Cheat Sheet (English Terminology) Upper Limb: Muscle Charts www.kenhub.com Shoulder and arm muscles Rotator cuff Origin Insertion Innervation Function muscles Upper and lower Shoulder joint: Arm internal Subscapular fossa of Lesser tubercle of Subscapularis subscapular nerves rotation; Stabilizes humeral scapula humerus (C5 - C6) head in glenoid cavity Shoulder joint: Arm external rotation, Arm Teres minor Lateral border of scapula Axillary nerve (C5, C6) adduction; Stabilizes humeral head in glenoid cavity Shoulder joint: Arm GGGrrreeeaaattteeerrr tttuuubbbeeerrrcccllleee ooofff Supraspinous fossa of abduction; Stabilizes Supraspinatus hhhuuummmeeerrruuusss scapula humeral head in glenoid cavity SSuupprraassccaappuullaarr nneerrvvee ((CC55,, CC66)) Shoulder joint: Arm Infraspinous fossa of external rotation; Stabilizes Infraspinatus scapula humeral head in glenoid cavity Other shoulder Origin Insertion Innervation Function & arm muscles Clavicular part: Lateral third of clavicle
 Shoulder joint: Arm flexion, 
 Arm internal rotation Acromial part: Acromion Deltoid tuberosity of (clavicular part), Arm Deltoid Axillary nerve (C5-C6) of scapula
 humerus abduction (acromial part), 
 Arm extension, Arm lateral Spinal part: Spine of rotation (spinal part) scapula Inferior angle and lower Crest of lesser tubercle of Lower subscapular or Shoulder joint: Arm internal Teres major part of lateral border of humerus (a.k.a. Medial lip thoracodorsal nerves rotation, Arm extension, scapula of intertubercular sulcus) (C5- C7) Arm adduction Coracoid process of Anteromedial surface of Shoulder joint: Arm flexion, Coracobrachialis scapula humeral shaft Arm adduction Long head: Supraglenoid MMuussccuullooccuuttaanneeoouuss nneerrvvee Elbow joint: Forearm tubercle of scapula
 ((CC55 -- CC66)) Radial tuberosity of flexion and supination; Biceps brachii 
 radius Shoulder joint: Weak arm Short head: Coracoid flexion process of scapula Distal half of anterior Ulnar tuberosity, Musculocutaneous nerve Elbow joint: Forearm Brachialis surface of humerus Coronoid process of ulna Radial nerve (C5-C7) flexion (in all positions) Long head: Infraglenoid tubercle of scapula
 Shoulder joint: Arm Lateral head: Posterior extension and adduction surface of humerus Olecranon of ulna and Triceps brachii Radial nerve (C6 - C8) (long head); (superior to radial groove)
 fascia of forearm Elbow joint: Forearm 
 extension Medial head: Posterior surface of humerus (inferior to radial groove) Elbow joint: Assists in Lateral epicondyle of Lateral surface of Anconeus Radial nerve (C7, C8) forearm extension; humerus olecranon Stabilization of elbow joint Forearm muscles AAnntteerriioorr Origin Insertion Innervation Function ccoommppaarrttmmeenntt Humeral head: Medial supracondylar ridge of Lateral surface of Elbow joint: Forearm flexion; Pronator teres humerus radius (distal to Proximal radioulnar joint: Ulnar head: Coronoid process supinator) MMeeddiiaann nneerrvvee Forearm pronation of ulna ((CC66,, CC77)) Flexor carpi Bases of metacarpal Wrist joint: Wrist flexion, Medial epicondyle of humerus p radialis bones 2-3 Wrist abduction u o r g al Flexor carpi Medial epicondyle of Pisiform bone, Ulnar nerve Wrist joint: Wrist flexion, i humerus, Olecranon and Hamate bone, Base c ulnaris (C7-T1) Wrist adduction fi posterior border of ulna of metacarpal bone 5 r e p u Flexor retinaculum, Median nerve Wrist joint: Wrist flexion; S Palmaris longus Medial epicondyle of humerus Palmar aponeurosis (C7, C8) Tenses palmar aponeurosis Humeroulnar head: Medial Flexor epicondyle of humerus , Sides of middle Metacarpophalangeal and Median nerve digitorum Coronoid process of ulna phalanges of digits proximal interphalangeal (C8, T1) superficialis Radial head: Proximal half of 2-5 joints 2-5: Finger flexion anterior border of radius Digits 2-3: Median Flexor Proximal half of anterior Palmar surfaces of nerve (anterior Metacarpophalangeal and digitorum surface of ulna, Interosseous distal phalanges of interosseous nerve); interphalangeal joints 2-5: profundus membrane digits 2-5 Digits 4-5: Ulnar Finger flexion p u nerve (C8, T1) o r g p Palmar surface of Metacarpophalangeal and e Flexor pollicis Anterior surface of radius and e distal phalanx of MMeeddiiaann nneerrvvee interphalangeal joint 1: D longus interosseous membrane thumb ((aanntteerriioorr Thumb flexion iinntteerroosssseeoouuss nneerrvvee)) Pronator Distal anterior ((CC77,, CC88)) Proximal radioulnar joint: Distal anterior surface of ulna quadratus surface of radius Forearm pronation PPoosstteerriioorr ccoommppaarrttmmeenntt Origin Insertion Innervation Function mmuusscclleess Elbow joint: Forearm (Proximal to) Styloid Brachioradialis LLaatteerraall ssuupprraaccoonnddyyllaarr flexion (when semi process of radius p rriiddggee ooff hhuummeerruuss,, pronated) u o LLaatteerraall iinntteerrmmuussccuullaarr r g Extensor carpi sseeppttuumm ooff aarrmm Posterior aspect of base RRRaaadddiiiaaalll NNNeeerrrvvveee (((CCC555--- CCC888))) al WWrriisstt jjooiinnttss:: HHaanndd i radialis longus of metacarpal bone 2 d eexxtteennssiioonn,, HHaanndd a R aabbdduuccttiioonn ((rraaddiiaall Extensor carpi Posterior aspect of base ddeevviiaattiioonn)) radialis brevis of metacarpal bone 3 LLLaaattteeerrraaalll eeepppiiicccooonnndddyyyllleee ooofff Metacarpophalangeal / Extensor Extensor expansions of hhhuuummmeeerrruuusss (((cccooommmmmmooonnn Interphalangeal joints p digitorum digits 2-5 u eeexxxttteeennnsssooorrr ttteeennndddooonnn))) 2-5: Finger extension o r g l Extensor digiti Extensor expansion of Metacarpophalangeal a i c minimi digit 5 joint 5: Finger extension i f r e p Lateral epicondyle of u Extensor carpi Base of metacarpal bone Wrist joint: Hand S humerus, Posterior ulnaris 5 extension and adduction border of the ulna Lateral epicondyle of humerus, Radial Lateral, posterior, and Proximal radioulnar Supinator collateral ligament, anterior surfaces of joint: Forearm Anular ligament, proximal third of radius supination Supinator crest of ulna Radiocarpal joint: Hand Posterior surface of abduction (radial Abductor pollicis proximal half of radius, Base of metacarpal bone deviation); PPPPPPPPoooooooosssssssstttttttteeeeeeeerrrrrrrriiiiiiiioooooooorrrrrrrr iiiiiiiinnnnnnnntttttttteeeeeeeerrrrrrrroooooooosssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeoooooooouuuuuuuussssssss longus ulna and interosseus 1, (Trapezium Bone) Carpometacarpal joint nnnnnnnneeeeeeeerrrrrrrrvvvvvvvveeeeeeee ((((((((CCCCCCCC77777777,,,,,,,, CCCCCCCC88888888)))))))) membrane of thumb: Thumb abduction and extension p u Wrist joints: o r Weak hand extension g Posterior surface of Posterior aspect of base p Extensor pollicis Metacarpophalangeal middle third of ulna and of distal phalanx of e longus and interphalangeal joint e interosseus membrane thumb D of thumb: Thumb extension Posterior surface of Posterior aspect of base Carpometacarpal and Extensor pollicis distal third of radius and of proximal phalanx of Metacarpophalangeal brevis interosseus membrane thumb joint 1: Thumb extension Wrist joints: Weak hand extension Posterior surface of Extensor expansion of Metacarpophalangeal Extensor indicis distal third of ulna and index finger and interphalangeal interosseus membrane joints of index finger: Finger extension Hand muscles Thenar muscles Origin Insertion Innervation Function Opponens Tubercle of trapezium Radial border of metacarpal Carpometacarpal joint 1: pollicis bone, Flexor retinaculum bone 1 Thumb opposition RReeccuurrrreenntt bbrraanncchh ooff mmeeddiiaann nneerrvvee ((CC88,, Tubercles of scaphoid and Abductor TT11)) Carpometacarpal joint 1: trapezium bones, Flexor pollicis brevis Thumb abduction retinaculum LLaatteerraall aassppeecctt ooff bbaassee ooff Superficial head: Superficial head: Flexor pprrooxxiimmaall pphhaallaannxx 11 ((vviiaa rraaddiiaall Recurrent branch of retinaculum, Tubercle of sseessaammooiidd bboonnee)) Carpometacarpal and Flexor pollicis median nerve trapezium bone metacarpophalangeal joint brevis Deep head: Deep Deep head: Trapezoid and 1: Thumb flexion branch of ulnar capitate bones nerve (C8, T1) Transverse head: Palmar base of metacarpal bone 3 Medial base of proximal Adductor Deep branch of Carpometacarpal joint 1: Oblique head: Capitate phalanx 1 (via ulnar sesamoid pollicis ulnar nerve (C8, T1) Thumb adduction bone, Palmar bases of bone) metacarpal bones 2 & 3 Hypothenar Origin Insertion Innervation Function muscles Pisiform bone Metacarpophalangeal joint Ulnar side of base of proximal Abductor digiti (Pisohamate ligament, 5: Finger abduction and phalanx of digit 5, Extensor minimi Tendon of flexor carpi flexion; Interphalangeal expansion of digit 5 ulnaris) joints: Finger extension DDDeeeeeeppp bbbrrraaannnccchhh ooofff uuulllnnnaaarrr Metacarpophalangeal joint Flexor digiti Base of proximal phalanx of nnneeerrrvvveee (((CCC888,,, TTT111))) 5: Finger flexion (+ Finger minimi digit 5 lateral rotation/opposition) HHooookk ooff hhaammaattee,, FFlleexxoorr rreettiinnaaccuulluumm Carpometacarpal joint 5: Opponens digiti Ulnar aspect of metacarpal Finger flexion, Finger minimi bone 5 lateral rotation/opposition Palmar aponeurosis, Dermis of skin of hypothenar Superficial branch of Tightens palmar Palmaris brevis Flexor retinaculum region ulnar nerve (C8, T1) aponeurosis, Tightens grip Metacarpal Origin Insertion Innervation Function muscles 1 & 2: Radial aspects of 1 & 2: Median nerve tendons 1 & 2 of flexor Metacarpophalangeal joints (C8, T1)
 digitorum profundus; Radial aspect of extensor 2-5: Finger flexion; Lumbricals (4) 3 & 4: Deep branch 3 & 4: Opposing aspects of expansion of digits 2-5 Interphalangeal joints 2-5: of ulnar nerve tendons 2- 4 of flexor Finger extension (C8-T1) digitorum profundus 1 & 2: Radial bases of proximal Metacarpophalangeal joints phalanges/extensor 2-4: Finger abduction, Dorsal Adjacent sides of expansions of digits 2 & 3 Finger flexion; interossei (4) metacarpal bones 1-5 3 & 4: Ulnar bases of proximal Interphalangeal joints 2-4: phalanges/extensor Finger extension expansions of digits 3 and 4 DDeeeepp bbrraanncchh ooff uullnnaarr nneerrvvee ((CC88--TT11)) 1: Ulnar base of proximal Metacarpophalangeal joints phalanx/extensor expansion Ulnar side of metacarpal 2,4 & 5: Finger adduction, Palmar of digit 2 bone 2, Radial side of Finger flexion; interossei (3) 2 & 3: Radial base of proximal metacarpal bones 4 and 5 Interphalangeal joints 2,4 & phalanges/extensor 5: Finger extension expansions of digits 4 and 5 Complete your muscle charts collection Congratulations - you’ve conquered the origins, insertions, innervations and functions of the muscles of the upper limb! But there’s still a lot of muscles to learn, so don’t stop here. The next step is to master the lower limb, trunk wall, and head and neck. Luckily, we have muscle charts on every region of the body. Click below to learn more. Cheat Sheet (English Terminology) Head and Neck: Muscle Charts www.kenhub.com LEARN MORE