HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
MUSCLE PORTFOLIO PROJECT
This project is designed to help you learn the location of some common SUPERFICIAL and DEEP
human muscles. Make sure you follow the directions carefully.
1. The project is DUE DATE is __________ [~3 weeks]. The grade will be part of your “Lab”
grade for this unit (10 pts/ day from the start of the unit until the unit assessment
2. Find a tasteful picture of a human displaying their muscles. DO NOT USE LINE PICTURES
OR PICTURES OF CADAVERS. The purpose of this exercise is to recognize the muscles
in their natural (sometimes exaggerated) condition and position.
3. Choose pictures that CLEARLY ILLUSTRATE the muscle. This means that the muscle will
be in its CONTRACTED state. For example, the Orbicularis oris, a muscle around the
mouth, is visible only when your lips are "PUCKERED" or "KISSING". This muscle is often
referred to as the kissing muscle.
4. Display the muscles in a booklet form, on a poster board, using construction paper, on a
PowerPoint, or through whatever format you like best. HINT: Organize the muscles into
groups, e.g., arms, legs, neck region, etc. Then divide them into anterior and posterior
groups. Label the muscles clearly and neatly, and make sure they are spelled properly.
LABEL EACH MUSCLE ONLY ONCE. You may use as many or as few pictures as you
feel necessary.
5. See the LIST of SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES in the table below. Of the muscles listed, you
are REQUIRED TO LABEL 25 of them. Pick the ones you can find the best pictures for.
You must number each muscle 1 - 25.
6. There is also a LIST of DEEP MUSCLES in the table below. Of the muscles listed you are
REQUIRED TO LABEL 10 of them. These DEEP MUSCLES will not be visible on your
human muscles pictures. You should use the labels to indicate their general location. You
must number each muscle 1 - 10.
7. Be sure you develop and use some method to DISTINGUISH your labels for
SUPERFICIAL and DEEP muscles. For example, it you are labeling them both on the
same diagram, use different color labels. Or you may want to use different pictures for
superficial and deep muscles. You can do whatever makes you happy as long as a person
viewing your project can tell them apart [Hint: that would be the person grading your project
or worse yet some one trying to understand what you did!]
8. DO NOT USE BLACK PAPER to display the muscles. DO NOT COVER THE MUSCLE
PICTURES WITH PLASTIC.
9. FOR ALL MUSCLE in the following table, (whether you use this muscle or not in your
project) prepare a table that shows its ORIGIN, INSERTION, and ACTION. You may
simplify the origins and insertions to just the bones/structures involved. In addition read the
action of the muscle as described in the text and then for any 12 of these muscles describe
an everyday action you do that involves the muscle.
A & P HUMAN MUSCLE LIST
SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES
Digastric
Mylohyoid
Sternohyoid
Masseter
Sternocleidomastoid
Zygomaticus
Frontalis
Orbicularis oris
Occipitalis
Orbicularis oculi
Biceps brachii
Trapezius
Triceps brachii
Deltoid
Brachialis
Latissimus dorsi
Brachioradialis
Infraspinatus
Teres major
Pectoralis major
Serratus anterior
Pectineus
Gluteus maximus
Extensor digitorum longus
Rectus abdominis
External oblique
Gracilis
Sartorius
Adductor magnus
Adductor longus
Biceps femoris
Vastus lateralis
Semitendinosus
Vastus medialis
Semimembranosus
Rectus femoris
Tensor fasciae latae
Soleus
Tibialis anterior
Gastrocnemius
DEEP MUSCLES
Buccinator
Auricularis
Erector spinae
Digastric
Scalenes
Opponens pollicis
Splenius
Rhomdoideus
Temporalis
Subcostalis
External intercostals
Diaphragm
Internal intercostals
Pectoralis minor
Transversus abdominis Internal oblique
Supraspinatus
Teres minor
Levator scapulae
Gluteus minimus