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Muscle Descriptions

Here is a list of muscles with basic descriptions of their function and anatomy. Only a small selection is listed, but many more are to come.

• Quadriceps (muscle group)
• Hamstrings (muscle group)
• Calf (muscle group)

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Complete List (no descriptions)

There are approximately 650 skeletal muscles within the typical human. However, it is difficult to define the exact number as different sources name and group muscles differently. There are not 650 names on this list as there if often more than one occurrence of these muscles, for example on each limb.

Abductor digiti minimi (foot) Abductor digiti minimi (hand) Abductor hallucis Abductor pollicis brevis Abductor pollicis longus Adductor brevis Adductor hallucis Adductor longus Adductor magnus Adductor pollicis Anconeus Articularis cubiti Articularis genu Aryepiglotticus Aryjordanicus Auricularis Biceps brachii Biceps femoris Brachialis Brachioradialis Buccinator Bulbospongiosus Constrictor of pharynx -inferior Constrictor of pharynx -middle Constrictor of pharynx -superior Coracobrachialis Corrugator supercilii Cremaster Cricothyroid Dartos Deep transverse perinei Deltoid Depressor anguli oris Depressor labii inferioris Diaphragm Digastric Erector spinae - spinalis Erector spinae - iliocostalis Erector spinae - longissimus Extensor carpi radialis brevis Extensor carpi radialis longus Extensor carpi ulnaris Extensor digiti minimi (hand) Extensor digitorum (hand) Extensor digitorum brevis (foot) Extensor digitorum longus (foot) Extensor hallucis longus Extensor indicis Extensor pollicis brevis Extensor pollicis longus External oblique abdominis Flexor carpi radialis Flexor carpi ulnaris Flexor digiti minimi brevis (foot) Flexor digiti minimi brevis (hand) Flexor digitorum brevis Flexor digitorum longus (foot) Flexor digitorum profundus Flexor digitorum superficialis Flexor hallucis brevis Flexor hallucis longus Flexor pollicis brevis Flexor pollicis longus Frontalis Gastrocnemius Gemellus inferior Gemellus superior Genioglossus Geniohyoid Gluteus maximus Gluteus medius Gluteus minimus Gracilis Hyoglossus Iliacus Inferior oblique Inferior rectus Infraspinatus Intercostals external Intercostals innermost Intercostals internal Internal oblique abdominis Interossei - dorsal of hand Interossei -dorsal of foot Interossei- palmar of hand Interossei - plantar of foot Interspinales Intertransversarii Intrinsic muscles of tongue Ishiocavernosus Lateral cricoarytenoid Lateral pterygoid Lateral rectus Latissimus dorsi Levator anguli oris Levator ani-coccygeus Levator ani - iliococcygeus Levator ani-pubococcygeus Levator ani-puborectalis Levator ani-pubovaginalis Levator labii superioris Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi Levator palpebrae superioris Levator scapulae Levator veli palatini Levatores costarum Longus capitis Longus colli Lumbricals of foot Lumbricals of hand Masseter Medial pterygoid Medial rectus Mentalis M. uvulae Mylohyoid Nasalis

Oblique arytenoid Obliquus capitis inferior Obliquus capitis superior Obturator externus Obturator internus Omohyoid Opponens digiti minimi (hand) Opponens pollicis Orbicularis oculi Orbicularis oris Palatoglossus Palatopharyngeus Palmaris brevis Palmaris longus Pectineus Pectoralis major Pectoralis minor Peroneus brevis Peroneus longus Peroneus tertius Piriformis Plantaris Platysma Popliteus Posterior cricoarytenoid Procerus Pronator quadratus Pronator teres Psoas major Psoas minor Pyramidalis Quadratus femoris Quadratus lumborum Quadratus plantae Rectus abdominis Rectus capitus anterior Rectus capitus lateralis Rectus capitus posterior major Rectus capitus posterior minor Rectus femoris Rhomboid major Rhomboid minor Risorius Salpingopharyngeus Sartorius Scalenus anterior Scalenus medius Scalenus minimus Scalenus posterior Semimembranosus Semitendinosus Serratus anterior Serratus posterior inferior Serratus posterior superior Soleus Sphincter ani Sphincter urethrae Splenius capitis Splenius cervicis Stapedius Sternocleidomastoid Sternohyoid Sternothyroid Styloglossus Stylohyoid Stylopharyngeus Subclavius Subcostalis Subscapularis Superficial transverse Perinei Superior oblique Superior rectus Supinator Supraspinatus Temporalis Temporoparietalis Tensor fasciae lata Tensor tympani Tensor veli palatini Teres major Teres minor Thyro-arytenoid & vocalis Thyro-epiglotticus Thyrohyoid Tibialis anterior Tibialis posterior Transverse arytenoid Transversospinalis -multifidus Transversospinalis -rotatores Transversospinalis -semispinalis Transversus abdominis Transversus thoracis Trapezius Triceps Vastus intermedius Vastus lateralis Vastus medialis Zygomaticus major Zygomaticus minor

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• Explaining the difference between fast and slow twitch muscle fibers
• The Mechanisms of Muscle Fatigue
• List of stretches

Disclaimer

The above information is presented as a general guide. The author and publisher take no responsibility for any possible consequences of any treatment, procedure, exercise, action or application of medication based on this information. See more: Disclaimer.