Anterior

Axio-appendicular Muscles:
MUSCLE
Pectoralis Major

Pectoralis Minor

Subclavius
Serratus anterior

ORIGIN
INSERTION
Clavicular head: anterior surface of
medial half of clavicle
Sternocostal head: anterior
Laterl lip of intertubercular sulcus
surface of sternum, seuprior 6
humerus.
costal cartilages, aponeurosis of
external oblique muscles.
Medial border and superior
rd th
3 -5 ribs near their costal
surface of coracoid process of
cartilages
scapula.
st
Junction of 1 rib and its costal
Inferior surface of middle third of
cartilage
clavicle
External surfaces of lateral parts of
st th
1 -8 ribs

ACTION
Adducts and medially rotates
humerus; draws scapula anteriorly
and inferiorly.
Acting alone, clavicular head flexes
humerus and sternocostal head
extends it from the flexed position.
Stabilises scapula by drawing it
inferiorly and anteriorly against
thoracic wall.

INNERVATION

Anchors and depresses clavicle

Nerve to subclavius (C5, C6)

Anterior surface of medial border

of scapula.

Protracts scapula and holds it

against thoracic wall; rotates
scapula

Long thoracic nerves (C5, C6, C7)

INSERTION

ACTION

INNERVATION

Lateral and medial pectoral

nerves;
Clavicular head (C5, C6),
Sternocostal head (C7, C8, T1)

Medial pectoral nerve (C8, T1)

Posterior Axio-appendicular Muscles:

MUSCLE
ORIGIN
Superficial extrinsic shoulder muscles
Trapezius
Medial third of superior nuchal
line; external occipital
protuberance; nuchal ligament;
spinous processes of C7-T12
vertebrae
Latissimus dorsi

Deep extrinsic shoulder muscles

Levator scapulae

Rhomboid minor and major

Lateral third of clavicle; acromion

and spine of scapula

Spinous processes of inferior 6

thoracic vertebrae, thoracolumbar
fascia, iliac crest, and inferior 3 or
4 ribs

Floor of intertubercular sulcus of

humerus.

Posterior tubercles of transverse

processes of C1-C4 vertebrae

Medial border of scapula superior

to root of scapular spine

Minor: nuchal ligament; spinous

processes of C7 and T1 vertebrae
Major: spinous processes of T2-T5
vertebrae

Minor: smooth triangular area at

medial end of scapular
Major: medial border of scapula
from level of spine inferior angle

Descending parts elevates;

ascending part depresses; and
middle part (or all parts together)
retracts the scapula; descending
and ascending parts act together
to rotate glenoid cavity superiorly.
Extends, adducts, and medially
rotates the humerus; raises body
towards arms during climbing

Spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)

(motor fibers) and C3, C4 spinal
nerves (pain and proprioceptive
fibers)

Thoracodorsal nerve (C6, C7, C8)

Elevates scapula and rotates its

Dorsal scapular (C4, C5) and
glenoid cavity inferiorly by rotating
cervical (C3,C4) nerves
scapula.
Rotract scapula and rotate its
glenoid cavity inferiorly; fix scapula Dorsal scapular nerve (C4, C5)
to thoracic wall

Scapulohumeral (intrinsic shoulder) Muscles:

MUSCLE
Deltoid

ORIGIN

Lateral third of clavicle; acromion

and spine of scapula

Supraspinatus
Supraspinous fossa of scapula
Infraspinatus
Teres Minor
Terse Major
Subscapularis

Infraspinous fossa of scapula

Middle part of lateral border of
scapula
Posterior surface of inferior angle
of scapula
Subscapular fossa (most of
anterior surface of scapula)

INSERTION

ACTION
Clavicular (anterior) part: flexes
and medially rotates arm
Acromial (middle) part: abducts
Deltoid tuberosity of humerus
arm
Spinal (posterior) part: extends
and laterally rotates arm.
Initiates and assists deltoid in
Superior facet of greater tubercle
abduction of arm and acts wih
of humerus
rotator cuff muscles.
Middle facet of greater tubercle of Laterally rotates arm; and acts
humerus
with rotator cuff muscles
Inferior facet of greater tubercle of Laterally rotates arm; and acts
humerus
with rotator cuff muscles
Medial lip of intertubercular sulcus
Adducts and medially rotates arm
of humerus
Medially rotates arm; as part of
Lesser tubercle of humerus
rotator cuff, helps hold head of
humerus in glenoid cavity

INNERVATION

INSERTION

INNERVATION

Axillary nerve (C5, C6)

Suprascapular nerve (C4, C5, C6)

Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6)
Axillary nerve (C5, C6)
Lower subscapular nerve (C5, C6)
Upper and lower subscapular
nerves (C5, C6, C7)

Muscles Of Arm:
MUSCLE
Biceps Brachii

Coracobrachialis
Brachialis
Triceps brachii

Anconeus

ORIGIN
Short head: tip of coracoid process
of scapula
Long head: supraglenoid tubercle
of scapula
Tip of coracoid process of scapula

Tuberosity of radius and fascia of

forearm via bicipital aponeurosis

ACTION
Supinates forearm and, when it is
supine, flexes forearm; short head
resists dislocation of shoulder

Middle third of medial surface of

Helps flex and adduct arm; resists
humerus
dislocation of shoulder.
Coronoid process and tuberosity of
Flexes forearm in all positions
ulna

Distal half of anterior surface of

humerus
Long head: infraglenoid tubercle of
scapula
LAterla head: posterior surface of
Proximal end of olecranon of ulna
humerus, superior to radial groove and fascia of forearm
Medial head: posterior surface of
humerus, inferior to radial groove
Lateral surface of olecranon and
Lateral epicondyle of humerus
superior part of posterior surface
of ulna

Musculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6,

C7)

Musculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6)

and radial nerve (C5, C7)

Chief extensor of forearm; long

head resists dislocation of
humerus; especially important
during adduction

Radial nerve (C6, C7, C8)

Assist triceps in extending

forearm; stabilizes elbow joint;
may abduct ulna during pronation

Radial nerve (C7, C8, T1)

Muscles of Anterior Forearm:

MUSCLE
Superficial layer
Pronator teres:
Ulnar head
Humeral head
Flexor Carpi Radialis
Palmaris longus
Flexor Carpi Ulnaris:
Humeral head
Ulnar head
Intermediate layer
Flexor digitorum superficialis:
Humero-ulnar head

ORIGIN

INSERTION

ACTION

Coronoid process
Medial epicondyle of humerus
(common flexor origin)

Middle convexity of lateral surface

of radius
nd
Base of 2 metacarpal
Distal half of flexor retinaculum
and apex of palmar aponeurosis

th
Pisiform, hook of hamate, 5
metacarpal

Pronates and flexes forearm (at

elbow)
Flexes and abducts hand (at wrist)
Flexes hand (at wrist) and tenses
palmar aponeurosis

Olecranon and posterior border of

ulna (via aponeurosis)

Medial epicondyle (common flexor

origin and coronoid process)

Radial head
Superior half of anterior border
Deep layer
Flexor digitorum profundus:
Medial part
Lateral part
Flexor pollicis longus
Pronator quadratus

Shaft of middle phalanges of

medial four digits

th

Median nerve (C6, C7)

Median Nerve (C7, C8)

Ulnar nerve (C7, C8)

Flexes middle phalanges at

proximal interphalangeal joints of
middle four digits; acting more
Median nerve (C7, C8, T1)
strongly, it also flexes proximal
phalanges at metacarpophalangeal
joints

Distal quarter of anterior surface

of radius

Flexes distal phalanges 4 and 5 at

Ulnar nerve (C8, T1)
distal interphalangeal joints
Flexes distal phalanges 2 and 3 at
distal interphalangeal joints.
st
Flexes phalanges of 1 digits
Anterior interosseous nerve, from
(thumb)
median nerve (C8, T1)
Pronates forearm; deep fibers bind
radius and ulna together

ORIGIN

INSERTION

ACTION

INNERVATION

Proximal 2 third of supra-

epicondylar ridge of humerus

Lateral surface of distal end of

radius proximal to styloid process

Relatively weak flexion of forearm;

maximal when forearm is in mid-
pronated posotion

Radial nerve (C5, C6, C7)

Lateral supra-epicondylar ridge of

humerus

Dorsal aspect of base of 2

metacarpal

Proximal three quarters of medial

and anterior surfaces of ulna and
interosseous membrane
Anterior surface of radius and
adjacent interosseous membrane
Distal quarter of anterior surface
of ulna

Base of distal phalanges of 4 and

th
5 digits
nd
Bases of distal phalanges of 2
rd
and 3 digits

Flexes and adducts hand (at wrist)

INNERVATION

Base of distal phalanx of thumb

Muscles of Posterior Forearm:

MUSCLE
Superficial layer
brachioradialis

Extensor carpi radialis longus

nd

Radial nerve (C6, C7)

rd

Entensor carpi radialis brevis

Dorsal aspect of base of 3

metacarpal

Extensor digitorum
Lateral epicondyle of humerus
(common extensor origin)

Extensor expansions of medial 4

digits

Extensor digiti minimi

th

Entensor expansion of 5 digit

Entensor carpi ulnaris

Deep layer
Supinator

Extensor indicis

Abductor pollicis longus

Lateral epicondyle of humerus;

posterior border of ulna via a
shared aponeurosis

th

Dorsal aspect of 5 metacarpal

Lateral epicondyle of humerus;

radial collateral and anular
Lateral, posterior and anterior
rd
ligaments; supinator fossa; crest of surfaces of proximal 3 of radius
ulna
rd
Posterior surface of distal 3 of
nd
ulna and interosseous membrane Extensor expansion of 2 digits
Posterior surface of proximal
halves of ulna, and interosseous

Extensor pollicis longus

st

Base of 1 metacarpal

rd

Posterior surface of middle 3 ulna Dorsal aspect of base of distal

and interosseous membrane
phalanx of thumbs
Extensor pollicis brevis

rd

Posterior surface of distal 3 of

radius and interosseous
membrane

Dorsal aspect of base of proximal

pahalanx of thumbs

ORIGIN

INSERTION

Extend and abduct hand at the

wrist joint; ECRL active during fist
clenching
Extends medial 4 digits primarily at
metacarpophalangeal joints,
secondarily at interphalangeal
joints
Deep branches of radial nerve (C7,
th
C8)
Extends 5 digitd primarily at
metacarpophalangeal joint,
secondarily at interphalangeal
joint
Extends and adduct hand at wrist
joint (also active during fist
clenching)
Supinates forearm; rotates radius
to turn palm anteriorly or
superiorly (if elbow is flexed)
nd

Deep branch of radial nerve (C7,

C8)

Extends 2 digit (enabling its

independent extension); helps
extend hand at wrist
Abducts thumb and extends it at
carpometacarpal joint
Extends distal phalanx of thumb at
interphalangeal joint; extends
metacarpophalangeal ad
carpometacarpal joints
Extends proximal phalanx of
thumb at metacarpophalangeal
joint; extends carpometacarpal
joint.

Posterior interosseous nerve (C7,

C8), continuation of deep branch
of radial nerve

ACTION

INNERVATION

Posterior interosseous nerve (C7,

C8), continuation of deep branch
of radial nerve

Intrinsic Muscles Of Hand:

MUSCLE
Thenar muscles
Opponens pollicis

st

st

Lateral side of 1 metacarpal

Abductor pollicis brevis
Flexor pollicis brevis:
Superficial head

Flexor retinaculum and tubercles

of scaphoid and trapezium

Lateral side of base of proximal

phalanx of thumb

To oppose thumb, it draws 1

metacarpal medially to center of
pal and rotates it medially.
Abducts thumb; helps oppose
Flexes thumbs

Recurrent branch of median nerve

(C8, T1)

Deep head
Adductor pollicis:
Oblique head

nd

rd

Bases 2 and 3 metacarpals,

capitate, and adjacent carpals
rd
Anterior surface of shaft of 3
metacarpal

Transverse head
Hypothenar muscle
Abductor digiti minimi

Medial side of base of proximal

phalanx of thumbs

th

Pisiform

Flexor digiti minimi brevis

Oppenens digit

Medial side of base of proximal

th
phalanx of 5 digit

Hook of hamate and flexor

retinaculum

th

Medial border of 5 metacarpal

Short muscles
Lumbricals:
st
nd
1 and 2
rd

th

3 and 4
st

th

Lateral 2 tendons of flexor

digitorum profundus (as
unipennate muscles)
Lateral sides of extensor
nd th
expansions of 2 -5 digits
Medial 3 tendons of flexor
digitorum profundus (as bipennate
muscles)

Dorsal interossei, 1 -4
Adjacent sides of 2 metacarpal (as
bipennate muscles)
st

Bases of proximal phalanges;

nd th
extensor expansions of 2 -4
digits

rd

Palmar interossei , 1 -3
nd

th

th

Palmar surfaces of 2 , 4 , and 5

metacarpals (as unipennate
muscles)

Adducts thumbs toward lateral

border of palm

Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8,

T1)

Bases of proximal phalanges;

nd
th
extensor expansions of 2 , 4 ,
th
and 5 digits

Abducts 5 digits; assists in flexion

of its proximal phalanx
th
Flexes proximal phalanx of 5 digit
th
Draws 5 metacarpal anterior and
th
rotates I, bringing 5 digit into
opposition with thumb

Flex metacarpalphalangeal joints;

extend interphalangeal joints of
nd th
2 -5 digits
nd

th

Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8,

T1)

Median nerve (C8, T1)

Abduct 2 -4 digits from axial

line; act with lumbricals inflexing
metacarpophalangeal joints and
Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8,
extending interphalangeal joints
T1)
nd
th
th
Adduct 2 , 4 , and 5 digits
towards axial line; assist lumbricals
inflexing metacarpophalangeal
joints and extending
interphalangeal joints; extensor
nd th
expansions of 2 -4 digits