Posterior Muscles

It isn't possible to label the locations of all the skeletal muscles of the human body on one diagram because:

  1. They are in and visible from views of different areas of the body e.g. anterior, posterior, medial, lateral etc., and
  2. There are layers of muscles: 'Deep' muscles are closest to bones.'Superficial' muscles are just beneath the skin.

Posterior Muscles in the Body

Above: Diagram of the Posterior Muscles of the Human Body

In this diagram superficial muscles are labelled in black and the locations of deep muscles are labelled in green and indicated with orange lines and/or highlighted areas.

The muscles and associated muscle tissues labelled in the above posterior muscles diagram are listed in bold in the following sections re. Trunk / Torso, Arm / Hand, Leg / Foot and Head / Neck / Face.

Trunk / Torso

  • Trapezius
  • Erector Spinae (deep muscle)
  • Supraspinatus (deep muscle)
  • Infraspinatus (deep muscle
  • Teres Major (deep muscle)
  • Teres Minor (deep muscle)
  • Rhomboid Major (deep muscle)
  • Rhomboid Minor (deep muscle)
  • Latissimus Dors
  • Gluteus Medius
  • Gluteus Maximus
  • Gluteus Minimus
  • External Oblique
  • Internal Oblique

Arm / Hand

  • Deltoid
  • Triceps Brachii
  • Brachioradialis
  • Extensor Carpi
  • Ulnaris
  • Extensor Carpi
  • Digitorum

Leg / Foot

Upper Leg:

  • Vastus Lateralis
  • Biceps Femoris
  • Semimembranosus
  • Semitendinosus
  • Adductor Longus
  • Gracilis
  • Piriformis (deep muscle)
  • Gluteus Maximus
  • Gluteus Medius
  • Gluteus Minimus

Lower Leg / Foot:

  • Gastrocnemius
  • Soleus
  • Peroneus Longus
  • Achilles Tendon

Head / Neck / Face

  • Splenius capitis
  • Trapezius

See the page muscle names and locations for more about all of the muscles in this table including links to other pages where they are labelled on muscle diagrams.

See also anterior muscles and facial muscles.

More about Muscles

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