MAJOR MUSCLES

Major Muscles

Trapezius
Deltoids
Latissimus Dorsi
Pectoralis Major
Biceps Brachii
Triceps Brachii
Abdominals
Gluteals
Quadriceps
Hamstrings
Gastrocnemius

Upper Extremity

Lower Extremity

Superficial Muscles: Anterior

Superficial Muscles: Posterior

Muscles are attached to at least

two points.

ORIGIN (Proximal attachment)

generally considered the
least movable part or the part
that attaches closest to the
midline or center of the body.

INSERTION (Distal attachment)

generally considered the most
movable part or the part that
attaches farthest from the
midline or center of the body.

Trapezius

Trapezius = large
superficial muscle of
upper back

Origin
Occipital bone
All cervical vertebrae
All thoracic vertebrae

Insertion
Clavicle
Scapula

Action

Adducts and elevates

scapula

Latissimus dorsi

Lats = Triangular
shaped muscle
Origin
Lower

thoracic
vertebrae
ilium
Insertion
Intertubercular

groove of humerus

Action
Extends,

adducts, &
rotates arm

Deltoid

Deltoid = forms the

rounded contour of the
shoulder

Origin
Clavicle
Scapular spine
Acromion process

Insertion

Humerus

Action
Abducts arm
Flexion
Extension

Pectoralis Major

Pectoralis major

Origin
Manubrium
Ribs 1-6
Clavicle

Insertion

Intertubercular groove
of humerus

Action
Primary flexor and
adductor
Medial rotation

Biceps Brachii
Biceps

brachii

Origin

Long head: supraglenoid

tubercle on scapula just
above glenoid fossa
Short head: coracoid
process

Insertion

Radial tuberosity

Action

Weak flexor of shoulder

Powerful supinator of forearm
Flexor of elbow joint

Biceps Brachii

Triceps Brachii
Triceps

brachii

Origin

Long head: scapula

Lateral heads: humerus
Medial head: posterior
humerus

Insertion

ulna

Action

Extension of elbow joint

Abdominals & Gluteals

Rectus

abdominus
External and internal
abdominal obliques
Transversus abdominis
Gluteus maximus
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus

Abdominals

Gluteals

Abdominals (anterior)

Rectus abdominis

Origin

Insertion

Lower ribs
Xiphoid process

Action

pubis

Flex vertebral column

Transversus abdominis

Origin

Insertion

Ilium
Lower ribs
Xiphoid process
Linea alba

Action

Compresses abdomen

Abdominals (anterior)

External abdominal obliques

Origin

Insertion

Ilium
Linea alba

External oblique

Action

ribs

Compresses abdomen

Internal abdominal obliques

Origin

Insertion

Ilium
Lower ribs

Action

Compresses abdomen

Internal oblique

Gluteals

Gluteus maximus

Origin
Ilium
Dorsal surface of sacrum
& coccyx

Insertion
Iliotibial tract to lateral
condyle of tibia
Gluteal tuberosity of femur

Action
Extend thigh at hip
Assist in lateral rotation

Gluteals
Gluteus

medius

Origin
Ilium

Insertion
Lateral

surface of
greater trochanter of
femur

Action
Abducts

& medially
rotates thigh at hip

Gluteals
Gluteus

minimus

Origin
Ilium

Insertion
Anterior

surface of
greater trochanter of
femur

Action
Abduct

& medially
rotate thigh at hip

Quadriceps & Hamstrings

Rectus

femoris
Vastus medialis
Vastus lateralis
Vastus intermedius
Biceps femoris
Semimembranosus
Semitendinosus

Quadriceps femoris

Hamstrings

Quadriceps

Rectus femoris

Origin
Anterior inferior iliac
spine
Ilium superior to
acetabulum

Insertion

Patella and patellar

ligament to tibial
tuberosity

Action
Extends leg at knee
Stabilizes hip

Quadriceps

Vastus medialis

Origin
Intertrochanteric line
Linea aspera of femur

Insertion
Base of patella
Tibial tuberosity via
patellar ligament

Action

Extends leg at knee

joint

v. med
= Vastus medialis
v. int
= Vastus intermedius
v. lat
= Vastus laterals

Quadriceps

Vastus lateralis

Origin
Greater trochanter
Linea aspera of femur

Insertion
Base of patella
Tibial tuberosity via
patellar ligament

Action

Extends leg at knee

joint

v. med
= Vastus medialis
v. int
= Vastus intermedius
v. lat
= Vastus laterals

Quadriceps
Vastus

intermedius

Origin
Femur

Insertion
Base

of patella
Tibial tuberosity via
patellar ligament
Action
Extends

joint

leg at knee

v. med
= Vastus medialis
v. int
= Vastus intermedius
v. lat
= Vastus laterals

Hamstring

Biceps femoris

Origin
Long head: ischial
tuberosity
Short head: linea
aspera & lateral
supracondylar line of
femur

Insertion

Head of fibula

Action
Flexes leg at knee
Rotates leg laterally
Extends thigh at hip

Hamstring
Semimembranosus
Origin
Ischial

tuberosity

Insertion
Medial

condyle of

tibia
Action
Extends

thigh at hip
Flexes leg at knee
Rotates leg medially

Hamstring
Semitendinosus
Origin
Ischial

tuberosity

Insertion
tibia

Action
Extends

thigh at hip
Flexes leg at knee
Rotates leg medially

Gastrocnemius

Gastrocnemius
Origin

Insertion

Lateral head: lateral

condyle of femur
Medial head: popliteal
surface of femur
Calcaneus via calcaneal
tendon

Action

Plantar flexes foot at

ankle
Raises heel during
walking
Flexes leg at knee joint