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Muscles
Skeletal muscles produce movement and provide stability by pulling on the bones and soft tissues they attach to. For each muscle, anatomy courses expect the same core facts: where it originates, where it inserts, what action it performs, which nerve innervates it, and which artery supplies it.
Every muscle in the AnatoMemory reference is listed below, grouped by body region. Open any entry for the full attachment breakdown, a high yield summary, and related structures to study alongside it.
114 muscles, grouped by region
Upper limb
49- Abductor digiti minimi (hand)Hypothenar - abducts little finger
- Abductor pollicis brevisThenar - abducts the thumb
- Abductor pollicis longusDeep thumb abductor
- Adductor pollicisAdducts the thumb (Froment sign)
- AnconeusAssists elbow extension
- Biceps brachiiChief supinator of the forearm
- BrachialisWorkhorse elbow flexor
- Brachioradialis"Beer-raising" elbow flexor
- CoracobrachialisPierced by musculocutaneous nerve
- DeltoidPrime arm abductor
- Dorsal interossei (hand)ABduct the fingers (DAB)
- Extensor carpi radialis brevisWrist extensor, tennis elbow
- Extensor carpi radialis longusExtends and abducts the wrist
- Extensor carpi ulnarisExtends and adducts the wrist
- Extensor digiti minimiExtends the little finger
- Extensor digitorumMain finger extensor
- Extensor indicisIndependent index extensor
- Extensor pollicis brevisExtends the thumb MCP
- Extensor pollicis longusExtends the thumb IP joint
- Flexor carpi radialisFlexes and abducts the wrist
- Flexor carpi ulnarisFlexes and adducts the wrist
- Flexor digiti minimi brevis (hand)Hypothenar - flexes little finger
- Flexor digitorum profundusOnly muscle flexing the DIP joints
- Flexor digitorum superficialisFlexes the PIP joints
- Flexor pollicis brevisThenar - flexes the thumb
- Flexor pollicis longusFlexes the thumb IP joint
- InfraspinatusRotator cuff - lateral rotation
- Latissimus dorsiBroad climbing/swimming muscle
- Levator scapulaeElevates the scapula
- Lumbricals (hand)Flex MCP, extend IP joints
- Opponens digiti minimiHypothenar - cups the palm
- Opponens pollicisThenar - opposes the thumb
- Palmar interosseiADduct the fingers (PAD)
- Palmaris longusAbsent in ~10-15% of people
- Pectoralis majorAnterior chest wall, arm adductor
- Pectoralis minorAnchors the scapula, surgical landmark
- Pronator quadratusDeep primary pronator
- Pronator teresPronates the forearm
- Rhomboid majorScapular retractor
- Rhomboid minorScapular retractor (superior)
- Serratus anteriorBoxer's muscle
- SubclaviusProtects subclavian vessels
- SubscapularisRotator cuff - medial rotation
- SupinatorSupinates the extended forearm
- SupraspinatusRotator cuff - initiates abduction
- Teres major"Lat's little helper"
- Teres minorRotator cuff - lateral rotation
- TrapeziusSuperficial back, scapular stabiliser
- Triceps brachiiChief elbow extensor
Lower limb
38- Adductor brevisDeep adductor
- Adductor longusAdducts the thigh
- Adductor magnusTwo-part composite adductor
- Biceps femorisLateral hamstring
- Extensor digitorum longusExtends the lateral four toes
- Extensor hallucis longusExtends the big toe
- Fibularis brevisEverts the foot
- Fibularis longusEverts the foot, supports arches
- Fibularis tertiusDorsiflexes and everts (variable)
- Flexor digitorum longusFlexes the lateral four toes
- Flexor hallucis longusFlexes the big toe, push-off
- GastrocnemiusSuperficial calf, crosses the knee
- Gluteus maximusPowerful hip extensor
- Gluteus mediusHip abductor and pelvic stabiliser
- Gluteus minimusDeep hip abductor
- GracilisMedial thigh, crosses the knee
- IliacusHip flexor (with psoas)
- Inferior gemellusLateral rotator (with obturator internus)
- Obturator externusLateral rotator (medial thigh group)
- Obturator internusLateral rotator of the hip
- PectineusFlexes and adducts the hip
- PiriformisKey landmark of the gluteal region
- PlantarisVestigial calf muscle
- Popliteus"Unlocks" the knee
- Psoas majorChief hip flexor
- Quadratus femorisStrong lateral rotator
- Rectus femorisQuadriceps - crosses hip and knee
- SartoriusLongest muscle in the body
- SemimembranosusMedial hamstring, broad tendon
- SemitendinosusMedial hamstring, long tendon
- SoleusCalf "peripheral heart"
- Superior gemellusLateral rotator (with obturator internus)
- Tensor fasciae lataeTenses the IT tract
- Tibialis anteriorChief dorsiflexor
- Tibialis posteriorChief invertor, supports arch
- Vastus intermediusDeep quadriceps head
- Vastus lateralisLargest quadriceps head
- Vastus medialisStabilises the patella (VMO)
Trunk
11- DiaphragmPrincipal muscle of respiration
- Erector spinaeIliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis
- External intercostalsElevate ribs (inspiration)
- External obliqueOutermost flat abdominal muscle
- Internal intercostalsDepress ribs (expiration)
- Internal obliqueMiddle flat abdominal muscle
- MultifidusDeep segmental stabiliser
- Quadratus lumborumPosterior abdominal wall
- Rectus abdominisThe 'six-pack'
- Splenius capitisExtends and rotates the head
- Transversus abdominisDeepest flat abdominal muscle
Head & neck
16- Anterior scaleneKey neck landmark
- BuccinatorMuscle of the cheek
- DigastricTwo-bellied suprahyoid muscle
- Lateral pterygoidProtrudes the jaw, opens the mouth
- MasseterStrongest muscle of mastication
- Medial pterygoidElevates the jaw
- MylohyoidFloor of the mouth
- OccipitofrontalisRaises the eyebrows
- OmohyoidInfrahyoid strap muscle
- Orbicularis oculiCloses the eyelids
- Orbicularis orisCloses and purses the lips
- PlatysmaMuscle of facial expression (neck)
- SternocleidomastoidKey neck landmark
- SternohyoidInfrahyoid strap muscle
- TemporalisElevates and retracts the jaw
- Zygomaticus majorSmiling muscle