Muscle Names and Locations

There are around 640 named muscles in the human body in addition to thousands of smaller un-named muscles.

The following tables list some specific muscles in the human body by region of the body with links to pages about the specific muscles and/or pages that include the muscle on a labelled diagram of the region of the body in which it is located.

1. Trunk / Torso

Muscles (& related tissues): Notes: Also labelled on the following diagrams 1.1 Sternocleidomastoid anterior muscles, (also listed as 5.21) 1.2 Splenius capitis (deep muscle) (also listed as 5.22) 1.3 Levator scapulae (deep muscle) 1.4 Trapezius anterior muscles, posterior muscles, facial muscles (also listed as 5.23) 1.5 Erector Spinae (deep muscle) 1.6 Supraspinatus (deep muscle) sometimes written supraspinatis 1.7 Infraspinatus (deep muscle) sometimes written infraspinatis 1.8 Teres Major (deep muscle) 1.9 Teres Minor (deep muscle) 1.10 Subscapularis (deep muscle) 1.11 Rhomboid Major (deep muscle) posterior muscles 1.12 Rhomboid Minor (deep muscle) posterior muscles 1.13 Serratus Anterior anterior muscles 1.14 Latissimus Dorsi anterior muscles 1.15 Gluteus Medius posterior muscles (also listed as 3.17) 1.16 Gluteus Maximus posterior muscles (also listed as 3.16) 1.17 Gluteus Minimus posterior muscles (also listed as 3.18) 1.18 Pectoralis Major anterior muscles 1.19 Pectoralis Minor (deep muscle) 1.20 Rectus Abdominus anterior muscles, sometimes written rectus abdominis 1.21 External Oblique anterior muscles 1.22 Internal Oblique anterior muscles 1.23 Transversus Abdominus (deep muscle) 1.24 Quadratus Lumborum (deep muscle) 1.25 Intercostals (deep muscle)

2. Arm / Hand

Muscles (& related tissues): Notes: Also labelled on the following diagrams 2.1 Deltoid anterior muscles, posterior muscles 2.2 Biceps anterior muscles 2.3 Triceps anterior muscles, posterior muscles 2.4 Brachialis anterior muscles 2.5 Coraco Brachialis (deep muscle) anterior muscles 2.6 Brachioradialis anterior muscles, posterior muscles 2.7 Pronator Teres anterior muscles 2.8 Supinator Radii Brevis 2.9 Flexor Carpi Radialis anterior muscles 2.10 Palmaris Longus 2.11a Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis 2.11b Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 2.12 Extensor Carpi Ulnaris 2.13 Flexor Carpi Ulnaris anterior muscles 2.14 Flexor Carpi Digitorum anterior muscles 2.15 Extensor Carpi Digitorum 2.16 Extensor Pollicis Longus (deep muscle) 2.17 Flexor Pollicis Brevis (deep muscle) 2.18 Abductor Pollicis Brevis 2.19 Flexor Digitorum Superficialis anterior muscles 2.20 Muscles of Thenar Eminence > 2.21 Muscles of Hypothenar Eminence 2.22 Palmar Aponeurosis 2.23 Tendons of Extensor Digitorum 2.24 Flexor Digitorum Profundus

3. Upper Leg / Thigh

Muscles (& related tissues): Notes: Also labelled on the following diagrams 3.1 Iliacus anterior muscles, 3.2 Psoas (Psoas Major and Psoas Minor) anterior muscles, Quadriceps 3.3 Rectus Femoris anterior muscles, 3.4 Vastus Lateralis anterior muscles, 3.5 Vastus Medialis anterior muscles, 3.6 Vastus Intermedialis (deep muscle) anterior muscles, sometimes written vastus intermedius Hamstrings 3.7 Biceps Femoris posterior muscles 3.8 Semimembranosus posterior muscles 3.9 Semitendinosus posterior muscles 3.10 Adductor Longus anterior muscles 3.11 Adductor Magnus anterior muscles 3.12 Adductor Brevis anterior muscles 3.13 Gracilis anterior muscles, posterior muscles, 3.14 Sartorius anterior muscles 3.15 Piriformis (deep muscle) 3.16 Gluteus Maximus posterior muscles (also listed as 1.16) 3.17 Gluteus Medius posterior muscles (also listed as 1.15) 3.18 Gluteus Minimus posterior muscles (also listed as 1.17)

4. Lower Leg / Foot

Muscles (& related tissues): Notes: Also labelled on the following diagrams 4.1 Gastrocnemius anterior muscles, posterior muscles, 4.2 Soleus anterior muscles, posterior muscles, 4.3 Peroneus Longus anterior muscles 4.4 Peroneus Brevis 4.5 Tibialis Anterior anterior muscles 4.6 Tibialis Posterior (deep muscle) 4.7 Extensor Digitorum Longus 4.8 Extensor Hallucis Longus 4.9 Flexor Digitorum Longus (deep muscle) 4.10 Peroneus Tertius 4.11 Digitorum Brevis 4.12 Abductor Hallucis 4.13 Achilles Tendon posterior muscles, 4.14 Flexor Hallucis Longus (deep muscle)

5. Face, Neck and Scalp

Muscles (& related tissues): Notes: Also labelled on the following diagrams 5.1 Occipitalis 5.2 Frontalis facial muscles, 5.3 Procerous nasi 5.4 Nasalis facial muscles, 5.5 Levator Labii Superioris facial muscles, 5.6 Levator Anguli Oris facial muscles, 5.7 Zygomaticus: Zygomaticus Minor facial muscles, Zygomaticus Major facial muscles, 5.8 Orbicularis Oris facial muscles, 5.9 Mentalis facial muscles, 5.10 Depressor Labii Inferioris facial muscles, 5.11 Depressor Anguli Oris facial muscles, 5.12 Buccinator 5.13 Risorius 5.15 Medial Pterygoid 5.16 Lateral Pterygoid 5.17 Masseter facial muscles, 5.18 Temporalis facial muscles, 5.19 Orbicularis Oculi facial muscles, 5.20 Levator palpebrae (Levator palpebrae superioris) facial muscles, 5.21 Sternocleidomastoid facial muscles, anterior muscles, (also listed as 1.1)         5.22 Splenius capitis (also listed as 1.2)             5.23 Trapezius anterior muscles, posterior muscles, facial muscles (also listed as 1.4)       5.24 Platysma facial muscles

Note that some muscles listed above are identified as 'deep muscle', which may explain why they are difficult to find on diagrams of superficial muscles. In some cases their approximate locations are indicated on the diagrams on this website using semi-transparent areas of another colour and in other cases their locations are indicated as 'underneath' or 'partially beneath' a specific superficial muscle or muscles. Some textbooks include detailed diagrams of both 'deep' and 'superficial' muscles but such level of detail and artistic ability is not expected for exams in many first-level courses.

This page is intended to assist students of holistic therapies incl. alternative therapies, physiotherapy, nursing, and other health science subjects. Some such courses e.g. ITEC Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology (Sept 2009 syllabus) require knowledge of the location in the body of specific muscles.