Muscles Naming

Muscles and Movement
Guided Learning
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1. Muscles are classified by their function, or what movements they cause. Examine the
graphic and describe in words what each movement is. The first one is completed as an
example.
Flexion Pulling toward the body
Extension Pulling away from the body
Rotation Movement of the limbs around their long axis
Abduction Movement away from the midline
Adduction Movement towards the midline
Pronation Movement of the hand, forearm, foot, or leg

that rotates the palm or sole downward or
backward
Circumduction Conical movement of a limb extending from

the joint at which the movement is controlled.
Muscle Names: Flexors, extensors,

rotators, abductors, adductors, pronators
Muscles are also named for their shape
and location. For example the orbicularis
oculi is the round muscle around the eye.
The orbicularis oris is the round muscle Orbicularis Oculi
around the mouth.
The zygomaticus muscle originates at

the zygomatic bone, its action draws Orbicularis Oris
the mouth upward and out. In other
words, it’s the “smile” muscle.
2. What does orbicularis mean?
Muscle that encircles an orifice
3. Drag the labels to the correct Zygomaticus
muscles of the face.

The temporal muscle, also called the
temporalis is a fan shaped muscles that is
one of the muscles of mastication, it lies in
front of the temporal bone.
Temporalis
The sternocleidomastoid muscle is a large
muscle in the neck that is responsible for
the rotation and flexion of the neck. It is
named for its origination at the sternum
and the clavicle and attaches to the
mastoid process of the skull.
4. Label the muscles:
Sternocleidomastoid
Muscles are also named for their shapes.
5. The trapezius muscle is found in your back.

Looking at the diagram, why do you think it’s named
“trapezius”?
Because it looks like a trapezoid
6. The two rhomboid muscles are found in your back.

Looking at the diagram, why do you think it’s named
“rhomboid”? What do you think the words “major”
and “minor” mean?
Because the muscles are shaped like a rhombus. Major for large and
Minor for small
7. There are several muscles that use
the word “serratus”: serratus anterior
muscle, serratus posterior superior
muscle, and serratus posterior inferior
muscle. Based on these images, what
do you think “serratus” means?
Serrated
8. Where do you think the serratus

posterior inferior muscle would be
located?
Superior to the serratus major
serratus anterior muscle serratus posterior superior muscle
Not sure? Check this wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serratus_posterior_inferior_muscle
9. The deltoid muscle is
found in your shoulder. It
is named for the greek
letter delta. Δ
The latissimus dorsi is

named for the latin word Deltoid
that means “broadest” and

dorsi for back.
Latissimus dorsi
Label these muscles:

10. The biceps brachii flexes the lower arm.
The triceps brachii are on the back of the arm
and function in extension. The word “cep”
refers to cephalic or head. Why are these
muscle called biceps and triceps?
Because of the amount of heads per muscle
What does the word “brachii” mean?
Biceps
The pectoralis major (from Latin pectus '
breast') is a thick, fan-shaped muscle,
situated at the chest of the human body. It
makes up the bulk of the chest muscles and
Pectoralis Minor
lies under the breast. The pectoral major
may colloquially be referred to as "pecs" due
to it being the largest and most superficial Pectoralis Major
muscle in the chest area.
By removing the pectoralis major, the

pectoralis minor becomes visible
underneath.
11. Drag the labels to the appropriate area

on the image.
A skeletal muscle attaches to bone (or sometimes other
muscles or tissues) at two or more places. If the place is a bone
that remains immobile for an action, the attachment is called an
origin. If the place is on the bone that moves during the action,
the attachment is called an insertion.
12. What bone is the origin of the biceps brachii?
Scapula
What is the insertion? (name the bone)
Radius
13. You also have a biceps femoris,
shown on the image. What bone is this
muscle named for?
Femur
14. What bone is the origin of this muscle?

Tuberosity of the ischium, linea aspera, femur
What bone is the insertion of this muscle?

(Lateral aspect of) head of fibula
Is this muscle a flexor or extensor?

Flexor
The quadriceps muscle group is the front of the upper leg All four
quadriceps are powerful extensors of the knee joint. They are crucial in
walking, running, jumping and squatting. Because the rectus femoris
attaches to the ilium, it is also a flexor of the hip. This action is also
crucial to walking or running as it swings the leg forward into the ensuing
step. The quadriceps, specifically the vastus medialis, play the important
role of stabilizing the patella and the knee joint during gait.
Rectus femoris occupies the middle of the thigh, covering most of the
other three quadriceps muscles.
Vastus lateralis is on the lateral side of the femur

Vastus medialis is on the medial side of the femur
Vastus intermedius lies between vastus lateralis and vastus medialis on

the front of the femur, but deep to the rectus femoris. Typically, it cannot Rectus Femoris
be seen without dissection of the rectus femoris.
Vastus Lateralis
15. Label the muscles on the image.
Vastus Medialis
Muscle Descriptors
• Origin: where the muscle begins
• Insertion: where the muscle ends
• Artery: from where does this muscle
gets its blood supply?
• Nerve/Innervation: which nerve
controls this muscle?
• Action: what does it do, flexor,
extensor..etc?
16. The image shows cat muscles.

What is the lower muscle (calf) called?
Gastrocnemius
Name a nerve that innervates the

muscles of the leg (as shown)?
Tibial nerve
Connective tissue attaches muscles to bones,
these are called tendons.
(Recall, that ligaments connect bones to other bones.)
17. What is the name of the tendon that

attaches the gastrocnemius to the bone?
Achilles Tendon
What is the name of the bone it

attaches to?
Calcaneus
The complex movements of your hand
and fingers are accomplished with
several flexors and extensors in the
lower arm.
The image shows the the flexors. The

names relate to the bones, for instance
the brachioradialis originates at the
humerus and has an insertion point at
the styloid process of the radius.
Muscles of the lower arm are named for

the bone they are closest.
18. Near what bone would you find the.
flexor carpi radialis Radius
flexor carpi ulnaris

Ulna
19. The palmaris longus muscle is located
between the flexor carpi radialis and the flexor
carpi ulnaris. About 14% of the population are
born without this muscle.
To see if you have this muscle, touch your pinky

and thumb together and flex your wrist. The
tendon will stick out if you have the muscle.
Do you have this muscle?
Yes
This muscle is considered vestigial, because it

has no function. Doctors can use the tendon to
repair other tendons. What do you think this
muscle was used for in other primates?
Holding onto ledges with a few fingers
20. The extensors of the lower arm are also named for their location near the ulna or radius. The extensor carpi ulnaris
is located on the ulna side and the extensor carpi radialis longus and a central muscle that extends the fingers (digits)
called the extensor digitorum. Drag the labels to the correct location.
Extensor Digitorum
Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus
Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

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Muscles and Movement

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Muscle Images from Wikimedia and FavPNG

Flexion Pulling toward the body

Extension Pulling away from the body

Rotation Movement of the limbs around their long axis

Abduction Movement away from the midline

Adduction Movement towards the midline

Pronation Movement of the hand, forearm, foot, or leg

Circumduction Conical movement of a limb extending from

Muscle Names: Flexors, extensors,

The zygomaticus muscle originates at

2. What does orbicularis mean?

Muscle that encircles an orifice

3. Drag the labels to the correct Zygomaticus

muscles of the face.

4. Label the muscles:

5. The trapezius muscle is found in your back.

Because it looks like a trapezoid

6. The two rhomboid muscles are found in your back.

8. Where do you think the serratus

Not sure? Check this wiki page:

The latissimus dorsi is

that means “broadest” and

Label these muscles:

Because of the amount of heads per muscle

What does the word “brachii” mean?

By removing the pectoralis major, the

11. Drag the labels to the appropriate area

12. What bone is the origin of the biceps brachii?

What is the insertion? (name the bone)

14. What bone is the origin of this muscle?

What bone is the insertion of this muscle?

Is this muscle a flexor or extensor?

Vastus lateralis is on the lateral side of the femur

Vastus intermedius lies between vastus lateralis and vastus medialis on

16. The image shows cat muscles.

Name a nerve that innervates the

17. What is the name of the tendon that

What is the name of the bone it

The image shows the the flexors. The

Muscles of the lower arm are named for

flexor carpi radialis Radius

flexor carpi ulnaris

To see if you have this muscle, touch your pinky

This muscle is considered vestigial, because it

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

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