Muscles of the Upper Limb - Listed Alphabetically

Muscle Origin Insertion Action Innervation Artery Notes

abductor digiti pisiform base of the proximal abducts the 5th digit deep branch of the ulnar a. abductor digiti minimi,
minimi (hand) phalanx of the 5th ulnar nerve flexor digiti minimi brevis,
digit on its ulnar side and opponens digiti minimi
are located in the
hypothenar compartment of
the hand

abductor pollicis flexor retinaculum, base of the proximal abducts thumb recurrent branch of superficial palmar abductor pollicis brevis,
brevis scaphoid, trapezium phalanx of the first median nerve br. of the radial a. flexor pollicis brevis, and
digit opponens pollicis are
located in the thenar
compartment of the hand

abductor pollicis middle one-third of the radial side of the base abducts the thumb at radial nerve, deep posterior the tendons of abductor
longus posterior surface of the of the first metacarpal carpometacarpal joint branch interosseous a. pollicis longus and extensor
radius, interosseous pollicis brevis make the
membrane, mid-portion lateral border of the
of posterolateral ulna anatomical snuffbox

adductor pollicis oblique head: capitate base of the proximal adducts the thumb ulnar nerve, deep deep palmar deep palmar arch and deep
and base of the 2nd and phalanx of the thumb branch arterial arch ulnar nerve pass between the
3rd metacarpals; two heads of adductor
transverse head: shaft pollicis, which is in the
of the 3rd metacarpal adductor-interosseous
compartment

anconeus lateral epicondyle of lateral side of the extends the forearm nerve to anconeus, interosseous none
the humerus olecranon and the from the radial nerve recurrent a.
upper one-fourth of
the ulna

biceps brachii short head: tip of the tuberosity of the flexes the forearm, flexes arm musculocutaneous brachial a. a powerful supinator only if
coracoid process of the radius (long head), supinates nerve (C5,6) the elbow is flexed
scapula; long head:
supraglenoid tubercle
of the scapula

brachialis anterior surface of the coronoid process of flexes the forearm musculocutaneous brachial a., radial a powerful flexor
lower one-half of the the ulna nerve (C5,6) recurrent a.
humerus and the
 associated
intermuscular septa

brachioradialis upper two-thirds of the lateral side of the flexes the elbow, assists in radial nerve radial recurrent a. although brachioradialis is
lateral supracondylar base of the styloid pronation & supination innervated by the nerve for
ridge of the humerus process of the radius extensors (radial), its
primary action is elbow
flexion; the neutral position
of this muscle is half way
between supination and
pronation (elbow flexed,
thumb up)

coracobrachialis coracoid process of the medial side of the flexes and adducts the arm musculocutaneous brachial a. the musculocutaneous nerve
scapula humerus at mid-shaft nerve (C5,6) passes through the
coracobrachialis muscle to
reach the other arm flexor
mm.(biceps brachii and
brachialis)

deltoid lateral one-third of the deltoid tuberosity of abducts arm; anterior fibers axillary nerve (C5,6) posterior the deltoid muscle is the
clavicle, acromion, the the humerus flex & medially rotate the arm; from the posterior circumflex principle abductor of the
lower lip of the crest of posterior fibers extend & cord of the brachial humeral a. arm but due to poor
the spine of the scapula laterally rotate the arm plexus mechanical advantage it
cannot initiate this action; it
is assisted by the
supraspinatus m.

dorsal four muscles, each base of the proximal flex the metacarpophalangeal ulnar nerve, deep dorsal and palmar bipennate muscles;
interosseous arising from two phalanx and the joint, extend the proximal and branch metacarpal aa. remember DAB & PAD -
(hand) adjacent metacarpal extensor expansion distal interphalangeal joints of Dorsal interosseous mm.
shafts on lateral side of the digits 2-4, abduct digits 2-4 ABduct and Palmar
2nd digit, lateral & (abduction of digits in the hand interosseous mm. ADduct -
medial sides of the is defined as movement away then you can figure out
3rd digit, and medial from the midline of the 3rd where they must insert to
side of the 4th digit digit) cause these actions

extensor carpi lateral supracondylar dorsum of the third extends the wrist; abducts the radial nerve radial a. works with the extensor
radialis brevis ridge of the humerus metacarpal bone hand carpi radialis longus and
(common extensor (base) flexor carpi radialis in
tendon abduction of the hand

extensor carpi lower one-third of the dorsum of the second extends the wrist; abducts the deep radial nerve radial a. works with the extensor
radialis longus lateral supracondylar metacarpal bone hand carpi radialis brevis and
ridge of the humerus (base) flexor carpi radialis in
abduction of the hand
extensor carpi common extensor medial side of the extends the wrist; adducts the deep radial nerve ulnar a. works with the flexor carpi
ulnaris tendon & the middle base of the 5th hand ulnaris in adduction of the
one-half of the metacarpal hand
posterior border of the
ulna

extensor digiti common extensor joins the extensor extends the deep radial nerve interosseous extensor digiti minimi
minimi tendon (lateral digitorum tendon to metacarpophalangeal, proximal recurrent a. appears to be the ulnar-most
epicondyle of the the 5th digit and interphalangeal and distal portion of extensor
humerus) inserts into the interphalangeal joints of the 5th digitorum
extensor expansion digit

extensor common extensor extensor expansion of extends the deep radial nerve interosseous the extensor expansion
digitorum tendon (lateral digits 2-5 metacarpophalangeal, proximal recurrent a. and inserts via a central band on
epicondyle of the interphalangeal and distal posterior the base of the middle
humerus) interphalangeal joints of the interosseous a. phalanx, while lateral &
2nd-5th digits; extends wrist medial slips insert on the
distal phalanx

extensor indicis interosseous membrane its tendon joins the extends the index finger at the deep radial nerve posterior extensor indicis is a deep
and the posterolateral tendon of the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interosseous a forearm extensor, whereas
surface of the distal extensor digitorum to interphalangeal and distal extensor digiti minimi is in
ulna the second digit; both interphalangeal joints the superficial layer of
tendons insert into the extensors
extensor expansion

extensor pollicis interosseous membrane base of the proximal extends the thumb at the deep radial nerve posterior the tendons of extensor
brevis and the posterior phalanx of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint interosseous a pollicis brevis and abductor
surface of the distal pollicis longus make the
radius lateral border of the
anatomical snuffbox, in
which the radial arterial
pulse can be felt

extensor pollicis interosseous membrane base of the distal extends the thumb at the deep radial nerve posterior the tendon of extensor
longus and middle part of the phalanx of the thumb interphalangeal joint interosseous a pollicis longus hooks around
posterolateral surface the dorsal radial tubercle; it
of the ulna forms the medial border of
the anatomical snuffbox, in
which the radial arterial
pulse can be felt

flexor carpi common flexor tendon base of the second flexes the wrist, abducts the median nerve ulnar a. works with the extensor
radialis from the medial and third metacarpals hand carpi radialis longus and
epicondyle of the brevis mm. to abduct hand
humerus
flexor carpi common flexor tendon pisiform, hook of flexes wrist, adducts hand ulnar nerve (C 6,7) ulnar a. the ulnar nerve passes
ulnaris & (ulnar head) from hamate, and base of between the two heads of
medial border of 5th metacarpal origin of the flexor carpi
olecranon & upper ¾ ulnaris m.
of the posterior border
of the ulna

flexor digiti hook of hamate & the proximal phalanx of flexes the carpometacarpal and ulnar nerve, deep ulnar a. flexor digiti minimi brevis,
minimi brevis flexor retinaculum the 5th digit metacarpophalangeal joints of branch abductor digiti minimi, and
(hand) the 5th digit opponens digiti minimi are
in the hypothenar
compartment of the hand

flexor digitorum posterior border of the base of the distal flexes the median nerve (radial ulnar a., anterior ulnar nerve innervates the
profundus ulna, proximal two- phalanx of digits 2-5 metacarpophalangeal, proximal one-half); ulnar nerve interosseous a. portion of profundus that
thirds of medial border interphalangeal and distal (ulnar one-half) acts on digits 4 & 5 (the
of ulna, interosseous interphalangeal joints ulnar 2 digits)
membrane

flexor digitorum humeroulnar head: shafts of the middle flexes the metacarpophalangeal median nerve ulnar a. median nerve travels distally
superficialis common flexor tendon; phalanges of digits 2- and proximal interphalangeal in the forearm on the deep
radial head: middle 1/3 5 joints surface of the flexor
of radius digitorum superficialis m.

flexor pollicis flexor retinaculum, proximal phalanx of flexes the carpometacarpal and recurrent branch of superficial palmar flexor pollicis brevis,
brevis trapezium the 1st digit metacarpophalangeal joints of the median nerve br. of the radial a. abductor pollicis brevis, and
the thumb opponens pollicis are the
three muscles of the thenar
compartment of the hand

flexor pollicis anterior surface of base of the distal flexes the metacarpophalangeal median nerve anterior the tendon of flexor pollicis
longus radius and interosseous phalanx of the thumb and interphalangeal joints of interosseous a. longus passes through the
membrane the thumb carpal tunnel with the other
long digital flexor tendons
and the median nerve

infraspinatus infraspinatous fossa greater tubercle of the laterally rotates the arm suprascapular nerve suprascapular a. infraspinatus, supraspinatus,
humerus (middle teres minor and
facet) subscapularis are the rotator
cuff muscles

interosseous, four muscles, each base of the proximal flex the metacarpophalangeal ulnar nerve, deep dorsal and palmar bipennate muscles;
dorsal (hand) arising from two phalanx and the joint, extend the proximal and branch metacarpal aa. remember DAB & PAD -
adjacent metacarpal extensor expansion distal interphalangeal joints of Dorsal interosseous mm.
shafts on lateral side of the digits 2-4, abduct digits 2-4 ABduct and Palmar
2nd digit, lateral & (abduction of digits in the hand interosseous mm. ADduct -
medial sides of the is defined as movement away then you can figure out
 3rd digit, and medial from the midline of the 3rd where they must insert to
side of the 4th digit digit) cause these actions

interosseous, three muscles, arising base of the proximal flexes the ulnar nerve, deep palmar metacarpal unipennate muscles;
palmar from the palmar phalanx and extensor metacarpophalangeal, extends branch aa. remember PAD & DAB:
surface of the shafts of expansion of the proximal and distal Palmar interossei ADduct
metacarpals 2, 4, & 5 medial side of digit 2, interphalangeal joints and and Dorsal interossei
and lateral side of adducts digits 2, 4, & 5 ABduct, and you will be
digits 4 & 5 (adduction of the digits of the able to figure out where they
hand is in reference to the must insert
midline of the 3rd digit)

latissimus dorsi vertebral spines from floor of the extends the arm and rotates the thoracodorsal nerve thoracodorsal a. the inserting tendon twists
T7 to the sacrum, intertubercular arm medially (C7,8) from the so that fibers originating
posterior third of the groove posterior cord of the highest insert lowest
iliac crest, lower 3 or 4 brachial plexus
ribs, sometimes from
the inferior angle of the
scapula

levator scapulae transverse processes of medial border of the elevates the scapula dorsal scapular nerve dorsal scapular a. levator scapulae is named
C1-C4 vertebrae scapula from the (C5); the upper part for its action
superior angle to the of the muscle
spine receives branches of
C3 & C4

lumbrical (hand) flexor digitorum extensor expansion flex the metacarpophalangeal median nerve (radial superficial palmar lumbricals, (lumbricus is
profundus tendons of on the radial side of joints, extend the proximal and 2) via palmar digital arterial arch latin for "worm") arise from
digits 2-5 the proximal phalanx distal interphalangeal joints of nerves & ulnar nerve the profundus tendons and
of digits 2-5 digits 2-5 (ulnar 2) via deep have the same pattern of
branch innervation as does the
profundus muscle (ulnar and
median nn. split the task
equally)

opponens digiti hook of hamate and shaft of 5th opposes the 5th digit ulnar nerve, deep ulnar a. opposition is a rotational
minimi flexor retinaculum metacarpal branch movement of the 5th
metacarpal around the long
axis of its shaft; opponens
digiti minimi, abductor
digiti minimi, and flexor
digiti minimi brevis are in
the hypothenar compartment
of the hand

opponens pollicis flexor retinaculum, shaft of 1st opposes the thumb recurrent branch of superficial palmar opposition is a rotational
trapezium metacarpal median nerve branch of the movement of the 1st
 radial a. metacarpal around the long
axis of its shaft; opponens
pollicis, abductor pollicis
brevis, and flexor pollicis
brevis are in the thenar
compartment of the hand

palmar three muscles, arising base of the proximal flexes the ulnar nerve, deep palmar metacarpal unipennate muscles;
interosseous from the palmar phalanx and extensor metacarpophalangeal, extends branch aa. remember PAD & DAB:
surface of the shafts of expansion of the proximal and distal Palmar interossei ADduct
metacarpals 2, 4, & 5 medial side of digit 2, interphalangeal joints and and Dorsal interossei
and lateral side of adducts digits 2, 4, & 5 ABduct, and you will be
digits 4 & 5 (adduction of the digits of the able to figure out where they
hand is in reference to the must insert
midline of the 3rd digit)

palmaris brevis fascia overlying the skin of the palm near draws the skin of the ulnar side superficial br. of the ulnar a. palmaris brevis improves
hypothenar eminence the ulnar border of of the hand toward the center of ulnar n. the grasp
the hand the palm

palmaris longus common flexor tendon, palmar aponeurosis flexes the wrist median nerve ulnar a. palmaris longus is absent in
from the medial about 13% of forearms; it
epicondyle of the may be present on one side
humerus only

pectoralis major medial 1/2 of the crest of the greater flexes and adducts the arm, medial and lateral pectoral branch of the deep fascia on its
clavicle, manubrium & tubercle of the medially rotates the arm pectoral nerves (C5- the anterior surface should not
body of sternum, costal humerus T1) thoracoacromial be fused to the fascia of the
cartilages of ribs 2-6, trunk mammary gland - if it is,
sometimes from the this is an important clinical
rectus sheath of the sign indicating breast
upper abdominal wall disease

pectoralis minor ribs 3-5 coracoid process of draws the scapula forward, medial pectoral nerve pectoral branch of branches of medial pectoral
the scapula medialward, and downward (C8, T1) the nerve usually pierce
thoracoacromial pectoralis minor to reach the
trunk pectoralis major muscle

pronator medial side of the anterior surface of the pronates the forearm median nerve via the anterior pronator quadratus is the
quadratus anterior surface of the distal one-fourth of anterior interosseous interosseous a. deepest muscle in the distal
distal one-fourth of the the radius nerve forearm; it works with
ulna pronator teres and has the
same nerve supply

pronator teres common flexor tendon midpoint of the pronates the forearm median nerve ulnar a., anterior median nerve passes
and (deep or ulnar lateral side of the ulnar recurrent a. between the two heads of
head) from medial side shaft of the radius origin of pronator teres
 of coronoid process of
the ulna

rhomboideus spines of vertebrae T2- medial border of the retracts, elevates and rotates the dorsal scapular nerve dorsal scapular a. named for its shape
major T5 scapula inferior to the scapula inferiorly (C5)
spine of the scapula

rhomboideus inferior end of the medial border of the retracts, elevates and rotates the dorsal scapular nerve dorsal scapular a named for its shape
minor ligamentum nuchae, scapula at the root of scapula inferiorly (C5)
spines of vertebrae C7 the spine of the
and T1 scapula

serratus anterior ribs 1-8 or 9 medial border of the it draws the scapula forward; long thoracic nerve lateral thoracic a. a lesion of long thoracic
scapula on its costal the inferior fibers rotate the (from ventral rami nerve will cause winging of
(deep) surface scapula superiorly C5-C7) the scapula (i.e., the medial
border of the scapula falls
away from the posterior
chest wall and looks like an
angel's wing)

serratus thoracolumbar fascia, ribs 9-12, lateral to pulls down lower ribs branches of the lowest posterior a respiratory muscle, it
posterior inferior spines of vertebrae the angles ventral primary rami intercostal a., receives ventral ramus
T11-T12 and L1-L2 of spinal nerves T9- subcostal a., first innervation; embryonically
T12 two lumbar aa. related to the intercostal
muscles, not the deep back
mm.

serratus ligamentum nuchae, ribs 1-4, lateral to the elevates the upper ribs branches of the posterior a respiratory muscle, it
posterior spines of vertebrae C7 angles ventral primary rami intercostal aa. 1-4 receives ventral ramus
superior and T1-T3 of spinal nerves T1- innervation; embryonically
T4 related to the intercostal
muscles, not the deep back
mm.

subclavius first rib and its inferior surface of the draws the clavicle (and hence nerve to subclavius clavicular br. of it serves an important
cartilage clavicle the shoulder) down and (C5) the protective function - it
forward thoracoacromial cushions the subclavian
trunk vessels from bone fragments
in clavicular fractures

subscapularis medial two-thirds of lesser tubercle of the medially rotates the arm; assists upper and lower subscapular a. subscapularis,
the costal surface of the humerus extention of the arm subscapular nerves supraspinatus, infraspinatus,
scapula (subscapular (C5,6) and teres minor are the
fossa) rotator cuff muscles

supinator lateral epicondyle of lateral side of supinates the forearm deep radial nerve recurrent deep radial nerve passes
the humerus, supinator proximal one-third of interosseous a. through the supinator to
 crest & fossa of the the radius reach the posterior
ulna, radial collateral compartment of the forearm
ligament, annular
ligament

supraspinatus supraspinatous fossa greater tubercle of the abducts the arm (initiates suprascapular nerve suprascapular a. supraspinatus initiates
humerus (highest abduction) (C5,6) from the abduction of the arm, then
facet) superior trunk of the the deltoid muscle
brachial plexus completes the action; a
member of the rotator cuff
group

teres major dorsal surface of the crest of the lesser adducts the arm, medially lower subscapular circumflex teres major inserts beside
inferior angle of the tubercle of the rotates the arm, assists in arm nerve (C5,6) from the scapular a. the tendon of latissimus
scapula humerus extension posterior cord of the dorsi, and assists latissimus
brachial plexus in its actions

teres minor upper 2/3 of the lateral greater tubercle of the laterally rotates the arm axillary nerve (C5,6) circumflex fixes the head of the
border of the scapula humerus (lowest from the posterior scapular a. humerus in the glenoid fossa
facet) cord of the brachial during abduction & flexion
plexus of the arm; a member of the
rotator cuff group

trapezius medial third of the lateral third of the elevates and depresses the motor: spinal transverse cervical named for its shape;
superior nuchal line, clavicle, medial side scapula (depending on which accessory (XI), a. trapezius is an example of a
external occipital of the acromion and part of the muscle contracts); proprioception: C3- muscle that migrates during
protuberance, the upper crest of the rotates the scapula superiorly; C4 development from its level
ligamentum nuchae, scapular spine, retracts scapula of origin (cervical) to its
spinous processes of tubercle of the final position, pulling its
vertebrae C7-T12 scapular spine nerve and artery along
behind

triceps brachii long head: infraglenoid olecranon process of extends the forearm; the long radial nerve deep brachial long head of the triceps
tubercle of the scapula; the ulna head extends and adducts arm (profunda brachii) separates the triangular and
lateral head: a. quadrangular spaces (teres
posterolateral humerus major, teres minor and the
& lateral intermuscular humerus are the other
septum; medial head: boundaries); all three heads
posteromedial surface of origin insert by a
of the inferior 1/2 of common tendon
the humerus