Table Of ContentCheat Sheet (English Terminology)
Upper Limb:
Muscle Charts
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Shoulder and arm muscles
Rotator cuff
Origin Insertion Innervation Function
muscles
Upper and lower Shoulder joint: Arm internal
Subscapular fossa of Lesser tubercle of
Subscapularis subscapular nerves rotation; Stabilizes humeral
scapula humerus
(C5 - C6) head in glenoid cavity
Shoulder joint: Arm
external rotation, Arm
Teres minor Lateral border of scapula Axillary nerve (C5, C6) adduction; Stabilizes
humeral head in glenoid
cavity
Shoulder joint: Arm
GGGrrreeeaaattteeerrr tttuuubbbeeerrrcccllleee ooofff
Supraspinous fossa of abduction; Stabilizes
Supraspinatus hhhuuummmeeerrruuusss
scapula humeral head in glenoid
cavity
SSuupprraassccaappuullaarr nneerrvvee ((CC55,,
CC66))
Shoulder joint: Arm
Infraspinous fossa of external rotation; Stabilizes
Infraspinatus
scapula humeral head in glenoid
cavity
Other shoulder
Origin Insertion Innervation Function
& arm muscles
Clavicular part: Lateral
third of clavicle
Shoulder joint: Arm flexion,
Arm internal rotation
Acromial part: Acromion Deltoid tuberosity of (clavicular part), Arm
Deltoid Axillary nerve (C5-C6)
of scapula
humerus abduction (acromial part),
Arm extension, Arm lateral
Spinal part: Spine of rotation (spinal part)
scapula
Inferior angle and lower Crest of lesser tubercle of Lower subscapular or Shoulder joint: Arm internal
Teres major part of lateral border of humerus (a.k.a. Medial lip thoracodorsal nerves rotation, Arm extension,
scapula of intertubercular sulcus) (C5- C7) Arm adduction
Coracoid process of Anteromedial surface of Shoulder joint: Arm flexion,
Coracobrachialis
scapula humeral shaft Arm adduction
Long head: Supraglenoid MMuussccuullooccuuttaanneeoouuss nneerrvvee
Elbow joint: Forearm
tubercle of scapula
((CC55 -- CC66))
Radial tuberosity of flexion and supination;
Biceps brachii
radius Shoulder joint: Weak arm
Short head: Coracoid
flexion
process of scapula
Distal half of anterior Ulnar tuberosity, Musculocutaneous nerve Elbow joint: Forearm
Brachialis
surface of humerus Coronoid process of ulna Radial nerve (C5-C7) flexion (in all positions)
Long head: Infraglenoid
tubercle of scapula
Shoulder joint: Arm
Lateral head: Posterior
extension and adduction
surface of humerus Olecranon of ulna and
Triceps brachii Radial nerve (C6 - C8) (long head);
(superior to radial groove)
fascia of forearm
Elbow joint: Forearm
extension
Medial head: Posterior
surface of humerus
(inferior to radial groove)
Elbow joint: Assists in
Lateral epicondyle of Lateral surface of
Anconeus Radial nerve (C7, C8) forearm extension;
humerus olecranon
Stabilization of elbow joint
Forearm muscles
AAnntteerriioorr
Origin Insertion Innervation Function
ccoommppaarrttmmeenntt
Humeral head: Medial
supracondylar ridge of Lateral surface of Elbow joint: Forearm flexion;
Pronator teres humerus radius (distal to Proximal radioulnar joint:
Ulnar head: Coronoid process supinator) MMeeddiiaann nneerrvvee Forearm pronation
of ulna ((CC66,, CC77))
Flexor carpi Bases of metacarpal Wrist joint: Wrist flexion,
Medial epicondyle of humerus
p radialis bones 2-3 Wrist abduction
u
o
r
g
al Flexor carpi Medial epicondyle of Pisiform bone, Ulnar nerve Wrist joint: Wrist flexion,
i humerus, Olecranon and Hamate bone, Base
c ulnaris (C7-T1) Wrist adduction
fi posterior border of ulna of metacarpal bone 5
r
e
p
u
Flexor retinaculum, Median nerve Wrist joint: Wrist flexion;
S Palmaris longus Medial epicondyle of humerus
Palmar aponeurosis (C7, C8) Tenses palmar aponeurosis
Humeroulnar head: Medial
Flexor epicondyle of humerus , Sides of middle Metacarpophalangeal and
Median nerve
digitorum Coronoid process of ulna phalanges of digits proximal interphalangeal
(C8, T1)
superficialis Radial head: Proximal half of 2-5 joints 2-5: Finger flexion
anterior border of radius
Digits 2-3: Median
Flexor Proximal half of anterior Palmar surfaces of nerve (anterior Metacarpophalangeal and
digitorum surface of ulna, Interosseous distal phalanges of interosseous nerve); interphalangeal joints 2-5:
profundus membrane digits 2-5 Digits 4-5: Ulnar Finger flexion
p
u nerve (C8, T1)
o
r
g
p Palmar surface of Metacarpophalangeal and
e Flexor pollicis Anterior surface of radius and
e distal phalanx of MMeeddiiaann nneerrvvee interphalangeal joint 1:
D longus interosseous membrane
thumb ((aanntteerriioorr Thumb flexion
iinntteerroosssseeoouuss nneerrvvee))
Pronator Distal anterior ((CC77,, CC88)) Proximal radioulnar joint:
Distal anterior surface of ulna
quadratus surface of radius Forearm pronation
PPoosstteerriioorr
ccoommppaarrttmmeenntt Origin Insertion Innervation Function
mmuusscclleess
Elbow joint: Forearm
(Proximal to) Styloid
Brachioradialis LLaatteerraall ssuupprraaccoonnddyyllaarr flexion (when semi
process of radius
p rriiddggee ooff hhuummeerruuss,, pronated)
u
o LLaatteerraall iinntteerrmmuussccuullaarr
r
g Extensor carpi sseeppttuumm ooff aarrmm Posterior aspect of base RRRaaadddiiiaaalll NNNeeerrrvvveee (((CCC555--- CCC888)))
al WWrriisstt jjooiinnttss:: HHaanndd
i radialis longus of metacarpal bone 2
d eexxtteennssiioonn,, HHaanndd
a
R aabbdduuccttiioonn ((rraaddiiaall
Extensor carpi Posterior aspect of base
ddeevviiaattiioonn))
radialis brevis of metacarpal bone 3
LLLaaattteeerrraaalll eeepppiiicccooonnndddyyyllleee ooofff Metacarpophalangeal /
Extensor Extensor expansions of
hhhuuummmeeerrruuusss (((cccooommmmmmooonnn Interphalangeal joints
p digitorum digits 2-5
u eeexxxttteeennnsssooorrr ttteeennndddooonnn))) 2-5: Finger extension
o
r
g
l Extensor digiti Extensor expansion of Metacarpophalangeal
a
i
c minimi digit 5 joint 5: Finger extension
i
f
r
e
p Lateral epicondyle of
u Extensor carpi Base of metacarpal bone Wrist joint: Hand
S humerus, Posterior
ulnaris 5 extension and adduction
border of the ulna
Lateral epicondyle of
humerus, Radial Lateral, posterior, and Proximal radioulnar
Supinator collateral ligament, anterior surfaces of joint: Forearm
Anular ligament, proximal third of radius supination
Supinator crest of ulna
Radiocarpal joint: Hand
Posterior surface of abduction (radial
Abductor pollicis proximal half of radius, Base of metacarpal bone deviation);
PPPPPPPPoooooooosssssssstttttttteeeeeeeerrrrrrrriiiiiiiioooooooorrrrrrrr iiiiiiiinnnnnnnntttttttteeeeeeeerrrrrrrroooooooosssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeoooooooouuuuuuuussssssss
longus ulna and interosseus 1, (Trapezium Bone) Carpometacarpal joint
nnnnnnnneeeeeeeerrrrrrrrvvvvvvvveeeeeeee ((((((((CCCCCCCC77777777,,,,,,,, CCCCCCCC88888888))))))))
membrane of thumb: Thumb
abduction and extension
p
u Wrist joints:
o
r Weak hand extension
g Posterior surface of Posterior aspect of base
p Extensor pollicis Metacarpophalangeal
middle third of ulna and of distal phalanx of
e longus and interphalangeal joint
e interosseus membrane thumb
D of thumb:
Thumb extension
Posterior surface of Posterior aspect of base Carpometacarpal and
Extensor pollicis
distal third of radius and of proximal phalanx of Metacarpophalangeal
brevis
interosseus membrane thumb joint 1: Thumb extension
Wrist joints:
Weak hand extension
Posterior surface of
Extensor expansion of Metacarpophalangeal
Extensor indicis distal third of ulna and
index finger and interphalangeal
interosseus membrane
joints of index finger:
Finger extension
Hand muscles
Thenar muscles Origin Insertion Innervation Function
Opponens Tubercle of trapezium Radial border of metacarpal Carpometacarpal joint 1:
pollicis bone, Flexor retinaculum bone 1 Thumb opposition
RReeccuurrrreenntt bbrraanncchh ooff
mmeeddiiaann nneerrvvee ((CC88,,
Tubercles of scaphoid and
Abductor TT11)) Carpometacarpal joint 1:
trapezium bones, Flexor
pollicis brevis Thumb abduction
retinaculum
LLaatteerraall aassppeecctt ooff bbaassee ooff
Superficial head:
Superficial head: Flexor pprrooxxiimmaall pphhaallaannxx 11 ((vviiaa rraaddiiaall
Recurrent branch of
retinaculum, Tubercle of sseessaammooiidd bboonnee)) Carpometacarpal and
Flexor pollicis median nerve
trapezium bone metacarpophalangeal joint
brevis Deep head: Deep
Deep head: Trapezoid and 1: Thumb flexion
branch of ulnar
capitate bones
nerve (C8, T1)
Transverse head: Palmar
base of metacarpal bone 3 Medial base of proximal
Adductor Deep branch of Carpometacarpal joint 1:
Oblique head: Capitate phalanx 1 (via ulnar sesamoid
pollicis ulnar nerve (C8, T1) Thumb adduction
bone, Palmar bases of bone)
metacarpal bones 2 & 3
Hypothenar
Origin Insertion Innervation Function
muscles
Pisiform bone Metacarpophalangeal joint
Ulnar side of base of proximal
Abductor digiti (Pisohamate ligament, 5: Finger abduction and
phalanx of digit 5, Extensor
minimi Tendon of flexor carpi flexion; Interphalangeal
expansion of digit 5
ulnaris) joints: Finger extension
DDDeeeeeeppp bbbrrraaannnccchhh ooofff uuulllnnnaaarrr Metacarpophalangeal joint
Flexor digiti Base of proximal phalanx of
nnneeerrrvvveee (((CCC888,,, TTT111))) 5: Finger flexion (+ Finger
minimi digit 5
lateral rotation/opposition)
HHooookk ooff hhaammaattee,, FFlleexxoorr
rreettiinnaaccuulluumm
Carpometacarpal joint 5:
Opponens digiti Ulnar aspect of metacarpal
Finger flexion, Finger
minimi bone 5
lateral rotation/opposition
Palmar aponeurosis, Dermis of skin of hypothenar Superficial branch of Tightens palmar
Palmaris brevis
Flexor retinaculum region ulnar nerve (C8, T1) aponeurosis, Tightens grip
Metacarpal
Origin Insertion Innervation Function
muscles
1 & 2: Radial aspects of
1 & 2: Median nerve
tendons 1 & 2 of flexor Metacarpophalangeal joints
(C8, T1)
digitorum profundus; Radial aspect of extensor 2-5: Finger flexion;
Lumbricals (4) 3 & 4: Deep branch
3 & 4: Opposing aspects of expansion of digits 2-5 Interphalangeal joints 2-5:
of ulnar nerve
tendons 2- 4 of flexor Finger extension
(C8-T1)
digitorum profundus
1 & 2: Radial bases of proximal
Metacarpophalangeal joints
phalanges/extensor
2-4: Finger abduction,
Dorsal Adjacent sides of expansions of digits 2 & 3
Finger flexion;
interossei (4) metacarpal bones 1-5 3 & 4: Ulnar bases of proximal
Interphalangeal joints 2-4:
phalanges/extensor
Finger extension
expansions of digits 3 and 4
DDeeeepp bbrraanncchh ooff
uullnnaarr nneerrvvee ((CC88--TT11))
1: Ulnar base of proximal
Metacarpophalangeal joints
phalanx/extensor expansion
Ulnar side of metacarpal 2,4 & 5: Finger adduction,
Palmar of digit 2
bone 2, Radial side of Finger flexion;
interossei (3) 2 & 3: Radial base of proximal
metacarpal bones 4 and 5 Interphalangeal joints 2,4 &
phalanges/extensor
5: Finger extension
expansions of digits 4 and 5
Complete your muscle charts collection
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Cheat Sheet (English Terminology)
Head and Neck:
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