Upper Limb : Muscles

Muscles of shoulder region

Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Lateral 1/3 of clavicle +

Deltoid Deltoid tuberosity of Major abductor of the arm
acromion and spine of
humerus
scapula Axillary nerve

Teres minor Greater tuberosity of Laterally rotates the arm

humerus
Lateral border of scapula
Teres major Bicipital groove of humerus Adducts at the shoulder and Lower subscapular nerve
medially rotates the arm

Supraspinatus Supraspinous fossa Abducts the arm 0-15o, and

Greater tuberosity of assists deltoid for 15-90o
Suprascapular nerve
humerus

Infraspinatus Infraspinous fossa Laterally rotates the arm

Subscapularis Subscapular fossa Lesser tuberosity of Medially rotates the arm Upper and lower
humerus subscapular nerves
All the pictures are taken from [ http://teachmeanatomy.info/ ] ..
 Muscles of pectoral region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

-Sternum, -Adduct and medially rotate the

Medial and
Pectoralis -Upper 6 costal cartilages Lateral lip of bicipital groove humerus
lateral pectoral
major -Aponeurosis of external -The clavicular head also
nerves
oblique muscle performs flexion

-Depression of shoulder
Pectoralis 3rd, 4th, & 5th ribs close Coracoid process Medial pectoral
-Draw the ribs upward &
minor to their costal cartilages nerve
outwards during deep inspiration

Steadies or fixes the clavicle

Subclavius 1st rib at its costal Subclavian groove at the inferior Nerve to
during movement of the shoulder
cartilage surface of middle 1/3 of clavicle subclavius
joint

-Draws the scapula forward

-Rotates scapula outwards in
Serratus Upper eight ribs Ventral aspect of the medial border Long thoracic
raising the arm above 90 degree.
and inferior angle of the scapula nerve
anterior -Keep the scapula adherent to
the chest wall
 Serratus anterior

Pectoralis minor Pectoralis major

All the pictures are taken from [ http://teachmeanatomy.info/ ] ..

 Muscles of arm region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

-Long Head from supraglenoid -Strong supinator of the

tubercle of scapula (intracapsular) forearm (used in screwing)
-Short Head from the tip of coracoid
In the posterior part of the
Biceps brachii -Powerful flexor of elbow
process of scapula radial tuberosity
-Weak flexor of shoulder,
-The two heads join in the middle of produce supination
the arm Musculocutaneous

Middle of the medial side of

Coracobrachialis Tip of the coracoid process Flexor & a weak adductor of
the shaft of the humerus
the arm

Front of the lower half of Anterior surface of coronoid Musculocutaneous

Brachialis humerus Strong flexor of the forearm
process of ulna & Radial

-Long head from infraglenoid

tubercle of the scapula
-Lateral head from the upper half of Common tendon inserted
the posterior surface of the shaft of
Triceps brachii humerus above the spiral groove into the upper surface of the Strong extensor of the elbow Radial nerve
-Medial head from the lower half of olecranon process of ulna joint
the posterior surface of the shaft of
humerus below the spiral groove
 Biceps brachii
Triceps brachii
 Coracobrachialis
Brachialis
 Muscles of forearm (FLEXOR SUPERFICIAL) region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Pronator teres Middle of lat. surface of Pronation & flexion of forearm

radius

Flexor carpi
radialis Base of 2nd metacarpal bone Flexion & abduction of the hand Median nerve
Common flexor origin
(front of medial
Into the flexor retinaculum &
Palmaris longus epicondyle) Flexes hand & tightens palmer
palmar aponeurosis
aponeurosis

Flexor carpi Pisiform, Ulnar nerve hook of Flexion and adduction of the hand Ulnar nerve
ulnaris hamate 5th metacarpalbone

-Common flexor origin Flexes middle and proximal

Flexor digitorum Base of middle phalanges of Median nerve
-Coronoid process of ulna phalanges of medial 4 fingers, and
superficialis medial 4 finger
-Anterior surface of radius the hand
 Muscles of forearm (FLEXOR DEEP) region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Median nerve except

Flexor digitorum Above ulna Bases of distal phalanges of Flexes distal phalanges of medial 4 medial half are innervated
profundus medial 4 digits digits by the ulnar nerve

flexes interphalangeal,
Flexor pollicis Above radius Base of distal phalanx of
metacarpophalangeal &
longus thumb
carpometacarpal joints of thumb Median nerve

Pronator Above the ulna Distal fourth of ant. surface pronates forearm (primemover),
quadratus & radius of radius helps to hold the bones together
 Muscles of forearm (EXTENSOR LATERAL) region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

-Flexes forearm; (elbow)

Brachioradialis Base of styloid process of radius -Rotates forearm to the midprone
Lateral supracondylar position Radial nerve itself
ridge of humerus
Extensor carpi Posterior surface of base of 2nd Extends and abducts hand at wrist
radialis metacarpal bone joint
longus
 Muscles of forearm (EXTENSOR SUPERFICIAL) region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Extensor carpi Extends and abducts hand at wrist

radialis brevis Base of 3rd metacarpal bone
joint
Posterior
Extensor digitorum Extensor expansion of the Extends medial four fingers at the interosseous
medial 4 fingers MCP and IP joints nerve
(continuation
Extensor digiti Extensor expansion of the Extends the little finger, and
common extensor Deep Branch of
minimi medial 4 fingers contributes to extension at the wrist
origin, (front of Radial Nerve)
lateral epicondyle (PURELY MOTOR
of the humerus nerve)
Extensor carpi Base of the 5th metacarpal bone
ulnaris Extension and adduction of wrist

Anconeus Posterior and lateral part of the Moves the ulna during pronation and Radial nerve itself
olecrannon extends at the elbow joint
 Muscles of forearm (EXTENSOR DEEP) region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Supinator -Lateral epicondyle of the humerus posterior surface Supinates the forearm
-Posterior surface of the ulna of the radius

Abductor
pollicis longus Interosseous membrane Abducts the thumb

Posterior
Extends at the metacarpophalangeal interosseous nerve
Extensor Posterior surface of the radius and
Thumb and carpometacarpal joints of the (continuation Deep
pollicis brevis interosseous membrane
thumb Branch of Radial
Nerve) (PURELY
Extends all joints of the thumb: MOTOR nerve)
Extensor carpometacarpal,
pollicis longus metacarpophalangeal and
posterior surface of the ulna and interphalangeal
interosseous membrane
Extensor Index Extends the index finger
indices
All the pictures are taken from [ http://teachmeanatomy.info/ ] ..
 Muscles of hand region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Palmar aponeurosis and Corrugation of skin to Ulnar nerve

Palmaris brevis flexor retinaculum Skin of palm
improve grip (Superficial branch)

Abductor digiti minimi Pisiform Abduction

(Hypothenar Eminence) Base of proximal
phalanges of little finger
Flexor digiti minimi brevis Flexor retinaculum Flexion Deep branch of Ulnar
(Hypothenar Eminence)

Opponens digiti minimi Medial margin of 5th Pulls the 5th metacarpal
Palmar surface of 5th metacarpal metacarpal
(Hypothenar forward (Cup the palm)
Eminence)
Abductor pollicis brevis Flexor retinaculum (Scaphoid
& Trapez) Abduction
(Thenar Eminence) Base of proximal
phalanges of the thumb
Flexor pollicis brevis Median nerve
Flexion
(Thenar Eminence)
Flexor retinaculum

Oppenens pollicis Lateral part of 1st

metacarpal Opposition
(Thenar Eminence)
 Hypothenar Eminence

Thenar Eminence

All the pictures are taken from [ http://teachmeanatomy.info/ ] ..

 Muscles of hand region
Muscle ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Oblique Head: Ant. bases of 2nd

Medial side of base of prox.ph of Deep branch of
Adductor pollicis &3rd metacarpal
thumb Addiction
Trans Head: 3rd metacarpal Ulnar nerve

Flex metacarpophalangeal 1st & 2nd (Lateral

Lumbrical muscles Extensor expansion of medial joints and extend two) : Median N.
Tendons of Flex.dig. profundus four fingers
(4 MUSCLES) interphalangeal joints of 3rd & 4th : Ulnar N
fingers except thumb (Deep branch)

First: Base of 1st metacarpal.

Other three: Ant. surface of Proximal phalanges of thumb ,
Palmar interossei shafts of 2nd , 4rd & 5th index, ring, & little fingers and Adduction of fingers toward
(4 MUSCLES) metacarpals extensor expansion center of the 3rd one
Ulnar nerve

Dorsal interossei Contiguous sides of shafts of Proximal phalang of index, ring , Abduction of fingers away
metacarpals mid finger & extensor expansion
(4 MUSCLES) from the 3rd one
Lumbrical muscles