Flashcards for Muscle Naming
Direction of Muscle Fibers
Muscles are named in reference to an imaginary line, usually the midline of the body or the long axis of a limb.
Rectus
Straight muscle fibers.
Oblique
Slanting muscle fibers.
Relative Size of Muscle
Muscles may be named based on size, often found at the end of the name (e.g., Maximus, Minimus, Longus).
Maximus
Largest muscle.
Minimus
Smallest muscle.
Longus
Long muscle.
Relative size of the muscle
These words may be found at the end of the muscle name indicating general size
Location of Muscle
Muscles are sometimes named after the bone they are associated with (e.g., Temporalis, Frontalis).
Temporalis
Muscle associated with the temporal bone.
Frontalis
Muscle associated with the frontal bone.
Number of Origins
Muscles may be named based on their number of origins (e.g., Biceps = 2, Triceps = 3, Quadriceps = 4).
Biceps
Muscle with 2 points of origin.
Triceps
Muscle with 3 points of origin.
Quadriceps
Muscle with 4 points of origin.
Location of Origin and Insertion
Some muscles are named after their attachment sites (e.g., Sternocleidomastoid).
Sternocleidomastoid:
Muscle attached to the sternum, clavicle, and mastoid bone.
Sternocleidomastoid
Muscle attached to the sternum, clavicle, and mastoid bone.
Shape of Muscle
Some muscles are named for their distinctive shape (e.g., Deltoid = triangular).
Deltoid
Triangular-shaped muscle.
Action of Muscle
Muscles may be named after the action they allow (e.g., Flexor, Adductor).
Flexor Ulnaris
Muscle that flexes the ulna.
Adductor Magnus
Muscle that adducts and is large in size.
What determines the range of motion and power of a muscle?
The arrangement of fascicles.
How does the length and orientation of fascicles affect muscle movement?
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.
What primarily determines the power of a muscle?
The total number of muscle fibers.
