mover by reducing undesired action or

MUSCULAR SYSTEM unnecessary movement.

SITES OF MUSCULAR INJECTION Fixators - Muscles that stabilise the origin of the
prime mover so that the prime mover can act
Intramuscular injections more efficiently.

The common sites for intramuscular injections Belly - The fleshy portion of the muscle between
include the gluteus medius muscle of the the tendons.
buttock (see figure 11.3b), lateral side of the
thigh in the midportion of the vastus lateralis Tendon - White fibrous cord of dense regular
muscle (see figure 11.3a), and the deltoid connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.
muscle of the shoulder (see figure 11.3b).
Origin - The attachment of a muscle tendon to a
stationary bone or the end opposite the insertion.
Muscles in these areas, especially the gluteal
muscles in the buttock, are fairly thick, and Insertion - The attachment of a muscle tendon to
absorption is promoted by their extensive blood a movable bone or the end opposite the origin.
supply. To avoid injury, intramuscular injections
are given deep within the muscle, away from Naming of Muscle
major nerves and blood vessels. Intramuscular
injections have a faster speed of delivery than DIRECTION: Orientation of muscle fascicles
oral medications but are slower than intravenous relative to the body’s midline
infusions.
Name Meaning Example
An intramuscular (IM) injection penetrates the ​Rectus Parallel to Rectus
skin and subcutaneous layer to enter the muscle midline Abdominis
itself. Intramuscular injections are preferred when
Transverse Perpendicular Transversus
prompt absorption is desired, when larger doses to midline Abdominis
than can be given subcutaneously are indicated,
or when the drug is too irritating to give Oblique Diagonal to External
subcutaneously. midline Oblique

​Maximus ​ Largest Gluteus

Prime Mover - The muscle directly responsible maximus
for producing a desired motion. Also called an
​Minimus Smallest Gluteus
agonist
minimus

Antagonist - A muscle that has an action Longus Long Adductor

opposite that of the prime mover (agonist) and longus
yields to the movement of the prime mover. ​Brevis Short Adductor
brevis
Synergist - it contracts and stabilizes the
intermediate joints. Muscles that assist the prime Latissimus ​Widest Latissimus
dorsi
​Longissimus Longest Longissimus midline
capitis
​Adductor Moves bone Adductor
​Magnus Large Adductor closer to longus
magnus midline

Major ​Larger Pectoralis ​Levator Raises or Levator

major elevates body scapulae
part
Minor Smaller Pectoralis
minor ​Depressor Lowers or Depressor
depresses labii inferioris
Vastus Huge Vastus body part
lateralis
Supinator ​Turns palm Supinator
SHAPE: Relative shape of the muscle anteriorly

Name Meaning Example ​Pronator Turns palm Pronator teres

posteriorly
​Deltoid Triangular Deltoid
Sphincter Decreases ​External anal
​Trapezius Trapezoid Trapezius size of an sphincter
opening
​Serratus Saw-toothed Serratus
anterior Tensor ​Makes body Tensor fasciae
part rigid latae
​Rhomboid Diamond-sha Rhomboid
ped major ​Rotator Rotates bone Rotatore
around
​Orbicularis Circular Orbicularis longitudinal
oculi axis

Pectinate Comblike ​Pectineus NUMBER OF ORIGINS: Number of tendons

of origin
​Piriformis Pear-shaped Piriformis
​Biceps ​ Two origins Biceps brachii
​Platys Flat Platysma
Triceps Three origins ​ riceps
T
Quadratus ​ quare,
S Quadratus brachii
four-sided femoris
Quadriceps Four origins Quadriceps
​Gracilis Slender Gracilis femoris

ACTION: Principal action of the muscle LOCATION: Structure near which a muscle is
found
Name Meaning Example
Example: Temporalis, muscle near temporal
​Flexor Decreases Flexor carpi bone.
joint angle radialis
ORIGIN AND INSERTION: Sites where
​Extensor Increases joint Extensor carpi muscle originates and inserts
angle ulnaris
Example: Sternocleidomastoid, originating on
Abductor Moves bone Abductor sternum and clavicle and inserting on mastoid
away from pollicis longus process of temporal bone.
 Risorius Draws angle of mouth
MUSCLES OF FACIAL EXPRESSION (ri-ZOR-ē-us; risor = laterally, as in
laughter) grimacing.
MOUTH MUSCLE ACTION
Mentalis Elevates and protrudes
(men-TĀ-lis; lower lip and pulls skin
Orbicularis oris Closes and protrudes
mental = chin) of chin up, as in
(or-bi′-kū-LAR-is OR-is; lips, as in kissing;
pouting.
orb- = circular; oris = of compresses lips
the mouth) against teeth; and
NECK MUSCLES ACTIONS
shapes lips during
speech.
Platysma Draws outer part of
(pla-TIZ-ma; platys lower lip inferiorly and
Zygomaticus major Draws an angle of
= flat, broad) posteriorly as in
(zī-gō-MA-ti-kus; mouth superiorly and
pouting; depresses
zygomatic = cheek laterally, as in smiling.
mandible.
bone; major = greater)
ORBIT AND ACTIONS
Zygomaticus minor Raises (elevates) upper
EYEBROW MUSCLES
(minor = lesser) lip, exposing maxillary
(upper) teeth.
Orbicularis oculi Closes eye.
(OK-ū-lī = eye)
Levator labii Raises upper lip.
superioris
Corrugator supercilii Draws eyebrow
(le-VĀ-tor LĀ-bē-ī
(KOR-u-gā′-tor inferiorly and wrinkles
soo-per′-ē-OR-is;
soo-per-SIL-ē-ī; skin of forehead
levator = raises or
corrugat = wrinkle; vertically as in frowning.
elevates; labii = lip;
supercilii = eyebrow)
superioris = upper)

Depressor labii Depresses (lowers)

inferioris lower lip.
(de-PRE-sor
LĀ-bē-ī; depressor
= depresses or
lowers; inferioris
= lower)

Depressor anguli oris Draws angle of mouth

(ANG-ū-lī; angul = laterally and inferiorly,
angle or corner; as in opening mouth.
oris = mouth)

Levator anguli oris Draws angle of mouth

laterally and superiorly.

Buccinator Presses cheeks against

(BUK-si-nā′-tor; teeth and lips, as in
bucc- = cheek) whistling, blowing, and
sucking; draws corner
of mouth laterally; and
assists in mastication
(chewing) by keeping
food between the teeth
(and not between teeth
and cheeks).