Muscle Actions

  1. Orbicularis oculi
    closes the eyes
  2. Temporalis
    closes the jaw
  3. Masseter
    elevates mandible; jaw closure
  4. Sternocleidomastoid
    flexes and laterally rotates head
  5. Buccinator
    compresses the cheek; keeps food between grinding teeth
  6. Orbicularis oris
    purses lips; closes lips
  7. Zygomticus
    raises lateral corners of mouth upward; smiling
  8. Deltoid
    abducts arm
  9. Internal intercostals
    depresses rib cage
  10. Pectoralis minor
    draws scapula forward and downward; moves rib cage up
  11. External intercoastals
    elevates rib cage
  12. Latissimus dorsi
    extends arm; adducts and medially rotates at shoulder
  13. Pectroalis major
    flexes arm; rotates arm medially; adducts arm
  14. Trapezius
    stabilizes, raises, retracts, and rotates scapula
  15. Supraspinatus
    stabilizes shoulder; initiates abduction 
  16. Teres major
    extends, medially rotates and adducts humerus
  17. Infraspinatus
    rotates humerus laterally, stabilizes shoulder join
  18. External obliques
    aids in trunk rotation and flexing vertebral column
  19. Internal obliques
    aids in trunk rotation and flexing vertebral column
  20. Transverse abdominis
    compresses abdominal contents
  21. Rectus abdominis
    flex and rotate lumbar region of vertebral column
  22. Extensor carpi ulnaris
    extends and adducts wrist
  23. Extensor digitorum
    extends fingers and wrist
  24. Triceps brachii
    extends forearm
  25. Biceps brachii
    flexes elbow; supinates forearm
  26. Brachioradialis
    flexes forearm
  27. Flexor carpi ulnaris
    flexes wrists
  28. Flexor digitorum superficialis
    flexes wrist and middle phalanges
  29. Pronator teres
    pronates forearm
  30. Sartorius
    flexes, abducts, laterally rotates thigh, flexes knee
  31. Gracilis
    adducts thigh; flexes and medially rotates leg
  32. Adductor longus
    adducts, flexes, and medially rotates thigh
  33. Tibialis anterior
    dorsiflexion and inverts foot
  34. Vastus lateralis
    extends and stabilizes knee
  35. Rectus femoris
    extends knee; flexes thigh at hip
  36. Vastus intermedius
    extends knee
  37. Vastus medialis
    extends knee; stabilizes patella
  38. Gluteus maximus
    extends thigh
  39. Bicep femoris
    extends thigh and flexes knee
  40. Semitendinosus
    extends thigh at hip; flexes knee
  41. Semimembranosus
    extends thigh and flexes knee
  42. Illiacus
    flexes thigh; flexes trunk (bowing)
  43. Gluteus medius
    abducts and medially rotates thigh
  44. Fibularis (peroneus) longus
    plantar flexes and everts foot
  45. Soleus
    plantar flexes foot
Author
anatomy125
ID
278330
Card Set
Muscle Actions
Description
Muscles and their specific actions
Updated