9/1/2019 Naming muscles | Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab (BSB 141)

Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab (BSB

141)
Module 8: Muscles of the Head and Trunk

Naming muscles

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Information

There are a lot of skeletal muscles in the human body, and skeletal
muscles often have long and hard-to-remember names. However, the
muscle names often re ect something about their action, their shape, or
their locations. If you know the logic of how a muscle name was derived,
it often makes it easier to remember that muscle’s name and location.

Figures 8-1 and 8-2 show and Table 8-1 lists the anatomical terms for the
types of movements that can occur around joints. Often these terms are
incorporated into the names of muscles that contribute to producing that
type of movement at one of the body’s joints.

Sometimes the locations of muscles’s origins or insertions are

incorporated into their names. Muscles are generally attached at two
points in the body. One end is pulled by the muscle to create movement.
The end of the muscle that creates movement is called the insertion of
the muscle. The other end of the muscle stays xed and the part of the
muscle that moves is moved towards this xed point. The xed end of a
muscle is called the origin of the muscle. Figure 8-3 illustrates muscle
origins and insertions.

Sometimes, the way muscles interact with other muscles are

incorporated into their names. Table 8-2 summarizes the anatomical
terms associated with these kinds of muscle interactions.

Table 8-3 summarizes many of the ways that a muscle’s characteristics

can be incorporated into its name.

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Table 8-1. Anatomical terms describing movement around the body’s joints.

Term Type of movement around the joint

Flexion Decreasing the angle between two bones

Dorsi exion Decreasing the angle between the foot and shin

Decreasing the angle between the toes and bottom of

Plantar exion
the foot (pointing toes)

Extension Increasing the angle between two bones

Abduction Moving a body part away from the midline

Adduction Moving a body part towards the midline

Circumduction Movement in a circular or cone-shaped motion

Rotation Turning movement of a bone about its long axis

Rotation of the forearm or foot so that the palm or sole

Supination
is moved to face anteriorly

Rotation of the forearm or foot so that the palm or sole

Pronation
is moved to face posteriorly

Inversion Sole of the foot moved to face medially

Eversion Sole of the foot moved to face laterally

Retraction Movement in the posterior direction

Protraction Movement in the anterior direction.

Elevation Lifting a body part

Depression Returning a body part to pre-elevated position

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Figure 8-1. Types of movements about and around joints, part 1.

Figure 8-2. Types of movements about and around joints, part 2.

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Figure 8-3. The biceps brachii muscle of the arm has two origins

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that are xed to the scapula bone and one insertion that is
attached to and moves the radius bone.

Table 8-2. Anatomical terms describing how muscles interact with other
muscles.

Term Type of interaction with other muscles

Also known as the primer move. A muscle that is primarily

Agonist
responsible for the movement.

Synergist A muscle that assists the prime mover muscle.

A muscle that stabilizes the origin of the prime mover (i.e.

Fixator holds it in place) so that the prime mover can act more
e ciently.

A muscle in opposition to the action of a prime mover

Antagonist muscle. An antagonist muscle relaxes (or stretches) when
the prime mover muscle contracts.

……..

LAB 8 EXERCISES 8.1

1. Give the reasons the following muscles were given their

names. For muscles with multi-word names, identify the
meaning of or reason for each component of the
muscle’s name.

Deltoid muscle

External oblique muscle

Platysma muscle

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Table 8-3. The di erent ways a muscle’s characteristics can be

incorporated into its name

Human muscles
Characteristic Examples
named this way

Rectus –
parallel Rectus abdominis

Transverse – Transversus
Direction of muscle fascicles perpendicular abdominis
relative to muscle midline.

Oblique – at a External oblique

45° angle

Frontal bone Frontalis

Location of or body part

covered by the muscle Tibia Tibialis anterior

Maximus –
largest

Gluteus maximus
Longus –
longest
Palmaris longus

Brevus –
Peroneus longus
Relative size shortest

Teres major
Major – larger
of a pair
Teres minor

Minor – smaller
of a pair

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Biceps – two
origins Biceps brachii

Number of origins
Triceps – three Triceps brachii
origins

origin at
sternum

origin at
clavicle
Location of origin or insertion Sternocleidomastoid

insertion at
mastoid
process

Deltoid –
triangular
Deltoid

Trapezius –
trapezoidal Trapezius

Shape
Serratus – saw- Serratus anterior
tooth edge

Orbicularis oris
Orbicularis –
circular

Flexion Flexor carpi radialis

Extension Extensor digitorum

Action of muscle

Adduction Adductor longus

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Rectus abdominis muscle

Frontal epicranius muscle

Zygomaticus major muscle

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