Anterior + Posterior Muscles

Question 1

FRONTALIS
(Frontal Belly of Epicranius Muscle)

Answer 1

Origin: At Galea Aponeurotica (tissue covering top of skull).
Insertion: Skin of the forehead above the eyebrows.
Function: Raises the eyebrows and wrinkles forehead.

Question 2

ORBICULARIS OCULI

Answer 2

Origin: Orbital Margin (two borders: frontal bone, frontal process of maxilla).
Insertion: Skin around the eyelids.
Function: Closes the eyelids/keep debris out. Essential for blinking.

Question 3

ZYGOMATICUS MAJOR

Answer 3

Origin: Zygomatic bone.
Insertion: Corners of the mouth (orbicularis Orbis).
Function: Elevate corners, smiling and laughing.

Question 4

ORBICULARIS ORIS

Answer 4

Origin: From the maxilla and mandible bones.
Insertion: Tissue of the lips.
Function: Kissing muscle- Closes and puckers lips.

Question 5

TEMPORALIS

Answer 5

Origin: Temporal Fossa
Insertion: Coronoid process of the mandible.
Action: Elevates and retracts the mandible.

Question 6

MASSETER

Answer 6

Origin: Zygomatic Arch and Maxilla
Insertion: Angle and ramus of the mandible
Action: Elevates the mandible (closes jaw).

Question 7

BUCCINATORS

Answer 7

Origin: Maxilla and mandible.
Insertion: Orbicularis Oris
Action: Compresses the cheek.

Question 8

STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID

Answer 8

Origin: Manubrium of the sternum and clavicle.
Insertion: Mastoid process of the temporal bone.
Action: Flexes and rotates the neck.

Question 9

DIAGASTRIC

Answer 9

Origin: (anterior & posterior belly)- Digastric fossa of mandible and Mastoid notch of temporal bone.
Insertion: Intermediate tendon to hyoid bone.
Function: Elevates the hyoid bone and aids in depressing the mandible (swallowing/speech).

Question 10

STERNOHYOID

Answer 10

Origin: Manubrium of sternum and medial end of the clavicle.
Insertion: Hyoid bone
Function: Depresses the hyoid bone.

Question 11

SERRATUS ANTERIOR

Answer 11

Origin: Ribs 1-8
Insertion: Anterior surface of the medial border of the scapula.
Function: Protracts scapula forward/upward (lifting arm), stabilizes (smooth shoulder movement).

Question 12

EXTERNAL INTERCOSTALS

Answer 12

Origin: Inferior border of the above rib.
Insertion: Superior border of the rib below.
Function: Elevates the ribs during inhalation.

Question 13

INTERNAL INTERCOSTALS

Answer 13

Origin: Superior border of the rib below.
Insertion: Inferior border of the rib above.
Function: Depresses the ribs during forced exhalation.

Question 14

PECTORALIS MAJOR

Answer 14

Origin: Clavicle, sternum, costal cartilage of ribs up to 6.
Insertion: Bicipital groove of humerus.
Function: Adduction of the arm, rotates arm inward, assists in raising arm (pushing, lifting, hugging).

Question 15

PECTORALIS MINOR

Answer 15

Origin: Ribs 3-5.
Insertion: Coracoid process of the scapula (scapula goes inward).
Function: Lowers the scapula, assists with inspiration, draws scapula forward/downward.

Question 16

DELTOID

Answer 16

Origin: Clavicle, acromion, spine of scapula.
Insertion: Deltoid tuberosity of the humerus.
Function: Abducts the arm (away from body), raises arm forward and inward, moves arm backward and outward.

Question 17

CORACOBRACHIALIS

Answer 17

Origin: Coronoid process of the scapula.
Insertion: Medial surface of the humerus shaft.
Function: Flexes (lifts at shoulder joint) and adducts the arm.

Question 18

BICEPS BRACHII

Answer 18

Origin (short & long head): Coracoid process of the scapula, supraglenoid tubercle (beneath glenoid cavity). (Combine at end/gets more narrow)
Insertion: Radial tuberosity on radius.
Function: Bends arm at elbow, rotates forearm to turn palm upward, assists in raising arm at shoulder.

Question 19

BRACHIALIS

Answer 19

Origin: Distal end of the humerus.
Insertion: Coronoid process and ulnar tuberosity of ulnar.
Function: Primarily responsible for bending the elbow. Elbow flexion.

Question 20

BRACHIORADIALIS

Answer 20

Origin: Lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus, coronoid process of the ulna.
Insertion: Midshaft of the radius.
Function: Assist in bending the elbow (thumbs up position), stabilizes elbow during rapid movement (handshake).

Question 21

PRONATOR TERES

Answer 21

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus, coronoid process of the ulna.
Insertion: Lateral surface of the radius (midway along bone).
Function: Rotates the forearm to turn palm downward. Helps bend elbow.

Question 22

FLEXOR CARPI RADIALIS

Answer 22

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus.
Insertion: Base of the second/third metacarpals.
Function: Bends the wrist forward, and away from midline (abduction) of the body (helps grip objects and stabilize wrist during activities).

Question 23

FLEXOR CARPI ULNARIS

Answer 23

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus
Insertion: Pisiform (hook of hamate), base of fifth metacarpal.
Function: Flexing adducts the hand at the wrist.

Question 24

PALMARIS LONGUS

Answer 24

Origin: Medial epicondyle of humerus.
Insertion: At palmar aponeurosis (tissue in palm).
Function: Assist in bending wrist forward, tenses aponeurosis (stabilizes skin of palm during gripping).

Question 25

FLEXOR DIGITORUM SUPERFICIALIS

Answer 25

Origin: At medial epicondyle of humerus, coronoid process of ulna and radius head. Insertion: Middle phalanges of fingers (2-5). Function: Helps bend wrist forward. Bends fingers at proximal interphalangeal joints.

Question 26

FLEXOR RETINACULUM

Answer 26

Thick band of connective tissue over wrist. Holds tendons of the flexor muscles in place.

Question 27

RECTUS ABDOMINUS

Answer 27

(6 pack) Origin: Pubic crest and symphysis. Insertion: Xiphoid process and costal cartilages of ribs 5-7. Function: Compresses abdominal contents, flexes and rotates vertebral column.

Question 28

EXTERNAL OBLIQUE

Answer 28

Origin: Outer surface of 5-12 [lower] ribs. Insertion: Iliac crest (top of pelvis), Linea alba (fibrous structure running down midline of abdomen), pubic tubercle (extrusion prominence near pubic bone). Function: Twists torso, bends sideways, bending spine forward, aid in compressing contents.

Question 29

INTERNAL OBLIQUE

Answer 29

Origin at iliac crest, inguinal ligament (ligament in groin area), lumbar vertebrae. Insertion: Lower rib cartilage (last 3), Linea alba, pubic crest. Function: Twisting torso, bending trunk sideways, supports core stability, compression of abdomen.

Question 30

TRANSVERSE ABDOMINUS

Answer 30

Origin: Costal cartilages lower 7-12, Iliac crest, Inguinal ligament. Insertion: Linea alba, pubic crest. Function: Maintains posture (supporting spine/pelvis), shields internal organs, assists in respiration.

Question 31

ILIACUS

Answer 31

Origin: Iliac fossa of ilium. Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur. Function: Flexing hip (thigh towards body), posture support, pelvic stabilization (during movement) [Essential for activities like walking and running].

Question 32

PSOAS MAJOR

Answer 32

Origin: Lumbar vertebrae. Insertion: Lesser trochanter of Femur. Function: Hip flexion, helps bend torso towards legs (when fixed), assists in rotating thigh outward, supports pelvic during movement.

Question 33

ADDUCTOR LONGUS

Answer 33

Origin: At pubis Insertion: Linea aspera of the femur Function: Pulls thigh inward toward midline of body, assists in bending hip joint, helps rotate thigh toward center of body.

Question 34

ADDUCTOR MAGNUS

Answer 34

Origin: At pubis and ischial tuberosity (bottom of pelvic). Insertion: Linea Aspera (ridge on posterior side of femur), adductor tubercle (medial condyle of femur). Function: Primarily responsible for moving thigh toward body midline, extending thigh (walking/climbing), inward rotation of thigh.

Question 35

ADDUCTOR BREVIS

Answer 35

Origin: At pubis Insertion: Linea aspera of femur Function: Brings thigh closer to midline, assists in bending the hip, helps rotate thigh inwardly.

Question 36

GRACILIS

Answer 36

Origin: Pubis Insertion: Medial surface (condyle) of tibia. Function: Thigh toward midline, bends knee joint, rotating lower leg inward when knee is bent.

Question 37

TENSOR FASCIAE LATAE

Answer 37

Origin: Anterior iliac crest Insertion: Iliotibial tract {that extends down to the Lateral tibial condyle}. Function: Helps lift thigh upward, moves thigh away from midline, assists in rotating thigh inward, stabilization of pelvis during movement.

Question 38

Iliotibial Tract (BAND)

Answer 38

Origin is Moreso a 'continuation' of the tensor fasciae Latae, and the gluteus maximus. Insertion: Inserts to the lateral tibial condyle. Functions: Pelvis stabilization (walking/running), lateral knee stability, force distribution across thigh during movement.

Question 39

RECTUS FEMORIS

Answer 39

Origin at Anterior Inferior iliac spine. Insertion: Base of patella Function: Knee extension- Straightens the knee joint and assists in lifting the thigh toward abdomen.

Question 40

VASTUS LATERALIS

Answer 40

Origin: Greater trochanter, intertrochanteric line, Linea aspera of femur. Insertion: Tibial tuberosity Function: Key muscle in straightening the knee. (Largest of the quadriceps muscles). [Squatting/Cycling].

Question 41

VASTUS INTERMEDIUS

Answer 41

Origin at anterior/lateral surfaces of femur. Insertion: At patella and tibial tuberosity. Function: Primary role is to straighten the knee joint.

Question 42

VASTUS MEDILAIS

Answer 42

Origin: Intertrochanteric line and Linea aspera of the femur. Insertion: At patella and tibial tuberosity. Function: Extending the leg at the knee.

Question 43

SARTORIUS

Answer 43

Origin: at anterior superior iliac spine. Insertion: Medial surface of the tibia. Function: Lifts thigh toward abdomen, moves thigh away from midline, rotates thigh outward, bends knee joint. [Longest muscle in human body].