Muscle Terms

Front 1

muscle

Back 1

an organ that contracts to produce movement in an animal organism.

Front 2

Striated muscles

Back 2

(meaning striped) muscles are voluntary muscles that respond to nerve signals from the brain to carry out a variety of movements and functions, and the muscles of the heart.

Front 3

nonstriated muscles

Back 3

(meaning smooth) Involuntary muscles. These include the uterus and the muscular layers of the intestines, bladder, blood vessels, etc.

Front 4

proprioception

Back 4

perception regarding movements and positions of the body

Front 5

tendon

Back 5

connective tissue bands, which are fibrous and cord-like.

Front 6

aponeurosis

Back 6

flat, white, and ribbon-like bands

Front 7

musculoskeletal system

Back 7

means muscles and skeleton

Front 8

skeletal muscle

Back 8

he primary muscle used to allow voluntary movement of the body, usually attached to the skeleton by tendons.

Front 9

smooth muscle

Back 9

The muscle that lines the walls of internal organs. This muscle is usually short in its strands and allows for the movement of body fluids and waste through the internal systems.

Front 10

cardiac muscle

Back 10

This type of muscle is found only in the heart

Front 11

Muscles are named in 7 ways

Back 11

shape, location, attachment, size, orientation of fibers, relative position, & function

Front 12

Shape

Back 12

derived from the actual physical shape of the muscle itself or a defining physical characteristic, such as the number of heads that it has.

* rhomboideus – A muscle of the back, shaped like a rhomboid.
* triangularis – A muscle of the face which is triangular in shape.
* triceps – A muscle with three (tri-) heads.
* biceps – A muscle with two (bi-) heads.

Front 13

Location

Back 13

actual location within the body relative to other body structures.

* pectoralis – Chest muscle located within the pectoral girdle.
* intercostal – Muscle located between ribs (literally means between ribs).
* abdominis – Located in the abdominal area.

Front 14

Attachment

Back 14

the bones to which they are attached. The muscle name can combine more than one name when more than one bone is involved.

* zygomaticus – Attached to the zygoma (bone of the face).
* sternocleidomastoid – Attached to the sternum, clavicle, and mastoid process of the skull.

Front 15

Size

Back 15

The actual size of the muscle or its relative size to a similar muscle can be used in naming a muscle.

* maximus or major – Both of these terms mean larger or largest.
* minimus or minor – Meaning smaller or smallest.
* longus – Meaning long.
* brevis – Meaning short.

Front 16

Orientation of fibers

Back 16

direction that the individual fibers of a muscle extend.

* oblique – In a slanting or inclined direction.
* rectus – Meaning straight.
* transverse – Meaning across or placed crosswise.

Front 17

Relative position

Back 17

These delineations contain basic directional planes and are used on similar muscles to designate a slightly different orientation.
* lateral – Something that is farther from the midpoint or to the side.
* medial – Something closer to the middle or the midline.
* internal – Situated or occurring within or on the inside.
* external – Situated or occurring on the outside.

Front 18

Function

Back 18

classified according to the actual movement that they produce.

* adductor – Movement to draw toward a medial plane.
* extensor – General term for a muscle that extends a joint.
* flexor – General term for a muscle that flexes a joint.
* levator – A muscle that elevates or lifts an organ or structure.

Front 19

anatomical position

Back 19

this is a position with the body erect (standing), feet parallel to each other and flat on the floor, eyes directed forward, arms at the sides of the body with the palms facing forward.

Front 20

anterior

Back 20

Situated in front of or toward the front of a body part or organ. Term also used in reference to ventral or belly surface of the body. Frontal is a common synonym for anterior.

Front 21

coronal

Back 21

Division of the body into anterior and posterior sections. Also called frontal plane. Can mean pertaining to the head or the crown.

Front 22

distal

Back 22

Remote; farther from the trunk of the body or attachment point; opposite of proximal. (The elbow is proximal to the wrist but distal to the shoulder).

Front 23

dorsal

Back 23

Pertaining to the back; also used to denote a position that is more toward the back than another object of reference. Sometimes called posterior.

Front 24

inferior

Back 24

Situated below or directed downward; also used to denote the lower portion of an organ or the lower of two structures. Sometimes called caudal.

Front 25

lateral

Back 25

Pertaining to the side; denoting a position farther from the midline (median plane) of a structure.

Front 26

medial

Back 26

Pertaining to the middle; closer to the midline of a body; pertaining to the middle layer.

Front 27

posterior

Back 27

Situated in the back; also used in reference to the back or dorsal surface of the body.

Front 28

proximal

Back 28

Near; closer to the trunk of the body or attachment point; opposite of distal. (The elbow is proximal to the wrist but distal to the shoulder).

Front 29

sagittal

Back 29

Division of body into left and right sides in a vertical lengthwise fashion.

Front 30

transverse

Back 30

A horizontal plane situated at right angles to the long axis, or sagittal and coronal planes; placed crosswise.

Front 31

ventral

Back 31

Pertaining to the abdomen; used to denote a position that is more toward the belly/abdominal surface than some other object of reference.

Front 32

orbicularis oculi

Back 32

muscle surrounding the eye

Front 33

triangularis

Back 33

lower jaw muscle in the shape of a triangle

Front 34

frontalis

Back 34

muscle located above the eye

Front 35

platysma

Back 35

muscle which runs from the lower jaw down the neck.

Front 36

buccinator

Back 36

check muscle

Front 37

nasalis

Back 37

muscle found in the nose

Front 38

levator labii superioris

Back 38

muscle which lifts and is above the lips.

Front 39

orbicularis oris

Back 39

muscle surrounding the mouth

Front 40

masseter

Back 40

muscle found in the lower jaw

Front 41

greater zygomatic

Back 41

the larger of the zygomaticus muscles

Front 42

temporalis

Back 42

muscle located on the side of the head, just above both ears

Front 43

corrugator

Back 43

muscle located on the forehead; it creates the "worry lines" or wrinkling of the brow associated with frowning

Front 44

Mastication

Back 44

the process of chewing food in preparation for swallowing and digestion.

Front 45

occipitalis

Back 45

The occipitalis muscle covers the occipital region of the skull.

Front 46

splenius capitis

Back 46

This muscle extends from the upper three cervical vertebrae all the way to the temporal and occipital bones. It extends and rotates the head.

Front 47

lateral pterygoid

Back 47

This is a muscle of mastication. It originates on the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. It moves the mandible and limits sideways jaw movement.

Front 48

medial pterygoid

Back 48

Also a muscle of mastication. Both pterygoid muscles are on the inside of the mandible. The medial pterygoid elevates the jaw and provides sideways jaw movement.

Front 49

risorius

Back 49

The risorius originates on the side of the face and inserts on the orbicularis oris muscle. It draws the angle of the mouth laterally (to the side) and enables the human being to smile.

Front 50

mentalis

Back 50

The mentalis muscle originates on the chin and goes into the orbicularis oris muscle. It elevates and protrudes the lower lip. Basically it allows for pouting.

Front 51

depressor labii inferioris

Back 51

This muscle also originates on the mandible and inserts on to the orbicularis muscle. It depresses the bottom lip.
(Names: depressor=depress, labii=lips, inferioris=below or bottom)

Front 52

depressor anguli oris

Back 52

This muscle originates on the lower part of the mandible. It pulls down the angle of the mouth.
(Names: depressor=depress, anguli=angle, oris=mouth)

Front 53

Linea alba

Back 53

means literally “white line” and is the term for the tendinous line down the middle of the anterior abdominal wall directly between the two rectus muscles.

Front 54

umbilicus

Back 54

is the belly button

Front 55

lumbar aponeurosis

Back 55

An aponeurosis, as previously stated, is a white, flattened tendinous expansion, serving mainly to connect a muscle with the parts that it moves. It replaces what were formerly called fasciae (plural)

Front 56

rectus abdominis

Back 56

muscle that controls curvature of the lower spine

Front 57

teres major

Back 57

muscle that rotates the arm medialy

Front 58

lumbar aponeurosis

Back 58

a white, flattened, tendinous expansion

Front 59

erector spinae group

Back 59

group of posterior spinal column muscles

Front 60

rhomboid

Back 60

muscle that connects the scapula with the vertebrae

Front 61

infraspinatus

Back 61

the rotator cuff

Front 62

trapezius

Back 62

muscle that works to move the neck in several directions

Front 63

latissimus dorsi

Back 63

the widest and most powerful muscle of the back

Front 64

Thenar

Back 64

refers to the mound on the palm at the base of the thumb and also means pertaining to the palm

Front 65

hypothenar

Back 65

describe simply the location of the muscles and are not the name of individual muscles.

Front 66

thenar muscles

Back 66

simply the location of the muscles and are not the name of individual muscles.

Front 67

longus

Back 67

long

Front 68

brevis

Back 68

short

Front 69

radialis

Back 69

radius bone

Front 70

ulnaris

Back 70

ulna bone

Front 71

flexor retinaculum

Back 71

a structure that holds an organ or tissue in place.

Front 72

biceps

Back 72

muscles with two heads. The major muscle of the upper arm.

Front 73

triceps

Back 73

muscles with three heads

Front 74

pollicis

Back 74

is derived from the word pollex, which means the first digit of the hand (or for lay-people, the thumb).

Front 75

pollex

Back 75

The first digit of the hand (the thumb).

Front 76

hallux

Back 76

is the great toe (or more commonly, the big toe)

Front 77

anconeus

Back 77

Located on the back of the humerus, it extends the forearm.

Front 78

extensor digiti minimi

Back 78

A long narrow muscle located on the ulnar side of the extensor digitorum communis muscle. It assists in extension of the wrist and little finger.

Front 79

extensor digitorum communis

Back 79

Positioned in the center of the forearm along the posterior surface. Its tendon divides into four tendons beneath the extensor retinaculum, which attach to the distal tips of fingers one through four.

Front 80

flexor digitorum profundus

Back 80

Lies just underneath the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. This muscle flexes the distal ends of the fingers (but not the thumb).

Front 81

flexor pollicis longus

Back 81

Positioned deep on the front of the radius. It attaches at the base of the thumb and flexes the thumb and makes grasping possible.

Front 82

pronator teres

Back 82

Positioned in upper middle part of the forearm. It arises from the epicondyle (a prominence or projection on a bone). It turns the hand downwards (called pronation) and flexes the elbow.

Front 83

epicondyle

Back 83

A prominence or projection on a bone.

Front 84

pronator quadratus

Back 84

Positioned deep and extends between the ulna and radius. It works with the other pronator muscle to rotate the palm of the hand down, as well as position the thumb medially.

Front 85

supinator

Back 85

Positioned around the upper portion of the radius. It works with the biceps to turn the palm upwards (called supination).

Front 86

supinate

Back 86

To extend the palm upwards.

Front 87

coracobrachialis

Back 87

Muscle attached to the humerus deep to the biceps.

Front 88

retinaculum

Back 88

A structure which holds an organ or a tissue in place.

Front 89

palmaris longus

Back 89

Long slender arm muscle with a tendon which attaches to the palmar aponeurosis.

Front 90

extremity

Back 90

simply the name for a limb.

Front 91

lateral malleolus

Back 91

the ankle bone on the outside of the ankle joint, formed by the distal end of the fibula

Front 92

medial malleolus

Back 92

to the ankle bone on the inside of the ankle joint, formed by the distal end of the tibia. The term medial, in this case does not refer to the middle of the ankle joint itself, but is only a directional term indicating the structure is nearer the midline of the body.

Front 93

calcaneal

Back 93

Achilles tendon. It is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body.

Front 94

extensor retinaculum

Back 94

covers and holds in place the muscles and tendons of the front of the foot.

Front 95

tibia

Back 95

is a bone

Front 96

greater trochanter or trochanter major

Back 96

is a broad, flat process to which several muscles are attached. (a bone)

Front 97

iliotibial tract

Back 97

a thick, long band of fascia lata that extends down the side of the thigh to the tibia.

Front 98

iliopsoas

Back 98

This is a hip flexor.

Front 99

rectus femoris

Back 99

This is an upper anterior leg muscle.

Front 100

semimembranosus

Back 100

Muscle located at the back and medial side of the thigh.