HLT42021 · Certificate IV in Massage Therapy
Learn the body
with your hands.
Muscle of the day
ThighAdductor BrevisShort, triangular inner-thigh muscle lying under pectineus and adductor longus that pulls the thigh inwards and helps flex the hip.ThighAdductor LongusFlat, fan-shaped inner-thigh muscle from the front of the pubic bone to the middle of the femur that pulls the thigh inwards and helps flex the hip.ThighAdductor MagnusLarge, triangular inner-thigh muscle with an adductor part and a hamstring part, which pulls the thigh inwards and helps extend the hip.ArmAnconeusSmall triangular muscle at the back of the elbow that helps the triceps straighten the elbow and steadies the joint.ArmBiceps brachiiTwo-headed muscle on the front of the upper arm that bends the elbow and turns the palm up.ThighBiceps FemorisTwo-headed hamstring muscle on the outer back of the thigh that bends the knee, and with its long head also extends the hip.ArmBrachialisBroad muscle under the biceps that is the strongest flexor of the elbow in any forearm position.Forearm & handBrachioradialisLong, superficial muscle on the thumb side of the forearm that flexes the elbow, most strongly with the thumb pointing up.Head & faceBuccinatorThin, flat muscle forming the wall of the cheek that presses the cheek against the teeth, helping with chewing and blowing.ArmCoracobrachialisSmall, strap-like muscle in the upper inner arm that weakly flexes and adducts the arm at the shoulder.ShoulderDeltoidThick, triangular muscle that caps the shoulder and is the main muscle for lifting the arm out to the side.TrunkDiaphragmDome-shaped sheet of muscle separating the chest from the abdomen that is the main muscle of breathing in.BackErector spinaeThree long columns of muscle (iliocostalis, longissimus and spinalis) running beside the spine from the sacrum to the skull that extend and side-bend the back and hold the trunk upright.Forearm & handExtensor Carpi Radialis BrevisWrist extensor lying just under its longer partner, running from the lateral epicondyle to the middle finger metacarpal and lifting the back of the hand.Forearm & handExtensor Carpi Radialis LongusOuter forearm muscle running from above the lateral epicondyle to the index finger metacarpal, extending the wrist and tilting it towards the thumb.Forearm & handExtensor Carpi UlnarisLong muscle on the back of the forearm next to the ulna that extends the wrist and tilts it towards the little finger.Forearm & handExtensor DigitorumMuscle in the middle of the back of the forearm whose four tendons straighten the fingers and help extend the wrist.LegExtensor Digitorum LongusFeather-shaped muscle on the outer front of the lower leg that lifts the four small toes and helps lift the foot.LegExtensor Hallucis LongusThin muscle on the front of the lower leg, partly hidden by its neighbours, that lifts the big toe and helps lift the foot.TrunkExternal obliqueBroad, outermost muscle of the side of the abdomen that flexes, side-bends and rotates the trunk to the opposite side.LegFibularis BrevisShorter fibular muscle lying under fibularis longus on the outer leg; it turns the sole outwards and helps point the foot.LegFibularis LongusLong muscle on the outer side of the lower leg whose tendon wraps behind the outer ankle and under the foot to turn the sole outwards and support the arches.Forearm & handFlexor Carpi RadialisSuperficial forearm muscle that runs from the medial epicondyle to the index and middle finger metacarpals, bending the wrist and tilting it towards the thumb.Forearm & handFlexor Carpi UlnarisSuperficial muscle along the inner (little-finger) border of the forearm that bends the wrist and tilts it towards the little finger.LegFlexor Digitorum LongusDeep muscle on the inner back of the leg that curls the four small toes and helps point the foot.Forearm & handFlexor Digitorum ProfundusDeep forearm muscle lying on the ulna that bends the fingertips and is the only muscle able to flex the end joints of the four fingers.Forearm & handFlexor Digitorum SuperficialisLarge middle-layer forearm muscle that bends the four fingers at their middle joints and helps bend the knuckles and wrist.LegFlexor Hallucis LongusDeep muscle on the outer back of the leg that bends the big toe and gives the push-off in walking, running and rising onto the toes.Head & faceFrontalisThin, broad muscle of the forehead that raises the eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead.LegGastrocnemiusTwo-headed superficial calf muscle that runs from above the knee to the heel and points the foot and helps bend the knee.HipGemelliTwo small, paired deep hip muscles, above and below the obturator internus tendon, that help it laterally rotate the hip.HipGluteus MaximusThe largest and most superficial buttock muscle, and the main extensor of the hip.HipGluteus MediusThick, fan-shaped muscle on the outer side of the pelvis that abducts the hip and keeps the pelvis level when you stand on one leg.HipGluteus MinimusThe smallest and deepest of the three gluteal muscles, lying under gluteus medius, that abducts and medially rotates the hip.ThighGracilisLong, thin strap muscle running down the inner edge of the thigh from the pubic bone to the upper inner tibia, which pulls the thigh inwards and helps bend the knee.HipIliopsoasDeep hip flexor made of psoas major and iliacus, running from the lumbar spine and inside of the pelvis to the lesser trochanter of the femur, and the strongest flexor of the hip.ShoulderInfraspinatusThick, flat rotator cuff muscle below the spine of the scapula that laterally rotates the arm and steadies the shoulder joint.TrunkInternal obliqueMiddle layer of the side abdominal wall, lying under the external oblique, that flexes the trunk, compresses the abdomen and rotates the trunk to the same side.BackLatissimus dorsiBroad, flat, fan-shaped muscle of the lower and middle back that extends, adducts and medially rotates the arm.NeckLevator scapulaeStrap-like muscle at the back and side of the neck that lifts the scapula and helps bend and turn the neck to the same side.NeckLongus colliDeep muscle on the front of the cervical and upper thoracic spine that flexes the neck and slightly rotates it.Head & faceMasseterThick, powerful muscle on the side of the jaw that closes the mouth and clenches the teeth.BackMultifidusSeries of short, deep muscle bundles filling the groove beside the spinous processes from the sacrum to C2 that extend and steady each segment of the spine.HipObturator ExternusFlat, triangular muscle covering the outside of the front of the pelvis whose tendon wraps under the neck of the femur to laterally rotate the hip.HipObturator InternusFan-shaped deep hip muscle that starts inside the pelvis, turns around the back of the ischium and laterally rotates the hip.Head & faceOccipitalisThin, flat muscle at the back of the head that pulls the scalp backwards.Head & faceOrbicularis oculiRing of muscle around the eye that closes the eyelids, from a gentle blink to a tight squeeze.Head & faceOrbicularis orisRing-like muscle within the lips that closes the mouth and puckers the lips.Forearm & handPalmaris LongusSmall, slender forearm muscle with a long tendon that tightens the fascia of the palm and weakly bends the wrist; missing in some people.ThighPectineusShort, flat muscle at the top of the inner thigh, running from the pubic bone to just below the lesser trochanter, that flexes and adducts the hip.ChestPectoralis majorLarge, fan-shaped chest muscle that flexes, adducts and medially rotates the arm.ChestPectoralis minorThin, triangular muscle under pectoralis major that draws the scapula forwards and down against the chest wall.HipPiriformisFlat, pear-shaped deep hip muscle running from the front of the sacrum to the greater trochanter that laterally rotates the hip.NeckPlatysmaThin, broad sheet of muscle just under the skin at the front of the neck that tenses the neck skin and pulls down the lower lip and corners of the mouth.LegPopliteusSmall, flat, triangular muscle deep behind the knee that rotates the tibia or femur to "unlock" the straightened knee so it can bend.Forearm & handPronator TeresShort, rounded muscle crossing the front of the upper forearm that turns the palm down (pronation) and helps bend the elbow.HipQuadratus FemorisFlat, four-sided deep muscle between the ischial tuberosity and the back of the femur that strongly laterally rotates and adducts the hip.BackQuadratus lumborumDeep, four-sided muscle between the iliac crest, the 12th rib and the lumbar spine that side-bends the lower back and hitches the hip.TrunkRectus abdominisLong, strap-like muscle running vertically down the front of the abdomen that flexes the trunk and helps compress the abdomen.ThighRectus FemorisSpindle-shaped muscle down the middle of the front of the thigh, the only quadriceps muscle that crosses the hip, so it both flexes the hip and straightens the knee.BackRhomboid majorDiamond-shaped muscle between the spine and the shoulder blade that pulls the scapula towards the spine and holds it against the ribs.BackRhomboid minorSmall band-like muscle from the base of the neck to the top of the scapula's medial border that retracts the scapula and holds it against the ribs.ThighSartoriusLong, thin strap muscle, the longest in the body, running diagonally across the front of the thigh from the ASIS to the inner knee, which helps flex, abduct and laterally rotate the hip and bend the knee.ThighSemimembranosusBroad, flat inner hamstring muscle lying under semitendinosus that bends the knee, extends the hip and turns the leg inwards.NeckSemispinalis capitisThick, rope-like muscle beside the cervical spine, deep to trapezius and splenius, that extends the head and helps tilt and turn it.ThighSemitendinosusInner hamstring muscle with a long, cord-like lower tendon that bends the knee, extends the hip and turns the leg inwards.ChestSerratus anteriorSaw-toothed muscle on the side of the ribcage that pulls the scapula forwards around the chest and helps rotate it upwards.BackSerratus posteriorTwo thin sheets of muscle (superior and inferior) connecting the spine to the ribs under the rhomboids and latissimus dorsi, with a minor role in breathing.LegSoleusBroad, flat calf muscle lying under the gastrocnemius that points the foot and keeps the body from tipping forward when standing.NeckSplenius capitisBroad, strap-like muscle at the back of the neck that extends the head and turns and tilts it to the same side.NeckSternocleidomastoidLarge, superficial rope-like muscle on the side of the neck that turns the head to the opposite side and bends the neck.ShoulderSubscapularisLarge, triangular rotator cuff muscle on the front of the scapula that medially rotates the arm and guards the front of the shoulder joint.Forearm & handSupinatorDeep, curved muscle that wraps around the top of the radius and turns the palm up (supination) in any elbow position.ShoulderSupraspinatusRotator cuff muscle above the spine of the scapula that starts arm abduction and holds the head of the humerus in its socket.Head & faceTemporalisFan-shaped muscle on the side of the head that closes the jaw and pulls it back.HipTensor Fasciae LataeSmall muscle at the front of the outer hip, just below the ASIS, that tightens the iliotibial band and helps flex, abduct and medially rotate the hip.ShoulderTeres majorThick, rounded muscle from the inferior angle of the scapula to the front of the humerus that pulls the arm down, back and inwards.ShoulderTeres minorNarrow rotator cuff muscle along the lateral border of the scapula that laterally rotates the arm and stops the humerus riding upwards.LegTibialis AnteriorLong muscle beside the shin bone that lifts the foot up (dorsiflexion) and turns the sole inwards (inversion).LegTibialis PosteriorThe deepest muscle at the back of the leg; it turns the sole inwards, helps point the foot and is a major support for the inner arch.TrunkTransversus abdominisDeepest of the abdominal wall muscles, wrapping horizontally around the waist like a corset to compress the abdomen and help stabilise the trunk.BackTrapeziusLarge diamond-shaped muscle of the upper back and neck that moves and stabilises the scapula.ArmTriceps brachiiThree-headed muscle on the back of the upper arm that straightens the elbow.ThighVastus IntermediusDeep quadriceps muscle lying on the front of the femur under rectus femoris, which straightens the knee.ThighVastus LateralisThe largest quadriceps muscle, covering the outer side of the thigh, which straightens and steadies the knee.ThighVastus MedialisQuadriceps muscle on the inner side of the thigh, forming the teardrop bulge above the knee, that straightens the knee and helps the kneecap track in its groove.Regions
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