti Lateral epicondyle of Extensor Posterior Extends little finger
minimi humerus expansion; interosseus
distal phalanx of nerve
finger 5
Extensor carpi Lateral epicondyle of Base of 5th Posterior Extends and
ulnaris humerus; posterior metacarpal interosseus abducts hand
border of ulna nerve
Abductor pollicis Posterior surface of Base of 1st Posterior Abducts and
longus radius & ulna; metacarpal; interosseus extends the thumb
interosseus membrane trapezium nerve
Extensor pollicis Dorsal shaft of radius & Base of distal Posterior Extends thumb
brevis ulna; interosseus phalanx of interosseus
membrane thumb nerve
 Extenso pollicis Dorsal shaft of radius & Base of distal Posterior Extends thumb
longus ulna; interosseus phalanx of interosseus
membrane thumb nerve

4. Thigh and Leg

MUSCLE ORIGIN INSERTION INNERVATION ACTION

Iliopsoas Ilium, lumbar femur Flexes femur
vertebrae
Sartorius Anterior superior Medial surface Femoral nerve Flexes, abducts, and
iliac spine of tibia laterally rotates thigh
Pectineus Pecten of the Pectineal line Femoral nerve Adducts, flexes, medially
pubis of femur and possibly the rotates the thigh
anterior division
of obturator nerve
semimembranous upper, outer medial condyle Tibial nerve extends the thigh, flexes
surface of the of the tibia the leg
 ischial tuberosity
semitendinous lower, medial medial surface Tibial nerve extends the thigh, flexes
surface of ischial of tibia the leg
tuberosity
Gluteus maximus Iliac crest, sacrum, Femur Inferior gluteal Extends femur
coccyx nerve
Rectus femoris Ilium and femur Tibia Femoral nerve Flexes femur and
extends leg
Biceps femoris long head: ischial head of fibula long head: tibial extends the thigh, flexes
tuberosity; short and lateral nerve; short head: the leg
head: lateral lip of condyle of the common fibular
the linea aspera tibia (peroneal) nerve
Vastus lateralis Ilium and femur Tibia Femoral nerve Flexes femur and
extends leg
Vastus medialis Ilium and femur Tibia Femoral nerve Flexes femur and
extends leg
Gracilis Pubic symphysis Medial surface Anterior division Adducts leg at hip,
and the inferior of tibia of the obturator flexes knee
pubic ramus nerve
Adductor longus Pubis near pubic Linea aspera Obturator nerve Abducts, flexes medially
symphysis rotate thigh
Adductor brevis Body of pubis; Linea aspera Obturator nerve Abducts, flexes and
inferior ramus of above medially rotates thigh
pubis abductor
longus
Adductor magnus Ischial rami; pubic Line aspera; Obturator nerve; Adducts and medially
rami; ischial adductor tibial nerve rotates flexes thigh, aids
tuberosity tubercle of in thigh extension
femur
Tibialis anterior Lateral condyle Interior surface Deep fibular Dorsiflexes the foot,
and upper tibial of medial (peroneal nerve) inverts foot, aids in
shaft; cuneiform; first support of medial
interosseous metatarsal longitudinal arch of foot
membrane bone
Extensor hallucis Anteromedial Distal phalanx Deep fibular Extends big toe, aids in
longus fibula shaft; of big toe (peroneal nerve) dorsiflexion of the foot
interosseous
membrane
Extensor digitorum Lateral condyle of Middle and Deep fibular Extends toes, dorsiflexes
longus tibia, proximal distal (peroneal nerve) the foot
portion of fibula, phalanges of
interosseous toes 2-5
membrane
Gastrocnemius Medial and lateral Posterior Tibial nerve Plantar flexes the foot,
condyles of femur calcaneus flexes knee when foot is
dorsiflexed
Soleus Superior tibia; Posterior Tibial nerve Plantar flexes foot
 fibula, interosseus calcaneus
membrane
Plantaris Posterior femur Calcaneus or Tibial nerve from Aids in flexing the leg
above lateral calcaneus anterior rami of and plantar flexing the
condyle tendon S1-S2 foot
Flexor digitorum Posterior tibia Distal Tibial nerve Plantar flexes and
longus phalanges of inverts foot, flexes toes
toes 2-5
Extensor digitorum Calcaneus; Base of Posterior Extends toes 2-5
brevis extensor proximal interosseous
retinaculum phalanx of big nerve
toe; extensor
expansions on
toes 2-5