Bio 137 — Human Anatomy & Physiology I
Skeletal Muscle Identification and Function
Students will be expected to identify the following muscles and their functions
on the head, arm, leg and muscle man models.
Body Region
Muscle
Functions
Head and Neck — Head muscle model and muscle man model (Table 14.1, Fig 14.3)*
Frontalis
Raises eyebrows and wrinkles forehead
Orbicularis oculi
Closes eye
Orbicularis oris
Closes lips; kissing and whistling
Sternocleidomastoid
Flexes, tilts, and rotates head
Zygomaticus
Raises corners of mouth; smiling
Masseter
Elevates (closes) and protracts jaw, as when chewing
Torso — Muscle man model (Table 15.1, Figs 12.1, 15.1, 15.3, 15.4)*
Trapezius
Shrug shoulders
Latissimus dorsi
Extends, adducts and medially rotates arm
Pectoralis major
Flexes, adducts and medially rotates arm
External oblique
Lateral rotation of the vertebral column, twisting
Rectus abdominis
Flexion of the vertebral column; sit ups
Upper Limb — Arm muscle model (Table 12.1, Figs 12.1, 12.6, 12.7, 12.12)*
Deltoid †
Abducts, flexes, and rotates arm
Triceps brachii †
Extends forearm and arm
Biceps brachii †
Flexes forearm
Brachioradialis
Flexes forearm
Extensor digitorum
Extends fingers and hand
Extensor carpi radialis longus
Extends hand
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Flexes hand
Palmaris longus
Flexes hand
† Muscle should be identified on the muscle man model in addition to the arm model
Bio 137 — Human Anatomy & Physiology I
Muscle
Functions
Lower Limb — Leg muscle model and muscle man model (Table 13.1, Figs 12.1, 13.1-13.7)*
Tensor fasciae latae
Flexes, abducts and rotates thigh
Adductor longus
Adducts, flexes, and rotates thigh
Gluteus maximus
Extends, abducts and rotates thigh
Gracilis
Adducts thigh and flexes leg
Sartorius
Crosses the leg
Vastus medialis
Extends leg
Vastus lateralis
Extends leg
Biceps femoris
Extends the thigh and flexes leg
Rectus femoris
Flexes thigh and extends leg
Tibialis anterior
Dorsiflexion of the foot
Fibularis (peroneus) longus
Plantar flexion of the foot
Gastrocnemius
Plantar flexion of the foot
* References are for Eric Wise, Laboratory Manual for Anatomy & Physiology (Exercises 12-15;
pp 155-226). For additional information, students should also refer to the following sources:
Elaine Marieb, Human Anatomy & Physiology (lecture text) — Chapter 10
A Brief Atlas of the Human Body — Figs 62-65, 67-70.