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Muscles
Skeletal muscles produce movement and provide stability by pulling on the bones and soft tissues they attach to. For each muscle, anatomy courses expect the same core facts: where it originates, where it inserts, what action it performs, which nerve innervates it, and which artery supplies it.
Every muscle in the AnatoMemory reference is listed below, grouped by body region. Open any entry for the full attachment breakdown, a high yield summary, and related structures to study alongside it.
150 muscles, grouped by region
Upper limb
49- Abductor digiti minimi (hand)Moves the little finger away from the others
- Abductor pollicis brevisLifts the thumb out of the plane of the palm
- Abductor pollicis longusMoves the thumb at its base
- Adductor pollicisBrings the thumb inward for a firm pinch
- AnconeusSmall helper at the back of the elbow
- Biceps brachiiTurns the forearm palm-up and bends the elbow
- BrachialisElbow flexion regardless of palm position
- BrachioradialisRadial-supplied flexor on the outer forearm
- CoracobrachialisLinks the coracoid to the medial arm
- DeltoidShoulder cap with three directions of pull
- Dorsal interossei (hand)Spread the fingers around the middle-finger axis
- Extensor carpi radialis brevisShort radial wrist extensor
- Extensor carpi radialis longusLong radial wrist extensor
- Extensor carpi ulnarisWrist extension toward the ulna
- Extensor digiti minimiAdditional little-finger extensor
- Extensor digitorumExtensor shared by four fingers
- Extensor indicisSeparate extension for the index finger
- Extensor pollicis brevisStraightens the thumb at the MCP joint
- Extensor pollicis longusExtensor of the thumb's terminal joint
- Flexor carpi radialisBends the wrist toward the thumb side
- Flexor carpi ulnarisBends the wrist toward the little finger
- Flexor digiti minimi brevis (hand)Bends the little finger at its knuckle
- Flexor digitorum profundusFlexor that reaches the fingertips
- Flexor digitorum superficialisFlexor that stops at the middle phalanges
- Flexor pollicis brevisShort thumb flexor with variable nerve supply
- Flexor pollicis longusDeep flexor of the thumb tip
- InfraspinatusPosterior cuff muscle for outward rotation
- Latissimus dorsiBroad back muscle that pulls on the upper arm
- Levator scapulaeConnects the upper neck to the shoulder blade
- Lumbricals (hand)Coordinate a bent knuckle with straighter finger joints
- Opponens digiti minimiTurns the fifth metacarpal to cup the palm
- Opponens pollicisTurns the thumb pad toward the fingertips
- Palmar interosseiDraw the fingers back toward the middle-finger axis
- Palmaris longusVariable tendon to the palmar fascia
- Pectoralis majorLarge chest muscle for bringing the arm inward
- Pectoralis minorPulls the scapula toward the front of the chest
- Pronator quadratusShort pronator near the wrist
- Pronator teresProximal forearm pronator
- Rhomboid majorDraws the shoulder blade toward the spine
- Rhomboid minorSmall retractor at the root of the scapular spine
- Serratus anteriorKeeps the shoulder blade against the rib cage
- SubclaviusShort stabilizer beneath the clavicle
- SubscapularisAnterior cuff muscle for inward rotation
- SupinatorRotates the radius into supination
- SupraspinatusHelps lift the arm and center the shoulder joint
- Teres majorPulls the arm inward and backward
- Teres minorSmall external rotator within the cuff
- TrapeziusPositions the scapula for shoulder movement
- Triceps brachiiMain muscle for straightening the elbow
Lower limb
38- Adductor brevisShort adductor between two nerve divisions
- Adductor longusSuperficial adductor at the femoral triangle
- Adductor magnusBroad hip adductor with a hamstring-like portion
- Biceps femorisTwo-headed muscle along the outer posterior thigh
- Extensor digitorum longusAnterior leg muscle sending tendons to toes two through five
- Extensor hallucis longusLong extensor connecting the fibula to the great toe
- Fibularis brevisShorter lateral leg muscle attaching to the fifth metatarsal
- Fibularis longusLateral leg muscle whose tendon crosses beneath the foot
- Fibularis tertiusVariable anterior-compartment muscle assisting foot eversion
- Flexor digitorum longusLong flexor reaching the tips of the four smaller toes
- Flexor hallucis longusDeep leg flexor carrying force to the great toe
- GastrocnemiusTwo-headed calf muscle linking the knee and heel
- Gluteus maximusLarge superficial muscle that drives hip extension
- Gluteus mediusBroad lateral hip muscle supporting one-leg stance
- Gluteus minimusDeep gluteal muscle helping steady the hip joint
- GracilisSlender medial-thigh muscle reaching the tibia
- IliacusBroad iliac-fossa partner of psoas major
- Inferior gemellusLower muscle bordering the obturator internus tendon
- Obturator externusDeep hip rotator arising outside the obturator membrane
- Obturator internusPelvic-wall muscle with a tendon turning toward the hip
- PectineusShort muscle bridging pubis and upper femur
- PiriformisHip rotator marking routes through the greater sciatic foramen
- PlantarisSmall calf muscle with a long, variable tendon
- PopliteusDeep knee muscle controlling rotation at the start of flexion
- Psoas majorSpine-to-femur muscle contributing to hip flexion
- Quadratus femorisShort posterior hip muscle linking ischium and femur
- Rectus femorisQuadriceps muscle acting at both hip and knee
- SartoriusLong diagonal strap across the anterior thigh
- SemimembranosusDeep medial hamstring with an expanded proximal tendon
- SemitendinosusMedial hamstring ending in a long tibial tendon
- SoleusDeep calf muscle supporting standing and ankle push-off
- Superior gemellusUpper partner of the obturator internus tendon
- Tensor fasciae lataeLateral hip muscle that tensions the iliotibial tract
- Tibialis anteriorAnterior leg muscle lifting and turning the foot inward
- Tibialis posteriorDeep leg muscle helping support the medial foot arch
- Vastus intermediusDeep quadriceps component against the femur
- Vastus lateralisLarge lateral contributor to knee extension
- Vastus medialisMedial quadriceps muscle supporting the extensor system
Thorax
11- Accessory muscles of respirationMuscles recruited according to breathing demand
- DiaphragmExpands the chest by moving downward
- External intercostalsOuter intercostal layer that helps lift the ribs
- Innermost intercostalsIntercostal fibers deep to the main nerve and vessels
- Internal intercostalsMiddle intercostal layer with region-dependent actions
- Moderator bandRight ventricular bridge carrying conduction tissue
- Papillary musclesVentricular muscles that maintain chordal support
- Pectinate musclesRidged atrial muscle concentrated in the appendages
- Subcostal musclesVariable deep slips that bridge several ribs
- Trabeculae carneaeVentricular ridges and bridges of working muscle
- Transversus thoracisDeep muscle slips behind the sternum
Abdomen
6- Crura of the diaphragmLumbar anchors of the posterior diaphragm
- External obliqueSuperficial sheet linking the ribs to the abdominal wall
- Internal obliqueAbdominal layer with regionally changing fiber direction
- Quadratus lumborumA muscular connection between pelvis, lumbar spine and rib 12
- Rectus abdominisPaired vertical muscles inside the rectus sheath
- Transversus abdominisDeep abdominal muscle supporting pressure and stability
Pelvis
13- BulbospongiosusA superficial perineal muscle acting on erectile tissue
- Coccygeus (ischiococcygeus)The small muscular component behind levator ani
- Cremaster muscleSkeletal muscle loops that elevate the testis
- Dartos muscle and fasciaScrotal smooth muscle that changes skin tension
- Detrusor muscleThe bladder's distensible smooth-muscle wall
- External anal sphincterVoluntary skeletal muscle surrounding the anal outlet
- External urethral sphincterStriated muscle that supports urethral closure
- IliococcygeusA thin lateral levator component contributing to the levator plate
- Internal urethral sphincterAutonomic smooth muscle at the bladder outlet
- IschiocavernosusMuscle over each crus of the erectile bodies
- Levator aniThe muscular support surrounding the pelvic hiatus
- PubococcygeusPubic levator fibers with visceral and posterior attachments
- PuborectalisA sling that draws the anorectal junction forward
Back
3Head & neck
30- Anterior scaleneFirst-rib elevator beside the brachial plexus
- Arytenoid muscles (transverse and oblique)Muscles linking the two arytenoid cartilages
- BuccinatorKeeps the cheek close to the teeth
- CricothyroidChanges vocal-fold length from outside the laryngeal cavity
- DigastricTwo bellies linking the jaw and hyoid
- GenioglossusFan-shaped muscle that advances the tongue
- HyoglossusHyoid-to-tongue muscle beside key oral structures
- Intrinsic muscles of the tongueInterwoven fibers for precise tongue shape
- Lateral cricoarytenoidDraws the vocal processes toward the midline
- Lateral pterygoidAdvances the mandibular condyle
- Levator veli palatiniMuscular sling that lifts the soft palate
- MasseterPowerful jaw-closing muscle
- Medial pterygoidInner partner of the jaw-closing sling
- MylohyoidPaired support beneath the tongue
- OccipitofrontalisMoves the scalp and lifts the brows
- OmohyoidTwo-bellied connection from scapula to hyoid
- Orbicularis oculiProtective muscle for eyelid closure
- Orbicularis orisShapes and seals the lips
- PalatoglossusLinks the soft palate to the tongue
- Pharyngeal constrictor musclesOverlapping muscles that propel a swallowed bolus
- PlatysmaThin sheet moving the superficial neck tissues
- Posterior cricoarytenoidThe muscle that opens each vocal fold
- SternocleidomastoidSurface landmark and head-turning muscle
- SternohyoidSuperficial strap that lowers the hyoid
- StyloglossusDraws the tongue backward and upward
- TemporalisFan-shaped jaw elevator and retractor
- Tensor veli palatiniTenses the palate and helps open the auditory tube
- ThyroarytenoidAdjusts vocal-fold length, closure and stiffness
- VocalisSpecialized medial muscle within the vocal fold
- Zygomaticus majorRaises the mouth corner during a smile