Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Action

Innervation

EYE
Levator palpebrae Back of orbital
superioris
cavity

Anterior surface
and upper margin
of superior tarsal
plate

Raises upper eyelid Striated muscle by

CNIII
Smooth muscle by
sympathetic

Superior oblique

Posterior wall of
orbital cavity

Uses CNIV as
pulley and attaches
to superior surface
of eyeball below
superior rectus

Rotates eyeball so
cornea looks
downward and
laterally

CNIV

Inferior oblique

Floor of orbital
cavity

Lateral surface of
eyeball deep to
lateral rectus

Rotates eyeball so
cornea looks
upward and
laterally

CNIII

Superior rectus

Annulus of Zinn

Superior surface of Raises cornea

eyeball posterior to upward and
corneoscleral
medially
junction

CNIII

Inferior rectus

Annulus of Zinn

Inferior surface of Lowers cornea

eyeball posterior to downward and
corneoscleral
medially
junction

CNIII

Medial rectus

Annulus of Zinn

Medial surface of Rotates eyeball so

eyeball posterior to cornea faces
corneoscleral
medially
junction

CNIII

Lateral rectus

Annulus of Zinn

Lateral surface of Rotates eyabll so

eyeball posterior to cornea faces
corneoscleral
laterally
junction

CNVI

Muscles of palate
Tensor veli palatini Spine of sphenoid
and auditory tube

Levator veli
palatini

Forms palatine
aponeurosis with
contralateral
muscle

Tenses soft palate

Nerve to medial
pterygoid from
CNV3

Raises soft palate

Pharyngeal plexus

Posterior border of Elevates wall of

thyroid cartilage
pharynx and pulls
palatopharyngeal
folds medially

Pharyngeal plexus

Petrous part of
Palatine
temporal bone and aponeurosis
auditory tube

Palatopharyngeus Palatine
aponeurosis

Palatoglossus

Palatine
aponeurosis

Side of tongue

Pulls roof of
tongue upwards
and backward and
narrows
oropharnygeal
isthmus

Pharnygeal plexus

Muscles of pharynx
Stylopharyngeus

Styloid process of
temporal bone

Posterior border of Elevates larynx in

thyroid cartilage
swallowing

CNIX nerve

Salpingopharynge Auditory tube

us

Blends with
palatopharyngeus

Elevates pharynx

CNX via
pharyngeal plexus

Palatopharyngeus Palatine
aponeurosis

Posterior border of Elevates wall of

thyroid cartilage
pharynx, pulls
palatopharyngeal
arch medially

CNX via
pharyngeal plexus

Superior
constrictor
(posterior aspect
of pharynx)

Pharyngeal
tubercle of
occipital bone,
median raph

Constricts upper
pharynx

CNX via
pharyngeal plexus

Middle constrictor Lower part of

stylohyoid
ligament, lesser
and greater cornu
of hyoid bone

Median raphe

Constricts lower
pharynx

CNX via
pharyngeal plexus

Inferior constrictor Lamina of thyroid

cartilage

Median raph

Constricts lower
pharynx

CNX via
pharyngeal plexus

Medial pterygoid
plate, pterygoid
hamulus,
pterygomandibular
band and
mylohyoid bone of
mandible

Muscles of larynx
Cricothyroid

Anterolateral
surface of cricoid
cartilage

Lower border of
lamina and inferior
cornu of thyroid
cartilage

Thyroarytenoid

Inner surface of the Anterolateral

angle of the
surface of
thyroid cartilage
arytenoid cartilage
anteriorly.

Draw arytenoid
cartilage forward
and hence relax
and shorten the
vocal folds

Vocalis (part of
thyroarytenoid)

Thyroid lamina
and cricothyroid
ligament

Relaxes segments Inferior laryngeal

of vocal ligaments nerve from CNX

Vocal ligament

Forward and
Superior laryngeal
downward rotation nerve from CNX
of thyroid cartilage
at cricothyroid
joint
Inferior laryngeal
nerve from CNX

Posterior
cricoarytenoid

Posterior surface of Muscular process

laminae of cricoid of arytenoid
cartilage
cartilage

Abduction and
Inferior laryngeal
external rotation of nerve from CNX
arytenoid cartilage.

Lateral
cricoarytenoid

Arch of cricoid
cartilage

Internal rotation of Inferior laryngeal

arytenoid cartilage nerve from CNX
and vocal cord
adduction

Transverse
arytenoids

Posterior surface of Posterior surface of Adduction of

Inferior laryngeal
one arytenoid
opposite arytenoid arytenoid
nerve from CNX
cartilage
cartilage
cartilages and thus
vocal folds.

muscular process
of arytenoid
cartilage

Oblique arytenoid Muscular process

and aryepiglottic of one arytenoid
cartilage

Apex of opposite Adduction of

Inferior laryngeal
arytenoid cartilage arytenoid
nerve from CNX
cartilages and thus
vocal folds
Muscles of mastication

Temporalis

Floor of temporal
fossa and deep
surface of temporal
fascia

Narrow attachment Elevates mandible, CNV3

to tip and medial
closing jaws
surface of coronoid
process and
anterior border of
mandibular ramus.

Masseter

Inferior border and Angle and lateral

medial surface of surface of ramus
maxillary process and mandible
of zygomatic bone
and zygomatic arch

Elevates mandible CNV3

closing the jaws

Medial pterygoid

Medial surface of
lateral pterygoid
plate and
pyramidal process
of palatine bone,
and tuberosity of
maxilla.

Medial surface of
ramus of mandible
inferior to
mandibular
foramen

Acts
CNV3
synergistically with
masseter to elevate
mandible with
contributions to
protrusion.

Lateral pterygoid

Infratemporal
surface and crest of
greater wing of
sphenoid; and
lateral surface of
lateral pterygoid

Upper head
attaches primarily
to joint capsule and
TMJ articular disc

Protracts mandible CNV3

and depresses chin.
Sways jaw and
contributes to
larger chewing
actions.

EXTRINSIC MUSCLES OF TONGUE

Genioglossus

Short tendon from Dorsum of the

superior part of
tongue
mental spine of

Depresses,
protrudes, retracts
apex of, and

CNXII

mandible

deviates tongue.

Hyoglossus

Body and greater Inferior aspects of

horn of hyoid bone lateral part of
tongue

Depresses pulling
sides inferiorly,
and retrudes
tongue

Styloglossus

Anterior border of
distal styloid
process and
stylohyoid
ligament.

Retrudes and curls CNXII

sides of tongue,
and works with
genioglossus
forming central
trough in
swallowing.

Palatoglossus

Palatine
Enters
aponeurosis of soft posterolateral
palate
tongue transversely
blending with
intrinsic transverse
muscles

Sides of tongue
posteriorly
interdigitating with
hyoglossus

Elevates the
posterior of
tongue, depresses
soft palate and
constricts isthmus
of fauces.

CNXII

CNX

LATERAL COMPARTMENT OF LOWER LEG

Peroneus
(fibularis) longus

Head and superior Base of 1st

2/3rds of lateral
metatarsal and
surface of fibula
medial cuneiform

Everts foot and

Superficial fibular
weakly
nerve
plantarflexes ankle

Peroneus
(fibularis) brevis

Inferior 2/3rds of
lateral surface of
fibula

Everts foot and

Superficial fibular
wealy plantarflexes nerve
ankle

Dorsal surface of
tuberosity on 5th
metatarsal

ANTERIOR (extensor) COMPARTMENT OF LOWER LEG

Tibialis anterior

Lateral condyle
and superior half
of lateral surface of
tibia

Medial and inferior Dorsiflexes ankle

surfaces of medial and inverts foot
cuneiform and base
of 1st metatarsal

Deep fibular nerve

Extensor digitorum Lateral condyle of Distal phalanges of Extends digits 2-5

longus
tibia and superior digits 2-5
s of anterior
tibial shaft

Deep fibular nerve

Peroneus
(fibularis) tertius

Deep fibular nerve

Anterior surface of Dorsum of base of Dorsiflexes ankle

fibula
5th metatarsal
and aids in
eversion of foot

Externsor hallucis Anterior surface of Dorsal surface of

longus
fibula
distal phalanx of
hallux
Extensor digitorum Dorsal and lateral
brevis
surface of
calcaneus

Extension of hallux Deep fibular nerve

and inversion and
dorsiflexion of foot

Lateral surfaces of Extends digits 2-4

EDL tendons digits
2-4

Deep fibular nerve

SUPERFICIAL POSTERIOR (flexor) COMPARTMENT OF LOWER LEG

Gastrocnemius

Lateral and medial Posterior surface of

heads arise from
calcaneus via
respective
calcaneal tendon
posterior condyles
on femur

Plantarflexes ankle Tibial nerve

when knee is
extended, raises
heel while
walking, flexes leg
at knee joint.

Soleus

Posterior aspect of Posterior surface of Plantarflexion of

Tibial nerve
head and upper
calcaneus via
foot and flexes leg
third of fibula and calcaneal tendon
at knee joint
adkjacent medial
region of tibia

Plantaris

Above lateral head Posterior surface of Flexes knee and

of gastrocnemius calcaneus via
assists in
on lower part of
calcaneal tendon
plantarflexion
supracondylar
ridge of femur

Tibial nerve

DEEP POSTERIOR (flexor) COMPARTMENT OF LOWER LEG

Popliteus

Lateral surface of
lateral condyle of
femur and lateral
meniscus

Posterior surface of Unlocks and flexes Tibial nerve

tibia superior to
the knee and
soleal line
assists in medial
rotation

Flexor digitorum
longus

Posterior surface of Inferior surfaces of Flexion of

Tibial nerve
tibia
distal phalanges 2- phalanges of distal
5
joints 2-5,
inversion and
plantarflexion of
foot.

Flexor hallucis
longus

Inferior 2/3rds of
posterior fibula

Base of distal
phalanx of great
toe

Tibialis posterior

Interosseous
membrane,
posterior surface of
tibia and superior
2/3rds of medial
surface of fibula

Tuberosity on
Plantarflexion,
navicular bone and inversion and
slips to the
adducts foot
cuneiforms, cuboid
and metatarsals 2-4

Flexion of distal
phalanx of hallux,
inversion and
plantarflexion.

Tibial nerve

Tibial nerve

GLUTEAL MUSCLES
Gluteus maximus

Posterior gluteal
line of ileum,
posterior surface of
sacrum and coccyx

Upper fibers at
ileotibial tract and
lower fibers at
gluteal tuberosity

Abducts the thigh, Inferior gluteal

stabilises the hip, nerve
internal/external
rotation and
flexion/extension

of thigh
Gluteus medius

External surface of greater trochanter

ileum
of femur

Abduct and
medially rotate
thigh

Superior gluteal
nerve

Gluteus minimus

External surface of greater trochanter

ileum
of femur

Abduct and
medially rotate
thigh

Superior gluteal
nerve

SHORT MUSCLES OF BUTTOCKS

Piriformis

Anterior surface of greater trochanter

sacrum
of femur

External rotation
abduction and
extension

Nerve to piriformis

Obturator
Obturator internus membrane

greater trochanter

External rotation,
abduction and
extension

Nerve to obturator
internus

Superior gemellus Ischial spine

greater trochanter

External rotation,
abduction and
extension

Nerve to obturator
internus

Inferior gemellus

Ischial tuberosity

greater trochanter

External rotation,
abduction and
extension

Nerve to quadrator
femoris

Quadratus femoris Lateral border of

ischial tuberosity

Quadrate tubercle
on
intertrochanteric
crest of femur

Laterally rotates
thigh

Nerve to quadrator
femoris

POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THIGH

Biceps femoris

LH: ischial
tuberosity, SH:
linea aspera

Lateral side of
head of fibula

Flexes leg and

laterally rotates it

LH: tibial division

of sciatic nerve.
SH: common
fibular division

Semimembranosus Ischial tuberosity

Posterior aspect of Extend thigh,

medial condyle of flexes leg
tibia

Tibial division of
sciatic nerve

Semitendonosus

Medial surface of
superior part of
tibia

Tibial divison of
sciatic nerve

Ischial tuberosity

Extend thigh,
flexes leg

ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THIGH

Pectineus

Superior ramus of
pubis

Pectineal line of
femur

Adducts and flexes Femoral nerve

thigh

Sides of T12-L5
vertebrae

Lesser trochanter
of femur

Flex thigh at hip Anterior rami of

joint and stabilise lumbar nerves

Iliopsoas
Psoas major

Psoas minor

Sides of T12-S1

Pectineal line

the joint

Iliacus

Iliac crest, iliac

fossa, ala of
sacrum

Tendon of psoas
major

Tensor fascia lata

ASIS and anterior

part of iliac crest

Iliotibial tract
Abduct and
Superior gluteal
attaching to lateral medially rotate the nerve
condyle of tibia
thigh

Sartorius

ASIS and superior Superior part of

part of notch
medial surface of
inferior to it
tibia

Rectus femoris

AIIS and ilium

superior to
acetabulum

Common tendon of Extension of leg at Femoral nerve

quadriceps
knee joint and
inserting on tibial flexion of hip
tuberosity

Vastus lateralis

Greater trochanter
and lateral lip of
linea aspera

Common tendon of Extension of leg at Femoral nerve

quadriceps
knee joint and
inserting on tibial flexion of hip
tuberosity

Vastus medialis

Intertrochanteric
line and medial lip
of linea aspera of
femur

Common tendon of Extension of leg at Femoral nerve

quadriceps
knee joint and
inserting on tibial flexion of hip
tuberosity

Femoral nerve

Flexes, abducts,
and laterally
rotates thigh

Femoral nerve

Vastus intermedius Anterior and lateral Common tendon of Extension of leg at Femoral nerve
surfaces of shaft of quadriceps
knee joint and
femur
inserting on tibial flexion of hip
tuberosity
MEDIAL COMPARTMENT OF THIGH
Adductor longus

Body of pubis
inferior to pubic
crest

Linea aspera of
femur

Adduct thigh

Obturator nerve

Adductor brevis

Body and inferior

ramus of pubis

Pectineal line and

linea aspera

Adducts thigh

Obturator nerve

Aductor magnus

Inferior ramus of
pubis and ischium
and ischial
tuberosity

Medial aspect of
Adducts thigh and Obturator nerve
femur and adductor flexes/extends as
and tibial part of
tubercle on medial well
sciatic
condyle of femur

Gracilis

Body and inferior

ramus of pubis

Superior part of
medial surface of
tibia

Obturator externus Obturator

membrane and
margins of
obturator foramen

Adducts thigh,
flexes leg

Trochanteric fossa Laterally rotate

of femur
thigh, steadies
head of femur in
acetabulum

Obturator nerve

Obturator nerve