The Latin Roots of Muscle Names
Edmund has spent the last ten years working in clinical research. He has written many articles on human anatomy and physiology.
A lot of students come to me for help because they have troubles learning the names of skeletal muscles of the human muscular system. These muscle names are derived from Latin. At first you would think this as a hindrance, but actually most of the time you could use these names as clues to help you learn the shape of the muscles, their locations and what they do. All you need is a dictionary or some guide book to help you translate Latin to English.
Let us look at a group of muscles called Flexor muscles. This is a group of muscle with the word Flexor at the beginning of the muscle name. Flexor is derived from modern Latin Flexus, the past participle of Flectere which means ‘bender’. Let us now pick one of these Flexor muscles, for example Flexor carpi radialis. Carpi is modern Latin meaning ‘wrist’. Radialis is used here to refer to the position of the muscle on radial side the forearm (that is, near or at the radius bone).
The next muscle we should look at is the Flexor carpi ulnaris. Flexor carpi we already know means “wrist bender” and Ulnaris refers to the position at the ulna bone. Therefore, Flexor carpi ulnaris means ‘wrist bender at ulna’ or ‘bender of the wrist at the ulna’.
Let us now apply what we have learned so far on a longer muscle name; Flexor digiti minimi brevis. This is kind of a whole phrase in Latin. Flexor we already know means ‘bender’. In this case Digiti means ‘pointing thing’. Since we point with our fingers this applies to the fingers. Minimi comes from Minimus meaning ‘least or smallest’. Brevis means ‘short’. So from Flexor digiti minimi brevis, we have the following words: bender, finger, smallest, short. In English, this means ‘short smallest finger bender’. This can be adjusted to ‘the short muscle that bends the little finger’.
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Names and Meanings of Skeletal Muscle of the Human Body
Here is a list with a selection of major skeletal muscles of the human body including the meaning of their names. This list is arranged by location.
Anterior View
# | View | Region | Muscle Name | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Abductor digiti minimi | Abducts the little finger |
2 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Abductor pollicis brevis | Short muscles abducts thumb |
3 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Adductor pollicis | Adductor of thumb |
4 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Biceps brachii | Two-headed arm muscle |
5 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Brachialis | Muscle of the Arm |
6 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Brachioradialis | Muscle of the Arm along the Radius bone |
7 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Coracobrachialis | Arm crow muscle |
8 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Deltoid | Triangle-like |
9 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Extensor carpi radialis brevis | Short wrist stretcher at the radius bone |
10 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Extensor carpi radialis longus | Long wrist stretcher at the radius bone |
11 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Extensor digitorum | Stretches the fingers |
12 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Flexor carpi radialis | Wrist bender at the radius bone |
13 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Flexor carpi ulnaris | Wrist bender at the ulna bone |
14 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Flexor digiti minimi brevis | Short muscle that bends little finger |
15 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Flexor digitorum profundus | Deep muscles that bends the fingers |
16 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Flexor digitorum superficialis | Muscles towards to surface that bends the fingers |
17 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Flexor pollicis brevis | Short muscle that bends the thumb |
18 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Lumbrical | Worm-like |
19 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Opponens digiti minimi | Muscle that places Small finger in opposite side |
20 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Opponens pollicis | Muscle that places Thumb finger in opposite side |
21 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Palmaris longus | Long muscle on the flat of the hand |
22 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Pronator quadratus | Square muscles that turns palm facing downwards |
23 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Pronator teres | Rounded muscle that turns palm facing downwards |
24 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Supinator | Muscle that makes hand lay on its back |
25 | Anterior | Arm, Hand | Triceps brachii | Three-headed arm muscle |
26 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Buccinator | Trumpeter muscle (muscle used in blowing) |
27 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Corrugator supercilii | Wrinkles above eyelashes |
28 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Depressor anguli oris | Muscle that presses corner of the mouth |
29 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Depressor labii inferioris | Muscle that presses down lower lip |
30 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Frontalis | Frontal belly of occipitofrontalis |
31 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Levator anguli oris | Muscle that lifts the corner of mouth |
32 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Levator labii superioris | Muscle that lifts the upper lip |
33 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Levator palpebrae superioris | Muscle that lifts the upper eyelid |
34 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Mentalis | Muscle of the chin |
35 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Nasalis | Muscle of the nose |
36 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Occipitofrontalis | Muscle of the skull that goes from brow to back of the head |
37 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Omohyoid | Muscle of the shoulder and hyoid |
38 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Orbicularis oculi | Little circle muscle of the eye |
39 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Orbicularis oris | Little circle muscle of the mouth |
40 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Sternocleidomastoid | Muscle that connects the Sternum, clavicle and mastoid process |
41 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Sternohyoid | Muscle of the chest and hyoid |
42 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Temporalis | Time muscle |
43 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Zygomaticus major | Greater muscle of the yoke-shaped bone |
44 | Anterior | Head, Face, Neck | Zygomaticus minor | Lesser muscle of the yoke-shaped bone |
45 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Abductor hallucis | Abducts big toe |
46 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Adductor brevis | Short adductor |
47 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Adductor longus | Long adductor |
48 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Biceps femoris | Two-headed thigh muscle |
49 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Extensor digitorum longus | Long muscle that stretches the toe |
50 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Extensor hallucis longus | Long muscle that stretches the big toe |
51 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Flexor digitorum brevis | Short muscles that bends toes |
52 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Flexor digitorum Longus | Long muscles that bends the toes |
53 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Flexor hallucis brevis | Short muscle that bends the big toe |
54 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Gastrocnemius | Belly muscle of leg |
55 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Gracilis | Slender muscle |
56 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Iliacus | Flank muscle |
57 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Ischiocavernosus | Muscle of the hip with hollow space |
58 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Levator ani | Muscle that lifts anus |
59 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Lumbrical | Worm-like |
60 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Peroneus brevis | Short muscle of pointed bone |
61 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Peroneus longus | Long muscle of pointed bone |
62 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Peroneus tertius | Third muscle of pointed bone |
63 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Psoas major | Greater muscle of loin region |
64 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Psoas minor | Lesser muscle of loin region |
65 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Quadriceps femoris | Four-headed muscle of the femur |
66 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Rectus femoris | Straight muscle of the thigh |
67 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Sartorius | Tailor muscle |
68 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Soleus | Sandal muscle |
69 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Tensor fasciae latae | Stretches the side bundle |
70 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Tibialis anterior | Muscle in front of the shinbone |
71 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Vastus intermedius | Enormous muscle in-between the middle |
72 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Vastus lateralis | Enormous muscle on the side |
73 | Anterior | Leg, Foot | Vastus medialis | Enormous muscle towards the middle |
74 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Bulbospongiosus | Spongy bulb |
75 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Diaphragm | Across enclosure |
76 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | External intercostal | Outward muscle between ribs |
77 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | External oblique | Outer slanting muscle |
78 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Iliocostalis | Muscle between flank and ribs |
79 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Iliopsoas | Psoas major and Iliacus muscles |
80 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Internal intercostal | Inner muscle between the ribs |
81 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Internal oblique | Slanting belly muscle |
82 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Interspinales | Between spines |
83 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Latissimus dorsi | Broadest back muscle |
84 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Pectoralis major | Greater breast muscle |
85 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Pectoralis minor | Lesser breast muscle |
86 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Rectus abdominis | Straight belly muscle |
87 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Serratus anterior | Anterior saw-like muscle |
88 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Sternocleidomastoid | Muscle that connects the Sternum, clavicle and mastoid process |
89 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Transversus abdominis | crosswise muscle of the chest |
90 | Anterior | Trunk, Torso | Trapezius | Four-sided muscle |
Posterior View
# | View | Region | Muscle Name | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|---|
91 | Posterior | Arm, Hand | Brachioradialis | Muscle of the Arm along the Radius bone |
92 | Posterior | Arm, Hand | Deltoid | Triangle-like |
93 | Posterior | Arm, Hand | Extensor carpi ulnaris | Wrist stretcher at the ulna bone |
94 | Posterior | Arm, Hand | Triceps brachii | Three-headed arm muscle |
95 | Posterior | Head, Face, Neck | Masseter | Chewer muscle |
96 | Posterior | Head, Face, Neck | Occipitofrontalis | Muscle of the skull that goes from brow to back of the head |
97 | Posterior | Head, Face, Neck | Splenius capitis | Bandage muscle of the head |
98 | Posterior | Head, Face, Neck | Splenius cervicis | Bandage muscle of the neck |
99 | Posterior | Head, Face, Neck | Trapezius | Four-sided muscle |
100 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Adductor longus | Long adductor |
101 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Adductor magnus | Large adductor |
102 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Biceps femoris | Two-headed thigh muscle |
103 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Gastrocnemius | Belly muscle of leg |
104 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Gluteus maximus | Largest butt muscle |
105 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Gluteus medius | Medium butt muscle |
106 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Gluteus minimus | Smallest butt muscle |
107 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Gracilis | Slender muscle |
108 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Peroneus longus | Long muscle of pointed bone |
109 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Piriformis | Pear-shaped muscle |
110 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Rectus femoris | Straight muscle of the thigh |
111 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Semimembranosus | Half skin muscle |
112 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Semitendinosus | Half tightly stretch band muscle |
113 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Soleus | Sandal muscle |
114 | Posterior | Leg, Foot | Vastus lateralis | Enormous muscle on the side |
115 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Erector spinae | Straightens the spine |
116 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | External oblique | Outer slanting muscle |
117 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Infraspinatus | Muscle below the spine |
118 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Internal oblique | Slanting belly muscle |
119 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Latissimus dorsi | Broadest back muscle |
120 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Levator scapulae | Muscle that lifts the Scapula |
121 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Longissimus capitis | Longest muscle of the head |
122 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Quadratus lumborum | Square muscle of the loin |
123 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Rhomboid major | Large oblique angled parallelogram-shaped muscle |
124 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Rhomboid minor | Lesser oblique angled parallelogram-shaped muscle |
125 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Semispinalis capitis | Muscle of half spine of the head |
126 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Semispinalis cervicis | Muscle of half spine |
127 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Spinalis | Spine muscle |
128 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Splenius capitis | Bandage muscle of the head |
129 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Subscapularis | Muscle under the spade |
130 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Supraspinatus | Muscle above the spine |
131 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Teres major | Greater rounded muscle |
132 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Teres minor | Lesser rounded muscle |
133 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Transversospinalis | Transverse spine muscle |
134 | Posterior | Trunk, Torso | Trapezius | Four-sided muscle |