ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Chapter 6B: The Muscular System

BSRT II-A | 2022-2023

CHAPTER 6B: THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM TYPES OF BODY MOVEMENTS

I. Muscle Movements, Roles and Names
a. The Five Golden Rules of Skeletal A. FLEXION
Muscle Activity  Decreases the angle of the joint
II. Types of Body Movements  Brings two bones closer together
a. Flexion  Typical of bending hinge joints (e.g., knee and
b. Extension elbow) or ball-and-socket joints (e.g., the hip)
c. Rotation
d. Abduction B. EXTENSION
e. Adduction
 Opposite of flexion
f. Circumduction
 Increases angle between two bones
III. Special Movements
 Typical of straightening the elbow or knee
a. Dorsiflexion
 Extension beyond 180º is hyperextension
b. Plantar flexion
c. Inversion
d. Eversion
e. Supination
f. Pronation
g. Opposition
IV. Interactions of Skeletal Muscles in the Body
V. Naming Skeletal Muscles
VI. Arrangement of Fascicles
VII. Gross Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles
VIII. Developmental Aspects of the Muscular
System

MUSCLE MOVEMENTS, ROLES AND NAMES

 Follow the Five Golden Rules for understanding
skeletal muscle activity.
A. THE FIVE GOLDEN RULES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE
ACTIVITY
1. With a few exceptions, all skeletal muscles
cross at least one joint.
2. Typically, the bulk of a skeletal muscle lies
proximal to the joint crossed.
3. All skeletal muscles have at least two
attachments: the origin and the insertion.
4. Skeletal muscles can only pull; they never
push.
5. During contraction, a skeletal muscle insertion
moves toward the origin.
TYPES OF BODY MOVEMENTS
 Muscles are attached to no fewer than two
points
1. Origin: attachment to an immovable or less
movable bone
2. Insertion: attachment to a movable bone C. ROTATION
 When the muscle contracts, the insertion moves  Movement of a bone around its longitudinal axis
toward the origin  Common in ball-and-socket joints
 Body movement occurs when muscles contract  Example: moving the atlas around the dens of
across joints axis (i.e., shaking your head “no”)
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Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
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D. ABDUCTION
 Movement of a limb away from the midline
E. ADDUCTION
 Opposite of abduction
 Movement of a limb toward the midline
F. CIRCUMDUCTION
 Combination of flexion, extension, abduction,
and adduction
 Common in ball-and-socket joints E. SUPINATION
 Proximal end of bone is stationary, and distal
 Forearm rotates laterally so palm faces
end moves in a circle
anteriorly
 Radius and ulna are parallel
F. PRONATION
 Forearm rotates medially so palm faces
posteriorly
 Radius and ulna cross each other like an X

SPECIAL MOVEMENTS

A. DORSIFLEXION
 Lifting the foot so that the superior surface
approaches the shin (toward the dorsum)
B. PLANTAR FLEXION G. OPPOSITION
 Pointing the toes away from the head  Moving the thumb to touch the tips of other
fingers on the same hand

C. INVERSION INTERACTIONS OF SKELETAL MUSCLES IN THE BODY

 Turning sole of foot medially  Muscles can only pull as they contract—not push
D. EVERSION  In general, groups of muscles that produce
 Turning sole of foot laterally opposite actions lie on opposite sides of a joint
 Prime mover—muscle with the major
responsibility for a certain movement
 Antagonist—muscle that opposes or reverses a
prime mover
 Synergist—muscle that aids a prime mover in a
movement or reduces undesirable movements
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Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
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 Fixator—specialized synergists that hold a bone  For example, the temporalis and frontalis
still or stabilize the origin of a prime mover muscles overlie the temporal and frontal bones
of the skull, respectively.
FIGURES FOR MUSCLE ACTION D. NUMBER OF ORIGINS
 When the term biceps, triceps, or quadriceps
forms part of a muscle name, you can assume
that the muscle has two, three, or four origins,
respectively.
 For example, the biceps muscle of the arm has
two heads, or origins, and the triceps muscle has
three.
E. LOCATION OF THE MUSCLE’S ORIGIN AND
INSERTION
 Muscles are named for their attachment sites
 For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle
has its origin on the sternum (sterno)
F. SHAPE OF THE MUSCLE
 Some muscles have a distinctive shape that
helps to identify them.
 For example, the deltoid muscle is roughly
triangular (deltoid means “triangular”)
G. ACTION OF THE MUSCLE
 When muscles are named for their actions,
terms such as flexor, extensor, and adductor
appear in their names.
 For example, the adductor muscles of the thigh
all bring about its adduction, and the extensor
muscles of the wrist all extend the wrist.

ARRANGEMENT OF FASCICLES
Skeletal Muscles consists of fascicles but fascicle
arrangements vary, producing muscles with different
structures and functional properties. The most
common patterns of fascicle arrangement are:

A. CIRCULAR PATTERN
 In a circular pattern, fascicles are arranged in
concentric rings
NAMING SKELETAL MUSCLES  Circular muscles are typically found surrounding
external body openings which they close by
Muscles are named on the basis of several criteria: contracting, creating a valve.
A. BY DIRECTION OF MUSCLE FIBERS  sphincters (“squeezers”) - a general term for
 Some muscles are named in reference to some such muscles
imaginary line, usually the midline of the body  EXAMPLE: orbicularis muscles surrounding the
or the long axis of a limb bone. eyes and mouth
 When a muscle’s name includes the term rectus B. CONVERGENT MUSCLE
(straight), its fibers run parallel to that imaginary  In a convergent muscle, fascicles converge
line toward a single insertion tendon
 The term oblique in a muscle’s name tells you  is triangular or fan-shaped, such as the
that the muscle fibers run obliquely (at a slant) pectoralis major muscle of the anterior thorax
to the imaginary line. C. PARALLEL ARRANGEMENT
B. RELATIVE SIZE OF THE MUSCLE
 In a parallel arrangement, length of the fascicles
 maximus (largest) run parallel to the long axis of the muscle, as in
 minimus (smallest) the sartorius of the anterior thigh
 longus (long)  FUSIFORM - modification of the parallel
 Example: gluteus maximus is the largest muscles arrangement; results in a spindle-shaped muscle
of the gluteus muscle group. with an expanded belly (midsection)
C. LOCATION OF THE MUSCLE  EXAMPLE: biceps brachii muscle of the arm
 Some muscles are named for the bone with
which they are associated.
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Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
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D. PENNATE PATTERN posterior aspect of the skull and pulls the scalp
 In a pennate (pen′ˉat; “feather”) pattern, short posteriorly.
fascicles attach obliquely to a central tendon.
B. ORBICULARIS OCULI
 In the extensor digitorum muscle of the leg, the
fascicles insert into only one side of the tendon,  The fibers of the orbicularis oculi run in circles
and the muscle is unipennate.
around the eyes.
 If the fascicles insert into opposite sides of the
 It allows you to close your eyes, squint, blink,
tendon, the muscle is bipennate.
and wink.
 If the fascicles insert from several different sides,
the muscle is multipennate. C. ORBICULARIS ORIS

A muscle’s fascicle arrangement determines its range  The circular muscle of the lips.
of motion and power. The longer and the more nearly  Often called the “kissing” muscle
parallel the fascicles are to a muscle’s long axis, the  It closes the mouth and protrudes the lips
more the muscle can shorten, but such muscles are
not usually very powerful. Muscle power depends D. BUCCINATOR
more on the total number of muscle fibers in the
muscle. The stocky bipennate and multipennate  Runs horizontally across the cheek and inserts
muscles, which pack in the most fibers, shorten very into the orbicularis oris.
little but are very powerful.  It flattens the cheek (as in whistling or blowing
a trumpet).
 It is also listed as a chewing muscle because it
compresses the cheek to hold food between
the teeth during chewing.

E. ZYGOMATICUS

 extends from the corner of the mouth to the

cheekbone.
 It is often referred to as the “smiling” muscle
because it raises the corners of the mouth.

G. MASSETER
GROSS ANATOMY OF SKELETAL MUSCLE
 runs from the zygomatic process of the temporal
A. HEAD AND NECK MUSCLES bone to the mandible
 Grouped into two large categories—facial  covers the angle of the lower jaw.
muscles and chewing muscles.  This muscle closes the jaw by elevating the
 Facial muscles are unique because they insert mandible.
into soft tissues, such as other muscles or skin.
When they pull on the skin of the face, they H. TEMPORALIS
permit us to express ourselves by frowning,
smiling, and so forth.  a fan-shaped muscle overlying the temporal
 The chewing muscles begin to break down food bone
for the body.  It inserts into the mandible and acts as a
 All head and neck muscles we describe are synergist of the masseter in closing the jaw.
paired except for the platysma, orbicularis oris,
NECK MUSCLES
frontalis, and occipitalis.
A. PLATYSMA
FACIAL MUSCLES
 a single sheetlike muscle that covers the
A. FRONTALIS anterolateral neck
 It originates from the connective tissue covering
 This muscle which covers the frontal bone, runs of the chest muscles and inserts into the area
from the cranial aponeurosis to the skin of the around the mouth.
eyebrows, where it inserts.  Its action is to pull the corners of the mouth
 Allows you to raise your eyebrows, as in surprise, inferiorly, producing a downward sag of the
and to wrinkle your forehead. mouth (the “sad clown” face).
 At the posterior end of the cranial aponeurosis is
the small occipitalis muscle, which covers the
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Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
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B. STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID  The abdominal muscles form a muscular wall

that is well suited for its job of containing and
 The paired sternocleidomastoid muscles are protecting the abdominal contents.
two-headed muscles, one found on each side of
the neck.
 Of the two heads of each muscle, one arises A. RECTUS ABDOMINIS
from the sternum, and the other arises from the
 The paired straplike rectus abdominis muscles
clavicle
are the most superficial muscles of the
 The heads fuse before inserting into the mastoid
abdomen.
process of the temporal bone.
 Run from the pubis to the rib cage, enclosed in
 When both sternocleidomastoid muscles
an aponeurosis.
contract together, they flex your neck.
 Main function is to flex the vertebral column.
 This action of bowing the head that has led
 They also compress the abdominal contents
some people to call these muscles the “prayer”
during defecation and childbirth (help you
muscles.
“push”) and are involved in forced breathing.
 If just one muscle contracts, the face is rotated
toward the shoulder on the opposite side and B. EXTERNAL OBLIQUE
tilts the head to its own side.
 Paired superficial muscles that make up the
TRUNK MUSCLES lateral walls of the abdomen.
Trunk Muscles include:  Their fibers run downward and medially from
the last eight ribs and insert into the ilium.
1. most posterior antigravity muscles, muscles  They flex the vertebral column, but they also
that move the vertebral column rotate the trunk and bend it laterally.
2. anterior thorax muscles, which move the ribs, C. INTERNAL OBLIQUE
head, and arms;
 Paired muscles deep to the external obliques.
3. muscles of the abdominal wall, which “hold
 Their fibers run at right angles to those of the
your guts in” by forming a natural girdle and
external obliques.
help to move the vertebral column
 They arise from the iliac crest and insert into the
ANTERIOR MUSCLES last three ribs.
 Their functions are the same as those of the
A. PECTORALIS MAJOR
external obliques.
 a large fan-shaped muscle covering the upper D. TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS
part of the chest.
 Its origin is from the sternum, shoulder girdle,  Deepest muscle of the abdominal wall
and the first six ribs.  Has fibers that run horizontally across the
 It inserts on the proximal end of the humerus. abdomen.
 This muscle forms the anterior wall of the axilla  It arises from the lower ribs and iliac crest and
(armpit) and acts to adduct and flex the arm. inserts into the pubis.
 This muscle compresses the abdominal
B. INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES
contents.
 Deep muscles found between the ribs. POSTERIOR MUSCLES
 The external intercostals are important in
breathing because they help to raise the rib cage A. TRAPEZIUS
when you inhale.
 The most superficial muscles of the posterior
 The internal intercostals, which lie deep to the
neck and upper trunk.
external intercostals, depress the rib cage,
 When seen together, they form a diamond- or
helping to move air out of the lungs when you
kite-shaped muscle mass.
exhale forcibly
 Their origin is very broad.
MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMINAL GIRDLE  Each muscle runs from the occipital bone of the
skull down the vertebral column to the end of
 The anterior abdominal muscles form a natural
the thoracic vertebrae.
“girdle” that reinforces the body trunk.
 Flare laterally to insert on the scapular spine
 Taken together, they resemble the structure of
and clavicle
plywood because the fibers of each muscle or
muscle pair run in a different direction.
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Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
BSRT II-A | 2022-2023

 The trapezius muscles extend the head (thus MUSCLES OF THE UPPER LIMB
they are antagonists of the
upper limb muscles fall into three groups:
sternocleidomastoids)
 They also can elevate, depress, adduct, and 1. FIRST GROUP
stabilize the scapula.
 includes muscles that arise from the shoulder
B. LATISSIMUS DORSI girdle and cross the shoulder joint to insert into
the humerus.
 The two large, flat muscles that cover the lower
 consider these muscles, which move the arm—
back.
they are the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi,
 Originate on the lower spine and ilium and then
and deltoid.
sweep superiorly to insert into the proximal end
of the humerus. 2. SECOND GROUP
 Each latissimus dorsi extends and adducts the
humerus.  second group causes movement at the elbow
 Very important muscles when the arm must be joint.
brought down in a power stroke, as when  enclose the humerus and insert on the forearm
swimming or striking a blow. bones.

C. ERECTOR SPINAE 3. THIRD GROUP

 the prime mover of back extension  includes the muscles of the forearm, which
 These paired muscles are deep muscles of the insert on the hand bones and cause their
back movement.
 Each erector spinae is a composite muscle  thin and spindle shaped, and there are many of
consisting of three muscle columns them.
(longissimus, iliocostalis, and spinalis) that MUSCLES CAUSING MOVEMENT AT THE ELBOW JOINT
collectively span the entire length of the
vertebral column.  All anterior muscles of the humerus cause
 These muscles not only act as powerful back elbow flexion.
extensors (“erectors”) but also provide
A. BICEPS BRACHII
resistance that helps control the action of
bending over at the waist.  the most familiar muscle of the arm because it
 Following injury to back structures, these bulges when you flex your elbow
muscles go into spasms, a common source of  It originates by two heads from the shoulder
lower back pain. girdle and inserts into the radial tuberosity
D. QUADRATUS LUMBORUM  the powerful prime mover for flexion of the
forearm and acts to supinate the forearm
 form part of the posterior abdominal wall.  best way to remember its actions is to think of
 Acting separately, each muscle of the pair flexes opening a bottle of wine. The biceps supinates
the spine laterally. the forearm to turn the corkscrew and then
 Acting together, they extend the lumbar spine. flexes the elbow to pull the cork.
 arise from the iliac crests and insert into the
B. BRACHIALIS
upper lumbar vertebrae
 lies deep to the biceps brachii and, like the
E. DELTOID
biceps, is a prime mover in elbow flexion.
 fleshy, triangle-shaped muscles that form the  lifts the ulna as the biceps lifts the radius.
rounded shape of your shoulders
C. BRACHIORADIALIS
 Because they are so bulky, they are a favorite
injection site when relatively small amounts of  a fairly weak muscle that arises on the humerus
medication (less than 5 ml) must be given and inserts into the distal forearm
intramuscularly (into muscle).  it resides mainly in the forearm.
 origin of each deltoid winds across the shoulder
girdle from the spine of the scapula to the D. TRICEPS BRACHII
clavicle
 the only muscle fleshing out the posterior
 inserts into the proximal humerus.
humerus
 The deltoids are the prime movers of arm
abduction.
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Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
BSRT II-A | 2022-2023

 Its three heads arise from the shoulder girdle  also an important site for giving intramuscular
and proximal humerus, and it inserts into the injections, particularly when administering more
olecranon process of the ulna. than 5 ml
 the antagonist of the biceps brachii and  fleshy gluteus maximus that forms the bulk of
brachialis. the buttock mass would be a better choice,
 straightens the arm—for instance, to deliver a notice that the medial part of each buttock
strong jab in boxing. overlies the large sciatic nerve; hence this area
must be carefully avoided to prevent nerve
MUSCLES OF THE LOWER LIMB
damage
 cause movement at the hip, knee, and foot  This can be accomplished by imagining the
joints. buttock is divided into four equal quadrants
 the largest, strongest muscles in the body and  superolateral quadrant then overlies the gluteus
are specialized for walking and balancing the medius muscle, which is usually a very safe site
body. for an intramuscular injection.
 the pelvic girdle is composed of heavy, fused  Injections at or near the sciatic nerve can result
bones that allow little movement, no special in physical trauma from the needle or
group of muscles is necessary to stabilize it. degeneration of the nerve itself.
 This is very different from the shoulder girdle,
C. ILIOPSOAS
which requires several fixator muscles
 muscles of the lower limb span two joints and  a fused muscle composed of two muscles, the
can cause movement at both of them. Therefore, iliacus and the psoas major
in reference to these muscles, the terms origin  runs from the iliac bone and lower vertebrae
and insertion are often interchangeable deep inside the pelvis to insert on the lesser
depending on the action being performed. trochanter of the femur.
 Muscles acting on the thigh are massive muscles  a prime mover of hip flexion.
that help hold the body upright against the pull  acts to keep the upper body from falling
of gravity and cause various movements at the backward when we are standing erect.
hip joint.
 Muscles acting on the leg form the flesh of the D. ADDUCTOR MUSCLES
thigh.
 muscles of the adductor group form the muscle
 The thigh muscles cross the knee and cause its
mass at the medial side of each thigh
flexion or extension
 they adduct, or press, the thighs together
 many of the thigh muscles also have
 they tend to become flabby very easily, because
attachments on the pelvic girdle, they can cause
gravity does most of the work for them
movement at the hip joint as well.
 Special exercises are usually needed to keep
 Muscles originating on the leg cause assorted
them toned.
movements of the ankle and foot.
 The adductors have their origin on the pelvis
MUSCLES CAUSING MOVEMENT AT THE HIP JOINT and insert on the proximal aspect of the femur.

A. GLUTEUS MAXIMUS MUSCLES CAUSING MOVEMENT AT THE KNEE JOINT

 a superficial muscle of the hip that forms most A. HAMSTRING GROUP

of the flesh of the buttock
 muscles forming the muscle mass of the
 a powerful hip extensor that acts to bring the
posterior thigh
thigh in a straight line with the pelvis.
 The group consists of three muscles—the biceps
 the most important muscle for extending the hip
femoris, semimembranosus, and
when power is needed, as when climbing stairs
semitendinosus—which originate on the ischial
or jumping.
tuberosity and run down the thigh to insert on
 originates from the sacrum and iliac bones and
both sides of the proximal tibia
inserts on the gluteal tuberosity of the femur
 prime movers of thigh extension and knee
and into the large tendinous iliotibial tract.
flexion
B. GLUTEUS MEDIUS  Their name comes from the fact that butchers
use their tendons to hang hams (consisting of
 runs from the ilium to the femur, beneath the thigh and hip muscles) for smoking.
gluteus maximus for most of its length.  One can feel these tendons at the back of your
 a hip abductor and is important in steadying the knee
pelvis during walking.
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Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
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B. SARTORIUS D. GASTROCNEMIUS

 the thin, straplike sartorius muscle is not too  a two-bellied muscle that forms the curved calf
important. of the posterior leg.
 However, it is the most superficial muscle of the  arises by two heads, one from each side of the
thigh and so is rather hard to miss distal femur, and inserts through the large
 runs obliquely across the thigh from the anterior calcaneal (Achilles) tendon into the heel of the
iliac crest to the medial side of the tibia foot.
 a weak thigh flexor.  a prime mover for plantar flexion of the foot; for
 commonly referred to as the “tailor’s” muscle this reason it is often called the “toe dancer’s”
because it acts as a synergist to help tailors sit muscle.
with both legs crossed in front of them.  If the calcaneal tendon is severely damaged or
cut, walking is very difficult. The foot drags
C. QUADRICEPS GROUP
because it is not able to “push off” the toe (raise
 group consists of four muscles—the rectus the heel).
femoris and three vastus muscless—that flesh E. SOLEUS
out the anterior thigh.
 vastus muscles originate from the femur;  Deep to the gastrocnemius
 the rectus femoris originates on the pelvis.  Because it arises on the tibia and fibula (rather
 All four muscles insert into the tibial tuberosity than the femur), it does not affect knee
via the patellar ligament. movement, but like the gastrocnemius, it inserts
 The group as a whole acts to extend the knee into the calcaneal tendon and is a strong plantar
powerfully flexor of the foot.
 rectus femoris crosses two joints, the hip and
FIGURES
knee, and can also help to flex the hip.
 vastus lateralis and rectus femoris are
sometimes used as intramuscular injection sites
particularly in infants, who have poorly
developed gluteus muscles.

MUSCLES CAUSING MOVEMENT AT THE ANKLE AND

FOOT

A. TIBIALIS ANTERIOR

 a superficial muscle on the anterior leg.

 arises from the upper tibia and then parallels
the anterior crest as it runs to the tarsal bones,
where it inserts by a long tendon.
 acts to dorsiflex and invert the foot.

B. EXTENSOR DIGITORUM LONGUS

 Lateral to the tibialis anterior

 arises from the lateral tibial condyle and
proximal three-quarters of the fibula and inserts
into the phalanges of toes 2 to 5.
 a prime mover of toe extension.

C. FIBULARIS MUSCLES

 The three fibularis muscles— longus, brevis, and

tertius—are found on the lateral part of the leg.
 arise from the fibula and insert into the
metatarsal bones of the foot.
 group as a whole plantar flexes and everts the
foot, which is antagonistic to the tibialis anterior
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
BSRT II-A | 2022-2023
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
BSRT II-A | 2022-2023
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Chapter 6B: The Muscular System
BSRT II-A | 2022-2023

DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE MUSCULAR

SYSTEM

 Increasing muscular control reflects the

maturation of the nervous system
 Muscle control is achieved in a superior/inferior
and proximal/distal direction
 To remain healthy, muscles must be exercised
regularly
 Without exercise, muscles atrophy
 With extremely vigorous exercise, muscles
hypertrophy
 As we age, muscle mass decreases, and muscles
become more sinewy
 Exercise helps retain muscle mass and strength