Movement Definitions

Each of the movements of the muscles for the various parts of the body is described by various terms. Abductor - moves a limb away from the midline Adductor - moves a limb towards the midline Extensor - increase the angle at a joint - extends a limb Flexor - decreases the angle at a joint - flexes a limb Pronator - turns a limb to face downwards Supinator - turns a limb to face upwards Rotator - rotates a limb Sphincter - closes an orifice of opening

Muscle actions
Muscles which move the shoulder and their action
Levator scapulae - Raises shoulder blade Pectoralis minor - Lowers shoulder blade Trapezius - Lifts clavicle. Adducts, elevates and rotates scapular outwards Rhomboideus major - Adducts scapular and rotates it inwards Serratus anterior - Stabilises scapula when hand exerts pressure on an object

Muscles which move the arm and their action

Pectoralis major - Flexes, adducts and rotates arm medially Latissimus dorsi - Extends, adducts and rotates arm medially. Moves arm downward and backwards Deltoid - Abducts, flexes, extends and medially and laterally rotates arm Teres major - Extends arm, assists in adduction and medial rotation of arm

Muscles which move the forearm and wrist and their action
Biceps brachii - Flexes and supinates forearm. Flexes arm Brachialis - Flexes the forearm Brachoradialis - Flexes, semi-supinates and semi-pronates the forearm Triceps brachii - Extends forearm. Extends arm Pronator teres - Pronates and flexes forearm Pronator quadratus - Pronates the forearm and hand Supinator - Supinates forearm and hand

Muscles which move the abdominal wall and their action

Rectus abdominis - Compresses abdomen and flexes vertebral column External obliques - Bends vertebral column laterally and rotates vertebral column Transversus abdominis - Compresses abdomen Quadratus lumborum - Side flexion

Muscles which move the vertebral column and their action

Iliocostalis lumborum - Extends lumbar region Iliocostalis thoracis - Maintains the spine's erect position Iliocostalis cervicis - Extends cervical region Longissimus thoracis - Extends thoracis region Longissimus cervicis - Extends cervical region Longissimus capitis - Extends the head and rotates it to opposite side Spinalis thoracis - Extends vertebral column Spinalis cervicis - Extends vertebral column Spinalis capitis - Extends vertebral column

Muscles which move the thigh and their action

Psoas major - Flexes and rotates thigh medially and flexes vertebral column Iliacus - Flexes and rotates thigh medially and flexes vertebral column Gluteus maximus - Extends and rotates thigh laterally. Adductor longus - Adducts, medially rotates and flexes the thigh Adductor brevis - Adducts, laterally rotates and flexes the thigh Adductor magnus - Adducts, flexes, laterally rotates and extends the thigh.

Muscles which act on the leg and their action

Rectus femoris - Extends knee and flexes hip Vastus lateralis - Extends knee Vastus medialis - Extends knee Vastus intermedius - Extends knee Sartorius - Flexes knee. Flexes hip and rotates femur laterally Biceps femoris - Flexes leg and extends thigh Semitendinosus - Flexes leg and extends thigh Semimembranosus - Flexes leg and extends thigh

Muscles which move the foot and their action

Tibialis anterior - Dorsiflexes and inverts foot Peroneus tertius - Dorsiflexes and everts foot Gastrocnemius - Plantar flexes foot and flexes knee Soleus - Plantar flexes foot Plantaris - Plantar flexes foot Tibialis posterior - Plantar flexes and inverts the foot Peroneus longus - Plantar flexes and everts the foot Peroneus brevis - Plantar flexes and everts the foot