HEAD AND TRUNK

MUSCLES

.
Head Muscles
Orbicularis Oris. This sphincter muscle
encircles the mouth. Its origin is on
several facial muscles, maxilla, mandible,
and nasal septum. The insertion is on
the lips.
Action: Closes and puckers the lips.
Orbicularis Oculi. This is the
sphincter muscle encircling the eye.
Its origin is on the frontal and maxilla
bones. Its insertion is on the eyelids.
Action: Closes the eyelids.
Procerus
Origin - Lower part of nasal bone
Insertion - Skin between eyebrows
Action - Pull eyebrows downward &
inward
Nasalis

Origin - Maxilla
Insertion - Lower region of cartilage of
nose
Action - Widens nasal aperture
Levator labii superioris

Origin - Superior to infraorbital

foramen of maxilla
Insertion – Orbicularis oris
Action - Raises upper lip
Depressor labii inferioris

Origin – mandible
Insertion – skin of lower lip
Action - depresses lower lip
Epicranius. This muscle is composed of two muscular parts
that lie over the frontal and occipital bones. They are joined by
the epicranial aponeurosis, which covers the top of the
skull. The frontalis has its origin on the aponeurosis and its
insertion on the soft tissue under the eyebrows. The
occipitalis has its origin on the mastoid process and occipital
bone. Its insertion is on the aponeurosis.

Action: The frontalis elevates the eyebrows and wrinkles the

forehead. The occipitalis pulls the scalp backward.
Zygomaticus. This muscle has its origin on
the zygomatic arch and extends diagonally to
its insertion on the orbicularis oris at the
corner of the mouth.

Action: Draws the corner of the mouth

upward and backward as in smiling and
laughing.
Triangularis. This muscle has its
origin on the mandible and its insertion
on the orbicularis oris at the corner of
the mouth. It is an antagonist of the
zygomaticus.
Action: Draws the corner of the
mouth downward.
Platysma. This is a broad sheetlike muscle that
covers the front and side of the neck. Its origin is on
the fascia of the upper chest and shoulder. The
insertion is on the mandible and the muscles around
the mouth. It is involved in many facial expressions.

Action: Pulls the angle of the mouth downward and

backward and assists in opening the mouth.
Buccinator. This horizontal muscle is located in
the walls of the cheeks. Its origin is on the
mandible and maxilla, and its insertion is on the
orbicularis oris at the corner of the mouth.
Action: Compresses the cheek, holds food
between teeth during chewing, and interacts
with other muscles in facial expressions.
Masseter. This is the primary chewing
muscle. Its origin is on the zygomatic arch,
and its insertion is on the lateral surface of
the ramus and angle of the mandible.

Action: Raises the mandible.

Risorius
Origin - Fascia over parotid
(salivary) gland
Insertion - Skin at angle of mouth
Action - Draws angle of mouth
laterally
Mentalis

Origin - mandible
Insertion – Skin of chin
Action - Elevates and protrudes
lower lip and pulls skin of chin up
Temporalis. This is a large, fan-shaped
muscle on the side of the head. Its origin is on
the temporal, parietal, and frontal bones. The
insertion is on the coronoid process of the
mandible.

Action: Acts synergistically with the masseter

to raise the mandible.
Sternocleidomastoid. This muscle is located on
the side of the neck and is partially covered by the
platysma. Its origin is on the sternum and medial
end of the clavicle, and its insertion is on the
mastoid process.
Action: Contraction of both muscles flexes the
head down toward the chest. Contraction of one
muscle only turns the face away from the side of
the contracting muscle.
Muscles of the Hyoid bone

Geniohyoid

Origin – Inner surface of mandible

Insertion – Body of hyoid bone
Action - Elevates hyoid bone, draws hyoid bone
and tongue anteriorly, and depresses mandible
Mylohyoid
Origin – Inner surface of mandible
Insertion – Body of hyoid bone
Action – Elevates hyoid bone and floor of mouth and
depresses mandible

Stylohyoid
Origin – Styloid process of temporal bone
Insertion – Body of hyoid bone
Action - Elevates hyoid bone and draws it posteriorly
Thyrohyoid
Origin – Thyroid cartilage of larynx
Insertion – Greater horn of hyoid bone
Action – Elevates thyroid cartilage and
depresses hyoid bone
Anterior Upper Trunk Muscles

Pectoralis Major. This fan-shaped muscle occupies

the upper quadrant of the chest. Its origin is on the
clavicle, sternum, costal cartilages, and aponeurosis of
the external oblique. Its insertion is a groove between
the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus.
Action: Adduction and medial rotation of the upper
arm.
Pectoralis minor
Origin – Ribs 3,4 & 5
Insertion – Coracoid process of scapula
Action – Steadies, depresses, rotates
downward, and protracts scapula
Deltoid. This primary muscle of the
shoulder originates on the lateral third of the
clavicle and on the acromion and spine of the
scapula. It inserts on the deltoid tuberosity of
the humerus.

Action: Abduction and extension of the

upper arm.
Serratus Anterior. This muscle covers
the upper lateral surface of the ribs. Its
origin is on the upper eight or nine ribs,
and its insertion is on the anterior surface
of the scapula.
Action: Pulls scapula downward and
forward toward the chest.
External Intercostals. Intercostal muscle are
found between the ribs. The external intercostals
originate on the lower border of the upper rib and
insert on the upper edge of the lower rib. The
fibers are directed obliquely forward.
Action: Elevate rib cage and increase volume of
the thorax, resulting in inspiration of air in
breathing.
Internal Intercostals. These muscles originate
on the upper border of the lower rib and insert on
the lower edge of the upper rib. The muscle fibers
are arranged in a direction opposite to the
external intercostals.
Action: Lower rib cage and draw ribs closer
together. This decreases volume of the thorax,
causing expiration of air in breathing.
Posterior Upper Trunk Muscles
Trapezius. This large triangular muscle of the
upper back has its origin on the occipital bone and
the spinous processes of the cervical and thoracic
vertebrae. It inserts on the spine and acromion of
the scapula and on the lateral third of the clavicle.
Action: Adducts and elevates scapula; pulls
head backward (hyperextension) if scapulae are
fixed.
Latissimus Dorsi. This large muscle covers
the lower back. Its origin is a large aponeurosis
attached to thoracic and lumbar vertebrae,
spine of the sacrum, iliac crest, and lower ribs.
Its insertion is on the intertubercular groove of
the humerus.
Action: Extend, adducts, and rotates the arm
medially; pulls shoulder downward and
backward.
Infraspinatus. This muscle originates on the
inferior margin of the spine and posterior surface
of the scapula. Its insertion is on the greater
tubercle of the humerus. It is partially covered by
the trapezius and deltoid, the small muscle just
below it, the teres minor, synergistically assists
the infraspinatus.
Action: Rotates upper arm laterally.
Supraspinatus. This muscle is covered
by the trapezius and deltoid. It
originates from the fossa above the
scapular spine and inserts on the greater
tubercle of the humerus.
Action: Assists deltoid in abducting
upper arm.
Teres Major. This muscle is the most
inferior of the three muscles that
originate on the posterior surface of the
scapula. Its insertion is on the lesser
tubercle of the humerus.
Action: Rotates upper arm medially.
Muscles that move the head
Semispinalis capitis
Origin – Transverse process of first 6 to 7 cervical vertebrae and first 3 to 4
thoracic vertebrae
Insertion – Occipital bone
Action – Extend head

Splenius capitis
Origin – Ligamentum nuchae and spinous processes of 7th cervical vertebra
and first 3 to 4 thoracic vertebra
Insertion – Occipital bone and mastoid process
Action - Extend head
Splenius cervices
Origin – C4 to C7 vertebrae
Insertion- Upper vertebral border of scapula
Action- Elevates and rotates scapula

Levator scapulae
Origin – Superior four or five cervical vertebrae
Insertion – Superior vertebral border of scapula
Action – Elevates scapula and rotates scapula downward
Abdominal Muscles
The abdominal wall consists of four pairs
of thin muscles that have a common
collective action. Starting with the
outermost muscle:
External Oblique. The origin if this superficial muscle
is on the lower eight ribs. Its insertion is on the iliac
crest and the linea alba, the white line at the midline
of the abdomen where the aponeuroses of the right
and left external obliques meet. The lower margin of
each aponeurosis forms the inguinal ligament, which
extends from the anterior superior spine of the ilium to
the pubic tubercle. The muscle fibers run diagonally
downward from the ribs toward the linea alba.
Internal Oblique. This muscle lies just
under the external oblique. Its origin is on
the iliac crest and inguinal ligament. Its
insertion is on the costal cartilages of the
lower three ribs, the linea alba, and the
pubic crest. The muscle fibers also run
diagonally.
Transversus Abdominis. This
innermost muscle originates from the
inguinal ligament, iliac crest and the
costal cartilages of the lower six ribs. It
inserts on the linea alba and the pubic
crest. The muscle fibers run diagonally
across the abdomen.
Rectus Abdominis. The right rectus abdominis
is the narrow segmented muscle extending from
the rib cage to the pubic bone. It is embedded
within the aponeurosis formed by the preceding
three muscles. Its origin is on the pubic bone,
and its insertion is on the cartilages of the fifth,
sixth, and seventh ribs. The rectus abdominis
aids in flexion of the trunk in the lumbar region.
Collective Action: These four muscles
compress the abdominal organs and
maintain or increase intra-abdominal
pressure, aiding in urination, defection,
and childbirth. They are antagonists to
the diaphragm and aid in forcing air from
the lungs.