Flashcards for Muscle Naming

Question 1

Direction of Muscle Fibers

Answer 1

Muscles are named in reference to an imaginary line, usually the midline of the body or the long axis of a limb.

Question 2

Rectus

Answer 2

Straight muscle fibers.

Question 3

Oblique

Answer 3

Slanting muscle fibers.

Question 4

Relative Size of Muscle

Answer 4

Muscles may be named based on size, often found at the end of the name (e.g., Maximus, Minimus, Longus).

Question 5

Maximus

Answer 5

Largest muscle.

Question 6

Minimus

Answer 6

Smallest muscle.

Question 7

Longus

Answer 7

Long muscle.

Question 8

Relative size of the muscle

Answer 8

These words may be found at the end of the muscle name indicating general size

Question 9

Location of Muscle

Answer 9

Muscles are sometimes named after the bone they are associated with (e.g., Temporalis, Frontalis).

Question 10

Temporalis

Answer 10

Muscle associated with the temporal bone.

Question 11

Frontalis

Answer 11

Muscle associated with the frontal bone.

Question 12

Number of Origins

Answer 12

Muscles may be named based on their number of origins (e.g., Biceps = 2, Triceps = 3, Quadriceps = 4).

Question 13

Biceps

Answer 13

Muscle with 2 points of origin.

Question 14

Triceps

Answer 14

Muscle with 3 points of origin.

Question 15

Quadriceps

Answer 15

Muscle with 4 points of origin.

Question 16

Location of Origin and Insertion

Answer 16

Some muscles are named after their attachment sites (e.g., Sternocleidomastoid).

Sternocleidomastoid:
Muscle attached to the sternum, clavicle, and mastoid bone.

Question 17

Sternocleidomastoid

Answer 17

Muscle attached to the sternum, clavicle, and mastoid bone.

Question 18

Shape of Muscle

Answer 18

Some muscles are named for their distinctive shape (e.g., Deltoid = triangular).

Question 19

Deltoid

Answer 19

Triangular-shaped muscle.

Question 20

Action of Muscle

Answer 20

Muscles may be named after the action they allow (e.g., Flexor, Adductor).

Question 21

Flexor Ulnaris

Answer 21

Muscle that flexes the ulna.

Question 22

Adductor Magnus

Answer 22

Muscle that adducts and is large in size.

Question 23

What determines the range of motion and power of a muscle?

Answer 23

The arrangement of fascicles.

Question 24

How does the length and orientation of fascicles affect muscle movement?

Answer 24

The longer and more nearly parallel the fascicles are to a muscle’s long axis, the more the muscle can shorten, but these muscles are not very powerful.

Question 25

What primarily determines the power of a muscle?

Answer 25

The total number of muscle fibers.