MYOLOGY

Dr. Mack MBBS, MS, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Human Anatomy

Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

E-mail: [email protected]
Types of Muscles:

•Skeletal muscle – the specialised tissue that is attached to bones and

allows movement.

•Smooth muscle – located in various internal structures including the

digestive tract, uterus and blood vessels such as arteries.

•Cardiac muscle – the muscle specific to the heart.

 Origin and Insertion
Origin:
The place where the fixed end of the muscle attaches to a bone,
cartilage, or connective tissue.

Insertion:
The site where the movable end attaches to another structure.

• Human body has more than 600 muscles.

Tendon
Tendons connect muscles to the bones.

• A tendon is a cord of strong, flexible tissue, similar to a rope.

• Tendons let us move our limbs.
• They also help prevent muscle injury by absorbing some of the
impact our muscles take while running, jumping or doing other
movements.
Ligament
They connect bone to bone

• Ligaments are bands of tough elastic tissue around our joints.

• Give joints support, and limit their movement.
• We have ligaments around our knees, ankles, elbows, shoulders,
and other joints.
• Stretching or tearing them can make your joints unstable.
Muscles of Facial Expression
 Frontalis

• Action: Elevates
eyebrows and wrinkles
skin of forehead
• Origin: Epicranial
aponeurosis
• Insertion: skin of eyebrow
and bridge of nose
 Occipitalis
• Occipital belly
• Action: Pulls scalp
posteriorly; wrinkles
skin on posterior
surface of neck
• Origin: Superior nuchal
line on occipital bone
• Insertion: Epicranial
aponeurosis (Galea
aponeurotica)
 Nasalis
• Action: Compresses
nostrils, dilates nostrils
• Origin: Maxillary bone
and cartilage of nose
• Insertion: Bridge of
nose
 Orbicularis Oculi
• Action: Closes eyelids; acts
during squinting and
blinking
• Origin: Medial aspect of
bony orbit
• Insertion: skin around
eyelids
 Orbicularis Oris
• Action: Closes and purses
lips as in speaking, kissing
and whistling
• Origin: Maxillary bone;
mandible
• Insertion: lips
 Zygomaticus Major
• Action: Elevates corner
of mouth
• Origin: Zygomatic
bone
• Insertion: Angle of
mouth
 Zygomaticus Minor

• Action: Raises upper lip.

• Origin: Zygomatic
bone
• Insertion: Upper lip
 Mentalis
• Action: Protrudes lower
lip; wrinkles skin on
chin
• Origin: Anterior
surface of mandible
• Insertion: skin of chin
 Risorius
• Action: Draws corner of
mouth laterally
• Origin: fascia of
masseter
• Insertion: corner of
mouth
Muscles of Mastication
 Masseter
• Action: Elevates
mandible to close jaw;
protrudes mandible
• Origin: Zygomatic arch

• Insertion: lateral
surface of the
mandibular ramus
 Temporalis

• Action: Elevates and

retracts mandible to
close jaw
• Origin: Temporal bone

• Insertion: coronoid
process of mandible
Superficial Musculature of the Neck
 Sternocleidomastoid
• Action: Flexion and lateral
flexion of neck; rotates head so
that face is turned superiorly and
to the opposite side.
• Origin: Manubrium; medial
third of clavicle
• Insertion: Mastoid process
 Omohyoid
• Action: Depresses and
retracts hyoid bone
• Superior belly
• Origin: Clavicle and first rib
• Insertion: hyoid bone
• Inferior belly
• Origin: superior margin of
scapula
• Insertion: clavicle and
 Thyrohyoid
• Action: Depresses hyoid
bone; elevates larynx
• Origin: thyroid
cartilage of larynx
• Insertion: hyoid bone
 Sternohyoid

• Action: Depresses
larynx and hyoid bone
during swallowing.
• Origin: Manubrium

• Insertion: Hyoid bone

 Stylohyoid
• Action: Elevates and
retracts hyoid bone during
swallowing and speaking
• Origin: Styloid process
of temporal bone
• Insertion: hyoid bone
 Mylohyoid
• Action: Elevates hyoid bone
and floor of mouth during
swallowing and speaking
• Origin: Inferior margin of
mandible
• Insertion: Hyoid bone
 Digastric Anterior Belly
• Action: Elevates hyoid
bone and base of tongue,
depresses mandible
• Origin: inferior margin of
mandible
• Insertion: Hyoid bone
 Digastric Posterior Belly
• Action: Moves hyoid
bone back
• Origin: mastoid
process
• Insertion: Hyoid
bone
Muscles of the Neck and Back
 Scalenes Anterior
• Action: Laterally
flexes of neck
• Elevates rib 1 during
forced inspiration
• Origin: transverse
processes of cervical
vertebrae.
• Insertion: 1st rib
 Scalenes Middle
• Action: Lateral
flexion of neck
• Elevates rib 1 during
forced inspiration
• Origin: transverse
processes of cervical
vertebrae.
• Insertion: 1st rib
 Scalenes Posterior
• Action: Elevates 2nd
rib,
• Elevates rib 2 during
forced inspiration
• Origin: transverse
processes of cervical
vertebrae.
• Insertion: 2nd rib
 Levator Scapula
• Action: Elevates
scapula and inferior
rotation of scapula
• Origin: Transverse
processes of
superior four
cervical vertebrae
• Insertion: medial
border of scapula
near superior angle
 Rhomboid Minor
• Action: Adducts
scapula and
performs downward
rotation
• Origin: Ligamentum
nuchae; spinous
processes of vertebrae
C7 and T1
• Insertion: Medial
border of scapula
 Rhomboid Major
• Action: Adducts
scapula and performs
downward rotation
• Origin: Spinous
processes of
vertebrae T2-T5.
• Insertion:
Medial border
 Trapezius
• Action: Elevate,
retracts and depresses
scapula.
• Origin: Posterior surface
of occipital bone;
ligamentu nuchae;
spinous processes of
thoracic vertebrae.
• Insertion: Lateral third of
clavicle; acromion; spine
of scapula
 Latissimus Dorsi
• Action:
Extension, adduction
and medial rotation
of arm
• Origin: Spinous processes
of vertebrae T6-T12;
thoracolubar fascia; iliac
crest; inferior three ribs
• Insertion: Intertubercular
groove of humerus
 Erector Spinae

• Action: Extension of
vertebral column

Iliocostalis
Spinalis

Longissimus
• Origin: Thoracolumbar
fascia; posterior surface of
lacrum; iliac crest; spinous
processes of T11-T12 and
L1-L5.
 Erector Spinae
• Insertion:
• Iliocostalis: angles of ribs
and transvers processes of
C4-C6
• Longissimus: transverse
processes of thoracic and
cervical vertebrae, etc.
• Spinalis: spinous processes
of thoracic and cervical
vertebrae
 Inferior Serratus Posterior
• Action: Pulls ribs down,
resisting pull of the diaphragm
• Origin: spinous processes of the
lower two thoracic and upper
two or three lumbar vertebrae

• Insertion: lower borders of the

bottom four ribs
 Splenius
• Action: Extension of head and
neck; lateral flexion and rotation
of the head and neck
• Origin: Spinous processes of
inferior cervical and superior
thoracic vertebrae
• Insertion: mastoid process,
occipital bone, and transverse
processes of superior cervical
vertebrae
 Internal Intercostal

• Action: Depresses rib cage

during forced expiration

• Origin: Superior border

of inferior rib

• Insertion: Inferior border of

superior rib
 External Intercostal
• Action: Elevates rib cage
during inspiration
• Origin: Inferior border of
superior rib
• Insertion: Superior border
of inferior rib
 Serratus Anterior
• Action: Holds scapula
to chest wall,
• Protraction and
superior rotation of
scapula
• Origin: External
surfaces of ribs 1-8
• Insertion: Medial
border of
scapula
 Pectoralis Minor

• Action: Draws scapula

down and forward and
elevates ribs
• Origin: External
surfaces of ribs 3-5
• Insertion: Coracoid
process of scapula
 Pectoralis Major
• Action: Flexes, adducts, and
medially rotates humerus, draws
body upward in climbing
• Origin: Medial half of
clavicle; sternum; costal
cartilages of ribs 1-6
• Insertion: lateral lip of
intertubercular groove on
humerus
 Subscapularis

• Action: Adduction and

medial rotation of arm.
• Origin: Subscapular
fossa of scapula
• Insertion: lesser tubercle
of humerus
 Supraspinatus
• Action: Abduction of arm

• Origin: supraspinous
fossa of scapula
• Insertion: Greater
tubercle of humerus
 Infraspinatus
• Action: Lateral
rotation of arm
• Origin: Infraspinous fossa of
scapula
• Insertion: Greater tubercle
of humerus
 Teres Minor
• Action: Lateral
rotation of the arm
• Origin: Lateral border of
scapula
• Insertion: Greater tubercle
of humerus
 Teres Major
• Action: Extension, adduction
and medial rotation of arm
• Origin: Scapula, near
inferior angle
• Insertion: medial lip of
intertubercular groove of the
humerus
 Deltoid

• Action:

• Anterior fibers: medial

rotation and flexion of arm
• Middle fibers: abduction
of arm
• Posterior fibers: lateral
rotation and extension of arm
 Deltoid

• Origin: Lateral third of

clavicle; acromion process;
spine of scapula
• Insertion: Deltoid tuberosity
of humerus
 Diaphragm
• Action: Increases
volume of thoracic
cavity by pulling
central tendon
inferiorly
• Origin: Xiphoid
process and inferior
six ribs
• Insertion: central
tendon of diaphragm
Muscles of the Anterior Abdominal
Wall
 Rectus Abdominis

• Action: Tenses abdominal

wall and flexes vertebral
column
• Origin: Pubic crest; pubic
symphysis
• Insertion: Xiphoid
process, costal cartilages
of ribs 5-7
 External Abdominal Oblique
• Action: Compresses
abdomen, contralaterally
rotates and flexes
vertebral column
• Origin: External surfaces
of inferior 8 ribs.
• Insertion: Linea alba;
pubic crest; pubic
tubercle; iliac crest
 Internal Abdominal Oblique
• Action: Compresses
abdomen, ipsilaterally
rotates and flexes
vertebral column
• Origin: Thoracolumbar
fascia; iliac crest;
inguinal ligament
• Insertion: Linea alba;
pubic crest; inferior three
or four ribs
 Transverse Abdominis
• Action: Compresses
abdomen
• Origin: Thoracolumbar
fascia; inguinal
ligament; costal
cartilages of inferior six
ribs; iliac crest
• Insertion: linea alba;
pubic crest
Muscles of the Shoulder and Arm
 Deltoid
• Origin: Anterior surface,
lateral clavicle,
acromion process and
spine of scapula
• Insertion: Deltoid
tubercle of humerus
• Action: Abducts
humerus; aids in
flexion, extension, and
internal and external
rotation
 Supraspinatus
• Origin:
Supraspinous fossa
• Insertion: Greater
tubercle of humerus
• Action: Abducts
humerus
 Infraspinatus
• Origin: Infraspinous
fossa
• Insertion: Greater
tubercle of humerus
• Action: Rotates
humerus laterally
 Teres Minor
• Origin: Axillary
border of scapula
• Insertion: Greater
tubercle of humerus
• Action: Rotates
humerus laterally
 Teres Major
• Origin: Axillary
border at inferior
angle of scapula
• Insertion: Intertubular
groov of humerus
• Action: Extends,
adduction and medial
rotates humerus.
 Subscapularis

• Origin: Subscapular
fossa
• Insertion: Lesser
tubercle of humerus
• Action: Rotates
humerus medially
 Biceps Brachii
• Origin: Long head, Short
Head Long
supraglenoid tubercle;
Short head, coracoid Head
process scapula
• Insertion: Radial
tuberosity of the
radius
• Action: Flexes radius and
humerus, and supinates
forearm
 Coracobrachialis
• Origin: Coracoid
process of scapula
• Insertion: Middle third
of humerus
• Action: Flexes and
adducts humerus
 Triceps Brachii
Long
• Origin: Long head, Lateral
infraglenoid tubercle; Head Head
Lateral head, proximal portion
of posterior humerus;
Medial head, distal half of
posterior humerus
• Insertion: Olecranon process
of ulna
• Action: Extends humerus
and ulna
 Brachialis
• Origin: Anterior distal two-
thirds of humerus
• Insertion: Coronoid
process of ulna
• Action: Flexes ulna
 Anconeus
• Origin: Lateral
epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion: Olecranon process,
posterior surface of ulna
• Action: Weak extensor of
ulna, stabilizes elbow joint in
extension
Muscles of the Palm
 Abductor Pollicis Brevis

• Origin: Scaphoid and

trapezium
• Insertion: Proximal
phalanx of thumb
• Action: Abducts
thumb and aids in
flexion

Pal
 Flexor Pollicis Brevis
• Origin: Trapezium

• Insertion: Proximal
phalanx of thumb
• Action: Flexes thumb

Pal
m
 Flexor Digiti Minimi

• Origin: Hook of
hamate
• Insertion: Proximal
phalanx of fifth digit
• Action: Flexes fifth digit

Pal
m
 Abductor Digiti Minimi
• Origin: Pisiform and
tendon of flexor carpi
ulnaris
• Insertion: Proximal
phalanx of fifth digit
• Action: Abducts fifth digit

Pal
m
Muscles of Anterior Forearm
 Pronator Teres
• Origin: Medial epicondyle
of humerus and coronoid
process of ulna
• Insertion: Middle
portion of radius
• Action: Pronates and
flexes forearm

Anterior, Superficial Layer

 Flexor Carpi Radialis
• Origin: Medial
epicondyle of
humerus
• Insertion: Base of second
metacarpal
• Action: Flexes wrist and
elbow and abducts wrist

Anterior, Superficial Layer

 Palmaris Longus
• Origin: Medial
epicondyle of the
humerus
• Insertion: Palmar
aponeurosis
• Action: Weak flexion of wrist,
tenses skin of palm

Anterior, Superficial Layer

 Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
• Origin: Medial epicondyle
of humerus, olecranon
process, & posterior ulna
• Insertion: Pisiform, hamate,
and fifth metacarpal
• Action: Flexes and adducts
wrist

Anterior, Superficial Layer

 Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
• Origin: Medial epicondyle of
humerus and coronoid process
of ulna
• Insertion: Middle
phalanges of fingers
• Action: Flexes fingers and
wrist

Anterior, Middle Layer

 Flexor Digitorum Profundus
• Origin: Anterior and medial
surfaces of ulna and
interosseous membrane
• Insertion: Distal phalanges of
fingers
• Action: Flexes fingers and
wrist

Anterior, Deepest Layer

 Flexor Pollicis Longus
• Origin: Middle half of
radius, interosseous
membrane, coronoid
process of ulna
• Insertion: Distal phalanx of
thumb
• Action: Flexes thumb and wrist

Anterior, Deepest Layer

Muscles of Posterolateral Forearm
 Brachioradialis

• Origin: Lateral supracondylar

ridge
• Insertion: Styloid process
of radius
• Action: Flexes forearm

Posterior, Superficial Layer

 Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus
• Origin: Lateral supracondylar
ridge of humerus
• Insertion: Second
metacarpal
• Action: Extends and abducts
hand

Posterior, Superficial Layer

 Extensor Carpi Radialis
Brevis
• Origin: Lateral epicondyle
of humerus
• Insertion: Third metacarpal
• Action: Extends and abducts
hand

Posterior, Superficial Layer

 Extensor Digitorum
• Origin: Lateral epicondyle
of humerus
• Insertion: Into distal phalanx by
4 tendons
• Action: Extends fingers and
hand

Posterior, Superficial Layer

 Extensor Carpi
Ulnaris
• Origin: Lateral epicondyle of
humerus and posterior border of
ulna
• Insertion: Fifth
metacarpal
• Action: Extends and adducts
hand

Posterior, Superficial Layer

 Extensor Digiti Minimi
• Origin: Lateral epicondyle of
humerus
• Insertion: Extensor expansion
of little finger
• Action: Extends 5th digit and
hand

Posterior, Middle Layer

 Supinator
• Origin: Lateral epicondyle of
humerus, supinator crest of
ulna
• Insertion: Lateral surface
and posterior border of
radius
• Action: Supinates forearm

Posterior, Deepest Layer

 Abductor Pollicis
Longus
• Origin: Posterior surface of ulna
and radius, and interosseous
membrane
• Insertion: First
metacarpal
• Action: Abducts thumb and
hand

Posterior, Deepest Layer

 Extensor Pollicis
Brevis
• Origin: Middle third of radius
and interosseous membrane
• Insertion: Base of proximal
phalanx of thumb
• Action: Extends thumb

Posterior, Deepest Layer

 Extensor Pollicis
Longus
• Origin: Middle third of ulna and
interosseous membrane
• Insertion: Base of distal
phalanx of thumb
• Action: Extends thumb

Posterior, Deepest Layer

Muscles of Deep Back and Gluteal Region
 Gluteus Maximus
• Origin: Upper portion of
ilium, the sacrum and coccyx
• Insertion: Gluteal
tuberosity and iliotibial
tract
• Action: Principal extensor
and lateral rotator of femur
 Gluteus Medius
• Origin: Middle portion of
ilium
• Insertion: Oblique ridge
on greater trochanter of
femur
• Action: Abducts femur,
stabilizes contralateral hip
while standing on one leg
 Piriformis

• Origin: Pelvic surface

of sacrum
• Insertion: Greater
trochanter of femur
• Action: Rotates femur
laterally
 Quadratus Femoris

• Origin: Ischial tuberosity

• Insertion: Greater
trochanter and shaft of
femur
• Action: Rotates thigh
laterally
 Psoas Major
• Origin: Transverse processes of
bodies of lumbar vertebrae
• Insertion: Lesser trochanter
of femur with iliacus
• Action: Flexes trunk and flexes
and laterally rotates thigh
 Iliacus
• Origin: Iliac fossa and lateral
margin of sacrum
• Insertion: Lesser trochanter
of femur with psoas major
• Action: Flexes and laterally
rotates femur
Posterior Compartment of the Thigh
(Hamstrings)
 Biceps Femoris
• Origin: Long head, ischial
tuberosity;
Long
Short head, lateral
supracondylar ridge of femur Head

• Insertion: Head of fibula and

Short
lateral condyle of tibia
Head
• Action: Extends femur and
flexes leg
 Semitendinosus
• Origin: Ischial tuberosity

• Insertion: Medial condyle of

tibia
• Action: Extends femur
and flexes leg
 Semimembranosus
• Origin: Ischial tuberosity

• Insertion: Medial
condyle of tibia
• Action: Extends femur and
flexes leg
Anterior Compartment of the Thigh
 Sartorius
• Origin: Anterior superior iliac
spine
• Insertion: Medial margin of
tibial tuberosity
• Action: Flexes both femur and
tibia
 Rectus Femoris
• Origin: Anterior inferior iliac
spine and upper margin of
acetabulum

• Insertion: Tibial
tuberosity
• Action: Extends tibia and flexes
femur
 Vastus Lateralis
• Origin: Intertrochanteric line
and linea aspera of femur
• Insertion: Tibial
tuberosity
• Action: Extends tibia
 Vastus Medialis
• Origin: Intertrochanteric line
and linea aspera of femur
• Insertion: Tibial
tuberosity
• Action: Extends tibia
 Vastus Intermedius
• Origin: Upper shaft of femur

• Insertion: Tibial
tuberosity
• Action: Extends tibia
Posterior Compartment of the Thigh
 Adductor Brevis
• Origin: Inferior pubic ramus

• Insertion: Upper part of

linea aspera
• Action: Adducts, flexes,
and medially rotates femur
 Adductor Longus
• Origin: Between pubic rami
near symphysis
• Insertion: Middle third of linea
aspera
• Action: Adducts, flexes
& medially rotates femur
 Adductor Magnus
• Origin: Pubic arch and
ischial tuberosity
• Insertion: Linea aspera
and adductor tubercle
• Action: Adducts, flexes,
and laterally and medially
rotates femur
 Gracilis

• Origin: Inferior pubis near

symphysis
• Insertion: Upper
portion of tibia
• Action: Adducts,
flexes, medially rotates
tibia
Anterior and Medial Thigh
 Tensor Fasciae Latae

• Origin: Iliac crest

• Insertion: Iliotibial tract

• Action: Flexes thigh,

stabilizes knee
 Pectineus
• Origin: Superior ramus of
pubis
• Insertion: Just inferior to the
lesser trochanter
• Action: Adducts and flexes
thigh, assists with medial
rotation of thigh
Superficial Posterior Compartment of the Leg
 Gastrocnemius
• Origin: Medial and lateral
condyles of femur
• Insertion: With soleus into
calcaneus via calcaneal
tendon
• Action: Flexes tibia and
plantar; flexes foot Superficial
 Soleus
• Origin: Upper third of fibula and
soleal line of tibia
• Insertion: With gastrocnemius
into calcaneus via calcaneal
tendon
• Action: Flexes foot

Second Layer
 Plantaris
• Origin: Lateral supracondylar
ridge of femur
• Insertion: Posterior calcaneus
via calcaneal tendon
• Action: Weakly assists gastroc in
plantar flexing ankle and flexing
knee
Second Layer
Deep Posterior Compartment of the Leg
 Popliteus
• Origin: Lateral surface of
lateral condyle
• Insertion: Posterior surface of
tibia just below condyles
• Action: Flexes and unlocks
knee joint

Second Layer
 Tibialis Posterior
• Origin: Interosseous membrane
and tibia and fibula on either side
• Insertion: Navicular, with slips to
cuneiform; cuboid; metatarsals 2-4
• Action: Adducts and inverts foot
and aids in plantar flexion

Third
Layer
 Flexor Digitorum
Longus
• Origin: Middle half of tibia

• Insertion: By four tendons

into distal phalanges of
lateral four toes
• Action: Flexes lateral four
toes

Third
Layer
 Flexor Hallucis
Longus
• Origin: Distal two-thirds of
fibula
• Insertion: Distal phalanx of
great toe
• Action: Flexes great toe

Third
Layer
Anterior Compartment of the Leg
 Tibialis Anterior
• Origin: Upper half of tibia and
interosseous membrane
• Insertion: Base of first
cuneiform and first metatarsal
• Action: Dorsiflexes and inverts
foot
 Extensor Hallucis Longus
• Origin: Middle half of fibula
Tendon
and interosseous membrane
• Insertion: Distal phalanx of
great toe
• Action: Dorsiflexes foot and
extends great toe
 Extensor Digitorum Longus
Tendon
• Origin: Tibia, proximal three-
fourths of fibula, &
interosseous membrane
• Insertion: Tendons to middle &
terminal phalanges of four
lateral toes by extensor
expansion
• Action: Dorsiflexes foot and
Lateral Compartment of the Leg
 Fibularis Longus
• Origin: Upper two- thirds of
fibula and intermuscular
septa
• Insertion: Plantar base of first
metatarsal and first cuneiform
and
• Action: Plantar flexes and
everts foot
 Fibularis Brevis
• Origin: Lower two- thirds of
fibula
• Insertion: Plantar base of fifth
metatarsal
• Action: Plantar flexes and everts
foot
Dorsum of Foot
 Extensor Digitorum Brevis
• Origin: Dorsal surface of
calcaneus
• Insertion: By four tendons
into extensor expansion
• Action: Extends toes
 Extensor Hallucis Brevis
• Origin: Medial surface of
calcaneus
• Insertion: Proximal phalanx of
great toe
• Action: Extends toes