Posterior Muscles of the Human Body

Posterior muscles of the human body are included in first-level courses in human anatomy.
The topic muscles of the human body is important for students of nursing, physiotherapy, sports science and other health science subjects. The following labelled diagram of human posterior muscles includes some muscles required by the ITEC Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology (Sept 2009).

Not all of the skeletal muscles of the human body can be seen from any one view. This is partly because they are located in different areas of the body e.g. anterior, posterior, medial, lateral etc., and partly because there are layers of muscles, i.e. 'deep' muscles are closest to bones whereas 'superficial' muscles just beneath the skin.

Posterior Muscles in the Body

This muscle diagram is interactive: Click on the name of a muscle for a page about that muscle (works for most labels).

The muscles (and associated muscle tissues) labelled in the posterior muscles diagram shown above are listed in bold the following table by part of the body:

Trunk / Torso Arm / Hand Leg / Foot Head / Neck / Face Splenius capitis (deep muscle) Levator scapulae (deep muscle) 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 Dorsi Gluteus Medius Gluteus Maximus Gluteus Minimus External Oblique Internal Oblique Deltoid Triceps Brachii Brachioradialis Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Extensor Carpi Digitorum Upper Leg: Splenius capitis Trapezius   Rectus Femoris 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

The muscles listed with a line through their names (above) are often included in first level courses but are not shown in the diagram above.

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

Also see anterior muscles and facial muscles.