MUSCLE NAMES
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Selected major muscle names pronounced and translated
Muscle name
Abductor digiti minimi
Abductor hallucis
Abductor pollicis brevis
Adductor brevis
Adductor longus
Adductor magnus
Adductor pollicis
Biceps brachii
Biceps femoris
Brachialis
Brachioradialis
Buccinator
Bulbospongiosus
Coracobrachialis
Corrugator supercilii
Deltoid
Diaphragm
Erector spinae
Extensor carpi radialis brevis
Extensor carpi radialis longus
Extensor carpi ulnaris
Extensor digitorum
Extensor digitorum longus
External intercostal
External oblique
Pronunciation
ab-DUK-ter
DIJ-ih-tye
MIN-ih-mye
ab-DUK-ter
HAL-oos-is (or HAL-uh-kiss)
ab-DUK-ter
POL-ih-sis(or POL-ih-kiss)
BREV-is
ad-DUK-ter
BREV-is
ad-DUK-ter
LONG-us
ad-DUK-ter
MAG-nus
ad-DUK-ter
POL-ih-sis (or POL-ih-kiss)
BYE-seps
BRAY-kee-eye
BYE-seps
FEM-uh-ris
BRAY-kee-al-is
BRAY-kee-oh-ray-dee-AL-is
BUK-sih-NAY-tor
bul-boh-spun-jee-OH-ses
KOR-uh-ko-BRAY-kee-al-is
KOR-uh-gay-tor
soo-per-SIL-ee-eye
DEL-toyd
DYE-ah-fram
eh-REK-tor
SPINE-ee
ek-STEN-ser
KAR-pye
ray-dee-AL-is
BREV-is
ek-STEN-ser
KAR-pye
ray-dee-AL-is
LONG-us
ek-STEN-ser
KAR-pye
ul-NAIR-is
ek-STEN-ser
dij-i-TOH-rum
ek-STEN-ser
dij-i-TOH-rum
LONG-gus
eks-TER-nal
in-ter-KOS-tal
eks-TER-nal
oh-BLEEK
Translation of name
Small finger puller-away [muscle]
Big-toe puller-away [muscle]
Short puller-away [muscle] of thumb
Short bringer-in [muscle]
Long bringer-in [muscle]
Great bringer-in [muscle]
Bringer-in muscle of thumb
Two-headed arm [muscle]
Two-headed thigh [muscle]
Arm [muscle]
Arm and radius [muscle]
Trumpeter
Spongy bulb (base of penis)
Coracoid process – arm [muscle]
Wrinkler above eyelashes
Triangle-like
Across-enclosure
Spine straightener
Short wrist stretcher at radius
Long wrist stretcher at radius
Wrist stretcher at ulna
Finger stretcher
Toe stretcher
Outer [muscle] between ribs
Outer slanted [muscle]
Flexor carpi radialis
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Flexor digiti minimi brevis
Flexor digitorum brevis
Flexor digitorum profundus
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Flexor hallucis brevis
Flexor pollicis brevis
Gastrocnemius
Gluteus maximus
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus
Gracilis
Iliacus
FLEK-ser
KAR-pye
ray-dee-AL-is
FLEK-ser
KAR-pye
ul-NAIR-is
FLEK-ser
DIJ-ih-tye
MIN-ih-mye
BREV-is
FLEK-ser
dij-i-TOH-rum
BREV-is
FLEK-ser
dij-i-TOH-rum
pro-FUN-dis
FLEK-ser
dij-i-TOH-rum
soo-per-fish-ee-AL-is
FLEK-ser
HAL-oos-is (or HAL-uh-kiss)
BREV-is
FLEK-ser
POL-ih-sis (or POL-ih-kiss)
BREV-is
GAS-trok-NEE-mee-us
GLOO-tee-us
MAK-sim-us
GLOO-tee-us
MEE-dee-us
GLOO-tee-us
MIN-ih-mus
GRASS-ih-lis
Wrist bender at radius
Wrist bender at ulna
Small, short finger bender
Short toe bender
Deep finger bender
Superficial finger bender
Short big-toe bender
Short thumb bender
Belly of leg
Large butt [muscle]
Medium butt [muscle]
Small butt [muscle]
Slender [muscle]
ih-LYE-ah-kus
Illium of pelvic bone [muscle]
Iliocostalis
Iliopsoas
ILL-ee-oh-KOS-tal-is
[Pelvic] ilium to rib [muscle]
ILL-ee-oh-SOH-is
Iliacus and psoas [muscles]
Infraspinatus
Below the spine
Interosseous
Interspinales
IN-frah-spy-nah-tus
in-TER-nal
in-ter-KOS-tal
in-TER-nal
oh-BLEEK
in-ter-OSS-ee-us
in-ter-spy-NAH-leez
Ischiocavernosus
is-kee-oh-KAV-er-no-sus
Internal intercostal
Internal oblique
Latissimus dorsi
Levator ani
Levator scapulae
Longissimus
Longissimus capitis
Lumbrical
Masseter
lat-ISS-im-is
DOR-sye
leh-VAY-tor
A-nye
leh-VAY-tor
SCAP-yoo-lee
lon-JIS-i-mus
lon-JIS-i-mus
KAP-i-tis
LUM-bri-kal
mah-SEE-ter
Inner [muscle] between the ribs
Inner slanted [muscle]
Between bones
Between spines
[Pelvic] ischium to the crus (cross) of the
penis’s cavernosum
Very wide back [muscle]
Anus lifter
Scapula lifter
Very long (longest)
Longest head [muscle]
Wormlike
Chewer
Multifidus
Occipitofrontalis
Opponens digiti minimi
Opponens pollicis
Orbicularis oculi
Orbicularis oris
Palmaris longus
Pectoralis major
Pectoralis minor
Perineal
Peroneus brevis
(fibularis brevis)
Peroneus longus
(fibularis longus)
Peroneus tertius
(fibularis tertius)
Pronator quadratus
Pronator teres
Psoas major
Psoas minor
Pterygoid
Quadratus lumborum
Quadriceps femoris
Rectus abdominis
Rectus femoris
Rhomboid major
Rhomboid minor
Rotatores
Sartorius
Semimembranosus
Semispinalis
Semispinalis capitis
Semitendinosus
mul-TIF-i-dus
ok-sip-i-toh-fron-TAL-is
oh-POH-nenz
DIJ-ih-tye
MIN-ih-mye
oh-POH-nenz
POL-i-sis (or POL-i-kiss)
or-bik-yoo-LAIR-is
OK-yoo-lye
or-bik-yoo-LAR-is
OR-is
PAL-mar-is
LONG-us
pek-toh-RAL-is
MA-jer
pek-toh-RAL-is
MYE-ner
pair-in-EE-al
per-oh-NEE-us
BREV-is
(fib-yoo-LAIR-is
BREV-is)
per-oh-NEE-us
LONG-us
(fib-yoo-LAIR-is
LONG-us)
per-oh-NEE-us
TER-shee-us
(fib-yoo-LAIR-is
TER-shee-us)
PRO-nay-ter
kwah-DRAT-is
PRO-nay-ter
TAIR-eez
SO-is
MAY-jer
SO-is
MYE-ner
TER-i-goid
kwah-DRAT-is
lum-BOR-um
KWAH-drih-seps
FEM-uh-ris (or fem-OR-is)
REK-tus
ab-DOM-i-nis
REK-tus
FEM-uh-ris (or fem-OR-is)
ROM-boyd
MA-jer
ROM-boyd
MYE-ner
roh-tah-TOR-eez
sar-TOR-ee-us
sem-ee-mem-brah-NO-sis
sem-ee-spy-NAY-lis
sem-ee-spy-NAY-lis
KAP-i-tis
sem-ee-ten-din-OH-sis
Split into many parts
Back and front of head
Small finger opposer
Thumb opposer
Little circle [around] eye
Little circle [around] mouth
Long palm [muscle]
Greater chest [muscle]
Lesser chest [muscle]
[Muscle] around the excretion [openings]
Short boot [muscle]
Long boot [muscle]
Third boot [muscle]
Four-sided pronator
Rounded pronator
Greater lumbar [muscle]
Lesser lumbar [muscle]
Winglike
Four-sided lumbar [muscle]
Four-headed thigh [muscle]
Straight belly [muscle]
Straight thigh [muscle]
Greater rhombus (equilateral parallelogram)
Lesser rhombus (equilateral parallelogram)
Turner [muscles]
Tailor [muscle]
Half membrane [muscle]
Half spine [muscle]
Half spine [muscle] of the head
Half tendon [muscle]
Serratus anterior
Soleus
Sphincter ani externus
Spinalis
Splenius
Splenius capitis
Sternocleidomastoid
Subscapularis
Supinator
Supraspinatus
Temporalis
Tensor fasciae latae
Teres major
Teres minor
Tibialis anterior
Transversospinalis
Transversus abdominis
Trapezius
Triceps brachii
Urethral sphincter
Vastus intermedius
Vastus lateralis
Vastus medialis
Zygomaticus major
ser-RAY-tus
an-TEER-ee-or
SOH-lee-us
SFINGK-ter
A-nye
eks-TER-nus
spy-NAY-lis
SPLEH-nee-us
SPLEH-nee-us
KAP-i-tis
STERN-oh-KLYE-doh-MAS-toyd
sub-SKAP-yoo-lar-is
SOO-pin-ayt-er
SOO-prah-spy-nah-tus
tem-poh-RAL-is
TEN-sor
FASH-ee (or FASH-ee-ay)
LAT-tee
TER-eez
MA-jer
TER-eez
MYE-ner
tib-ee-AL-is
an-TEER-ee-or
tranz-VERS-o-spy-NAY-lis
tranz-VERS-us
ab-DAH-min-us
trah-PEE-zee-us
TRY-seps
BRAY-kee-eye
yoo-REE-thral
SFINGK-ter
VAS-tus in-terMEE-dee-us
VAS-tus
lat-er-AL-is
VAS-tus
mee-dee-AL-is
zye-goh-MAT-ik-us
MA-jer
Front saw-tooth [muscle]
Sole (of foot) [muscle]
Outer anus tightener
Spine [muscle]
Patch
Head patch
Sternum-clavicle-mastoid process
Under the scapula [muscle]
Supinator [muscle]
Above spine [muscle]
Temple (of head) [muscle]
Puller of side bundle
Greater rounded [muscle]
Lesser rounded [muscle]
Front shinbone [muscle]
Transverse [vertebral] spine [muscle]
Belly-crossing [muscle]
Table-shaped [muscle]
Three-headed arm [muscle]
Urethra tightener
Vast (enormous) in-between [muscle]
Vast (enormous) on-the-side [muscle]
Vast (enormous) toward-the-middle [muscle]
Greater [muscle] of zygomatic [bone]
NOTES:
1. Muscle names are arranged alphabetically, not by location, structure, or function.
2. In Latin, modifiers follow the terms they describe. Thus, flexor digitorum can be translated in exact parallel as
“bender of finger” but is best rendered as “finger bender.”
3. Literal translations of muscle names may be helpful in locating them or remembering their shape or function.
However, they are not necessarily accurate or complete descriptions of the muscle.
4. Some alternate pronunciations are given here but many other pronunciations are possible.
© Kevin Patton at lionden.com
For reuse, please contact permissions@lionden.com
Some material adapted by permission from Anatomy & Physiology by Patton & Thibodeau (Mosby/Elsevier)