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List of Muscles – And Types, Origin, Insertion, Functions

Muscles in the human body are specialized tissues designed to contract and produce force, which enables movement, maintains posture, and supports various bodily functions. They consist of long, fibrous cells called muscle fibers that work by contracting in response to signals from the nervous system.

The human muscular system is an incredible network that supports movement, posture, and vital functions throughout the body. Muscles are specialized tissues made of fibers capable of contracting, which enables everything from gross movements like walking to the subtle workings of internal organs.

Types of Muscle Tissue

There are three primary types of muscle tissue in the human body:

  • Skeletal Muscle:
    These muscles are attached to bones and are under voluntary control. They play a key role in locomotion, posture, and overall movement. Examples include the biceps, quadriceps, and deltoids.

  • Cardiac Muscle:
    Found only in the heart, cardiac muscle contracts rhythmically and continuously to pump blood throughout the body. It works involuntarily, meaning it functions without conscious control.

  • Smooth Muscle:
    Present in the walls of internal organs (such as the stomach, intestines, blood vessels, and bladder), smooth muscle contracts slowly and involuntarily, helping to regulate functions like digestion and blood flow.

How Muscles Work

Muscles contract through a complex process involving the sliding filament theory, where actin and myosin proteins within muscle fibers slide past each other. This contraction is triggered by electrical signals from the nervous system, resulting in movement or the maintenance of posture. Muscles also play a crucial role in heat production, contributing to body temperature regulation.

Muscles of the head and neck

    • muscles of the tongue (mnemonic)
      • extrinsic muscles of the tongue
        • genioglossus muscle
        • hyoglossus muscle
        • styloglossus muscle
        • palatoglossus muscle
      • intrinsic muscles of the tongue
        • superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue
        • inferior longitudinal muscle of the tongue
        • transverse muscle of the tongue
        • vertical muscle of the tongue
    • muscles of mastication
      • temporalis muscle
      • masseter muscle
      • medial pterygoid muscle
      • lateral pterygoid muscle
    • facial muscles
      • epicranius muscle
        • occipitofrontalis muscle
          • frontalis muscle
          • occipitalis muscle
        • temporoparietalis muscle
      • circumorbital and palpebral muscles
        • orbicularis oculi muscle
        • corrugator supercilii muscle
        • levator palpebrae superioris muscle
      • nasal muscles
        • procerus muscle
        • nasalis muscle
          • compressor naris muscle
          • dilator naris muscle
        • myrtiformis muscle
        • depressor septi nasalis muscle
        • levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
      • ​buccolabial muscles
        • elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
          • levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
          • levator labii superioris muscle
          • zygomaticus major muscle
          • zygomaticus minor muscle
          • levator anguli oris muscle
          • malaris muscle
          • risorius muscle
        • depressors, retractors and evertors of the lower lip
          • depressor labii inferioris muscle
          • depressor anguli oris muscle
          • mentalis muscle
        • compound sphincter
          • orbicularis oris muscle
            • incisivus labii superioris muscle
            • incisivus labii inferioris muscle
        • muscle of mastication
          • buccinator muscle
        • modiolus
    • muscles of the middle ear
      • stapedius muscle
      • tensor tympani muscle
    • orbital muscles
      • extraocular muscles
        • superior rectus muscle
        • inferior rectus muscle
        • lateral rectus muscle
        • medial rectus muscle
        • superior oblique muscle
        • inferior oblique muscle
      • levator palpebrae superioris muscle
        • superior tarsal muscle
    • muscles of the soft palate
      • tensor veli palatini muscle
      • levator veli palatini muscle
      • palatopharyngeus muscle
      • palatoglossus muscle
      • muscle of the uvula
    • pharyngeal muscles
      • superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
        • Passavant cushion
      • middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle
      • inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
        • Killian dehiscence
      • stylopharyngeus muscle
      • salpingopharyngeus muscle
    • suprahyoid muscles
      • digastric muscle
      • geniohyoid muscle
      • mylohyoid muscle
        • mylohyoid boutonniere
      • stylohyoid muscle
    • infrahyoid muscles
      • sternohyoid muscle
      • sternothyroid muscle
      • thyrohyoid muscle
      • omohyoid muscle
    • intrinsic muscles of the larynx
    • Cricothyroid Muscle: Adjusts the tension of the vocal cords for pitch modulation.

    • Thyroarytenoid Muscle: Helps relax or shorten the vocal cords; includes the vocalis muscle which is directly involved in sound production.

    • Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle: The only muscle that opens the vocal cords (abducts them) during breathing.

    • Lateral Cricoarytenoid Muscle: Helps close the vocal cords (adducts them) during speech and swallowing.

    • Interarytenoid Muscles: Aid in closing the gap between the arytenoid cartilages, contributing to effective voice production and airway protection.

    • Vocalis Muscle
    • muscles of the neck
      • platysma muscle
      • longus colli muscle
      • longus capitis muscle
      • scalenus anterior muscle
        • colliscalene triangle
      • scalenus medius muscle
      • scalenus posterior muscle
      • scalenus pleuralis muscle
      • sternocleidomastoid muscle
      • suboccipital muscles
        • rectus capitis posterior major muscle
        • rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
        • obliquus capitis superior muscle
        • obliquus capitis inferior muscle
    • accessory muscles of the neck
      • levator glandulae thyroideae muscle
      • splenius capitis and
      • semispinalis capitis

Superficial Neck Muscles

These muscles are generally visible and play major roles in head movement and external appearance.

  • Sternocleidomastoid (SCM):

    • Origin: Medial portion of the manubrium and the medial clavicle.

    • Insertion: Mastoid process of the temporal bone and the lateral portion of the superior nuchal line.

    • Function: Rotates the head to the opposite side and flexes the neck.

  • Trapezius:

    • Origin: Occipital bone, ligamentum nuchae, and the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae.

    • Insertion: Lateral third of the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula.

    • Function: Elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula; also helps in neck extension when the scapula is fixed.

  • Platysma:

    • Origin: Fascia covering the upper parts of the pectoral and deltoid muscles.

    • Insertion: Lower border of the mandible and skin of the lower face.

    • Function: Tenses the skin of the neck and helps depress the mandible.


Deep Neck Flexors

These muscles are found deep in the anterior neck and play critical roles in stabilizing and flexing the cervical spine.

  • Longus Colli:

    • Location: Runs along the anterior vertebral bodies of the cervical and upper thoracic spine.

    • Function: Flexes the neck and contributes to the stabilization of the cervical vertebrae.

  • Longus Capitis:

    • Location: Extends from the anterior tubercles of the cervical vertebrae to the base of the skull.

    • Function: Assists in flexion and slight rotation of the head.


Lateral Neck Muscles (Scalene Group)

These muscles lie on the side of the neck and are involved in neck movements and assisting respiration by elevating the first and second ribs.

  • Anterior Scalene (Scalenus Anterior):

    • Origin: Transverse processes of cervical vertebrae (C3–C6).

    • Insertion: First rib.

    • Function: Elevates the first rib and aids in lateral flexion of the neck.

  • Middle Scalene (Scalenus Medius):

    • Origin: Transverse processes of C2–C7 vertebrae.

    • Insertion: First rib.

    • Function: Works with the anterior scalene to elevate the first rib and laterally flex the neck.

  • Posterior Scalene (Scalenus Posterior):

    • Origin: Transverse processes of lower cervical vertebrae.

    • Insertion: Second rib.

    • Function: Elevates the second rib and assists with lateral flexion of the neck.


Posterior Neck Muscles

These muscles form the bulk of the neck’s posterior region and are key to extending and rotating the head, as well as maintaining posture.

  • Splenius Capitis:

    • Origin: Lower half of the ligamentum nuchae and spinous processes of C7–T3/T4 vertebrae.

    • Insertion: Mastoid process and lateral third of the superior nuchal line of the occipital bone.

    • Function: Extends and rotates the head.

  • Splenius Cervicis:

    • Origin: Spinous processes of T3–T6 vertebrae.

    • Insertion: Transverse processes of the upper cervical vertebrae.

    • Function: Assists in neck extension and lateral flexion.

  • Semispinalis Capitis:

    • Location: Lies deep to the splenius muscles.

    • Function: Extends the head and neck, and contributes to rotation.

  • Semispinalis Cervicis:

    • Location: Lies adjacent to the vertebral column, extending along the cervical spine.

    • Function: Helps in extending and rotating the cervical spine.

  • Longissimus Capitis (part of the Erector Spinae group):

    • Location: Runs along the cervical and upper thoracic spine.

    • Function: Extends and laterally flexes the head.

  • Suboccipital Muscles: (A group of four small muscles at the base of the skull, crucial for fine head movements.)

    • Rectus Capitis Posterior Major: Extends and rotates the head.

    • Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor: Assists in head extension.

    • Obliquus Capitis Superior: Helps extend and slightly laterally flex the head.

    • Obliquus Capitis Inferior: Primarily rotates the atlas (and thus the head) on the axis.


Muscles Associated with the Hyoid Bone

These muscles are important for actions such as swallowing and speech, as they control the position of the hyoid bone and larynx.

Suprahyoid Muscles:

  • Digastric:

    • Structure: Consists of two bellies (anterior and posterior) connected by an intermediate tendon.

    • Function: Elevates the hyoid bone and assists in depressing the mandible.

  • Stylohyoid:

    • Origin: Styloid process of the temporal bone.

    • Insertion: Hyoid bone.

    • Function: Elevates the hyoid during swallowing.

  • Mylohyoid:

    • Location: Forms the floor of the oral cavity.

    • Function: Elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth.

  • Geniohyoid:

    • Location: Lies just above the mylohyoid.

    • Function: Pulls the hyoid bone forward (anteriorly) and upward.

Infrahyoid Muscles:

  • Sternohyoid:

    • Origin: Manubrium of the sternum and medial end of the clavicle.

    • Insertion: Hyoid bone.

    • Function: Depresses the hyoid bone.

  • Omohyoid:

    • Structure: Consists of two bellies (superior and inferior) connected by an intermediate tendon.

    • Function: Depresses and retracts the hyoid bone.

  • Sternothyroid:

    • Origin: Manubrium of the sternum.

    • Insertion: Thyroid cartilage.

    • Function: Depresses the thyroid cartilage.

  • Thyrohyoid:

    • Origin: Thyroid cartilage.

    • Insertion: Hyoid bone.

    • Function: Elevates the thyroid cartilage and depresses the hyoid bone.

Total List Of Muscles in Human body

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