CAT MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Origin, Insertion and Action Table

Muscles of the Abdominal Wall

Origin
External Oblique
Internal oblique
Transversus
Rectus abdominis

Insertion

Action

lumbodorsal fascia and

posterior ribs

extensive neurosis passing

through the linea alba

constrictor of the
abdomen

second sheet of the

lumbodorsal fascia; border
of the pelvic girdle

linea alba (through

extensive aponeurosis)

compressor of the
abdomen

anterior end of the pubic

symphysis

sternum and costal

cartilages

retracts ribs and

sternum; compressor of
the abdomen

Muscles of the Chest

Origin

Insertion

Pectoantibrachialis

manubrium

flat tendon on the fascia of

the forearm

Pectoralis major

sternum; median ventral

raphe

humerus

Pectoralis minor

sternum

humerus

Xiphihumeralis

sternum

humerus

Action

draws arms towards the

chest

Muscles of the Neck and Throat

Origin

Insertion

Action

Sternomastoid

median raphe and

manubrium

lambdoidal ridge into

mastoid process

turn head; draw head to

neck

Sternohyoid

sternum

basihyoid

draws hyoid posteriorly

Sternothyroid

sternum

thyroid cartilage of the

larynx

pulls larynx posteriorly

Thyrohyoid

thyroid cartilage

posterior horn of the

hyoid

raises the larynx

Cleidomastoid

* mastoid process of
temporal

* clavicle

pulls clavicle craniad or

turns head; draw head
to neck

Clavobrachialis 1

clavicle; fibers of
clavotrapezius

ulna

flexor of the arm

* Interchangeable
1
Clavobrachialis + Clavotrapezius = Cephalobrachial

Masseter

zygomatic arch

posterior half of lateral

surface of mandible

elevator of lower jaw

Temporal

superior nuchal line to

zygromatic process; part
of the zygomatic arch

coronoid process of
mandible

elevator of lower jaw

Digastric

jugular and mastoid

process of skull

mandible

depressor of mandible

Mylohyoid

mandible

median raphe

raises floor of the

mouth; brings hyoid
forward

Geniohyoid

mandible near symphysis

body of the hyoid

draws hyoid forward

Muscles of the Back and Shoulder

Origin

Insertion

Action

Latissimus dorsi

neural spine of last

thoracic and most
lumbars; lumbodorsal
fascia

tendon on medial surface

of humerus

pulls forelimb dorsally

and caudally

Levator scapulae
ventralis

transverse process of atlas

and occipital bone

metacromion process and

neighboring fascia

draws the scapula

craniad

Clavotrapezius

superior nuchal line;

median dorsal line of the
neck

clavicle

draws clavicle dorsad

and craniad

Acromiotrapezius

neural spines of cervical

and first thoracic

metacromion process and

spine of scapula; fascia of
clavotrapezius

draws scapula dorsad

and holds two scapula
together

Spinotrapezius

spines of the thoracic

vertebrae

fascia of scapula

draws scapula dorsad

and caudad

Rhomboideus

neural spines of vertebrae

and adjacent ligaments

vertebral column of
scapula

draws scapula dorsad

Rhomboideus capitis

superior nuchal line

scapula

draws scapula craniad;

rotates scapula

Splenius

middorsal line and fascia

superior nuchal line

raises or turns the head

Supraspinatus

whole surface of
supraspinous fossa

greater tuberosity of
humerus

extends the humerus

Infraspinatus

whole surface of
infraspinous fossa

greater tuberosity of
humerus

rotates the humerus

Subscapularis

subscapular fossa

lesser tuberosity of
humerus

pulls the humerus

medially

Clavodeltoid (also
Clavobrachial)

clavicle and fibers of the

clavotrapezius

ulna

Acromiodeltoid

acromion of scapula

surface of other deltoids

Spinodeltoid

spine of scapula

deltoid ridge of humerus

Teres major

axillary border of scapula;

fascia of neighboring
muscles

tendon on medial surface

of humerus

rotates the humerus

and lowers the humerus

Teres minor

axillary border of scapula

greater tuberosity

assists the infraspinatus

Serratus ventralis

slips from first 9 or 10 ribs;

transverse process of last
5 cervical vertebrae

scapula near vertebral

border

draws the scapula

craniad; ventrad and
against thoracic wall

Serratus dorsalis

aponeurosis from medial

dorsal line

last ribs

draws the ribs forward

Scalenes

ribs

draws rib forward, bend

the neck

External intercostals

posterior margin of the rib

Internal intercostals

anterior margin of the rib

transverse process of
cervical vertebra
anterior margin of
adjacent posterior rib
posterior margin of
adjacent posterior rib

Multifidus spinae

lumbar pleurapophyses

neural spine of the

vertebra

extends vertebral
column

Sacrospinalis
a) Semispinalis
b) Longissimus
c) Iliocostalis

various parts of more

posterior sacral, lumbar,
thoracic and cervical
vertebrae

neural processes of more

anterior vertebrae

extends and flexes

vertebral column

raises and rotates the

humerus

bring ribs forward

draw ribs back

Muscles of the Upper Arm

Origin

Insertion

Action

Triceps brachii
(anconeus)

distal end of the humerus

lateral surface of ulna

strengthens elbow
joint; rotates ulna

Epitrochlearis/ Extensor
antibrachii

latissimus dorsi

olecranon

rotate the ulna

Biceps brachii

glenoid fossa

radius

Brachialis

lateral surface of humerus

ulna

flexor of the forearm

Muscles of the Forearm

Origin
Extensor carpi ulnaris

lateral epicondyle of
humerus; semilunar notch
of ulna

Insertion
proximal end of fifth (5th)
metacarpal

Action
extends 5th digit and
ulnar side of wrist

External digitorum
lateralis
External digitorum
communis

lateral surface of humerus

above the lateral
epicondyle

Supinator longus/
Brachioradialis

middle of humerus

Extensor carpi radialis

humerus

Pronator teres
Flexor carpi radialis

tendons internal to wrist

ligaments
lower end of radius and
adjacent ligaments
second and third
metacarpals
radius

medial epicondyle of
humerus

Palmaris longus

second and third

metacarpals
tendons passing through
wrist ligaments

extends 3 or 4 digits

rotates hand to supine

position
extends hand
rotates radius to prone
position
flexes second and third
metacarpals
flexor of digits

Flexor profundus
digitorum

ulna and humerus

basal phalanges

general flexor of fingers

Flexor carpi ulnaris

medial epicondyle of
humerus; olecranon

pisiform bone of wrist

flexes ulnar side of wrist

Muscles of the Thigh

Origin

Insertion

Action

Gluteus medius

adjacent fascia; crest of

ilium, lateral surface of
ilium, transverse process
of last sacral and first
caudal vertebra

greater trochanter of
femur

abduct thigh

Gluteus maximus

fascia and transverse

processes of last sacral
and first caudal vertebra

fascia

abduct thigh

Caudofemoralis

transverse processes of 2nd

and 3rd caudal vertebra

patella

abduct thigh; extends

shank

Sartorius

crest and ventral border of

ilium

proximal end of the tibia &

patella and fascia &
ligaments between

adductor and rotator of

the thigh;extensor of
shank

Tensor fascia latae

ilium and neighboring

fascia

fascia lata

tightens the fascia latae

Biceps femoris

tuberosity of ischium

patella and tibia; fascia of

shank

abduct thigh; flexes

shank

patella and adjacent

ligaments

extensor of the shank

Quadriceps femoris
a) Vastus lateralis

greater trochanter and

surface of femur

b) Rectus femoris

ilium near acetabulum

c) Vastus medialis

femur

d) Vastus intermedius

surface of femur

Gracilis

ischial and pubic

symphysis

aponeurosis which passes

to tibia

adducts leg

Adductor longus and

Adductor femoris

pubis

femur

adduct thigh

Semimembranosus

ischium

medial epicondyle of
femur, proximal end of
tibia

extends thigh

Semitendinosus

transverse process of
second caudal vertebrae

fascia of shank

extends thigh

Muscles of the Shank

Origin

Insertion

Action

Tibialis anterior

proximal parts of tibia and

fibula

first (1 ) metatarsal

flexor of foot

Extensor digitorum
longus

lateral epicondyle of
femur

tendon inserted on each

digit

extensor of digits

Peroneus

fibula

metatarsals and digits

extensor and flexor of

foot

Gastrocnemius

surface fascia; femur,

tendon, and fascia of
plantaris

Soleus

fibula

extensor of foot

Plantaris

patella and femur

flexor of digits

Flexor digitorum longus

tibia, fibula, adjacent

fascia

phalanges

flexor of digits

Tibialis posterior

tibia, fibula, fascia

scaphoid and medial

cuneiform of ankle

extensor of foot

st

extensor of foot
calcaneus

References:
Hyman, LH. 1965. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. Chicago, USA: The University of Chicago Press.
Sia, AJ. n.d. Cat Muscular System. Manila, Philippines: Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences,
University of the Philippines Manila