Key Muscle Locations and Movements

Major muscles of the back, shoulder and chest:

Muscle Origin Insertion Movement/Action

Upper thoracic
Lower four thoracic
vertebrae and the
vertebrae
cervical vertebrae Extension of the vertebral column

Erector spinae

Thoracic, lumbar
Upper part of
vertebrae, sacrum and Adduction, extention and medial rotation
humerus
top of pelvis of the arm. Retraction and depression of
shoulder

Latissimus dorsi

Cervical and thoracic

Clavicle and scapula
vertebrae, base of skull Elevation, depression and retraction of
the scapula

Trapezius

Medial border of the Retraction and depression of the scapula.

C7-T5 vertebrae
scapula Fixes the scapula to the thoracic wall

Rhomboids
 Clavicle and spine of Upper part of Abduction, extension, lateral rotation,
scapula humerus flexion and medial rotation of arm

Deltoid

Sternum, clavicle and Upper front area of

1st-6th ribs humerus Adduction, flexion and medial rotation of
arm

Pectoralis major

Major muscles of the upper arm:

Muscle Origin Insertion Movement/Action

Flexion of elbow and supination of

Scapula Radius
forearm

Biceps brachii

Scapula and upper part of

Ulna Extension of elbow
humerus

Triceps brachii
 Major muscles of the Abdomen:

Muscle Origin Insertion Movement/Action

Front lower 5th, 6th and 7th ribs and

Flexion of vertebral column
part of pelvis lowest part of sternum

Rectus
abdominus

Front upper part of Rotation of vertebral column, compression of

Lower ribs
pelvis abdomen and flexion of vertebral column

External
oblique’s

Compression of abdomen, flexion of vertebral

Top of pelvis Lower three ribs
column and rotation of vertebral column

Internal
oblique’s
 Major muscles of the hip region:

Muscle Origin Insertion Movement/Action

Rear part of pelvis,

Top of femur Extension and lateral rotation of leg
sacrum and coccyx

Gluteus maximus

Outside of upper
Upper part of pelvis Abduction and medial rotation of leg
part of femur

Gluteus medius

Mid outer surface of Outside of upper

Abduction and medial rotation of leg
pelvis part of femur

Gluteus minimus

Lumbar vertebrae and Upper part of Flexion of femur and vertebral column.
top of pelvis femur Flexion and lateral rotation of leg

Hip flexors

(Psoas major and

Ilicus)
 Muscles of the quadriceps:

Muscle Origin Insertion Movement/Action

Front lower part of

Top front part Flexion of the femur and
pelvis and upper part
of tibia extension of the knee femur
of femur

Quadriceps

(Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis,

Vastus intermedius, Vastus
medialis)

Muscles of the hamstrings:

Muscle Origin Insertion Movement/Action

Lower back part

Upper part of Extension, medial and lateral
of pelvis and
tibia and fibula rotation of leg. Flexion of knee
femur

Hamstrings

(Semimembranosus,
Semitendinosus, Biceps femoris)
 Muscles of the calves:

Muscle Origin Insertion Movement/Action

Lower rear part of femur Heel bone Plantar flexion of foot and flexion of knee

Gastrocnemius

Upper rear part of tibia and fibula Heel bone Plantar flexion of foot

Soleus