Muscles of the Upper Limb - Listed Alphabetically

Muscle Origin Insertion Action Innervation Artery Notes

abductor digiti pisiform base of the abducts the 5th digit deep branch of the ulnar a. abductor digiti
minimi (hand) proximal ulnar nerve minimi, flexor digiti
phalanx of the minimi brevis, and
5th digit on its opponens digiti
ulnar side minimi are located
in the hypothenar
compartment of the
hand

abductor pollicis flexor base of the abducts thumb recurrent branch of superficial abductor pollicis
brevis retinaculum, proximal median nerve palmar br. of the brevis, flexor
scaphoid, phalanx of the radial a. pollicis brevis, and
trapezium first digit opponens pollicis
are located in the
thenar
compartment of the
hand

abductor pollicis middle one- radial side of abducts the thumb at radial nerve, deep posterior the tendons of
longus third of the the base of the carpometacarpal joint branch interosseous a. abductor pollicis
posterior first longus and
surface of the metacarpal extensor pollicis
radius, brevis make the
interosseous lateral border of the
membrane, anatomical
mid-portion of snuffbox
posterolateral
ulna

adductor pollicis oblique head: base of the adducts the thumb ulnar nerve, deep deep palmar deep palmar arch
capitate and proximal branch arterial arch and deep ulnar
base of the 2nd phalanx of the nerve pass
and 3rd thumb between the two
metacarpals; heads of adductor
transverse pollicis, which is in
head: shaft of the adductor-
the 3rd interosseous
metacarpal compartment

anconeus lateral lateral side of extends the forearm nerve to anconeus, interosseous none
epicondyle of the olecranon from the radial recurrent a.
the humerus and the upper nerve
one-fourth of
the ulna

biceps brachii short head: tip tuberosity of flexes the forearm, musculocutaneous brachial a. a powerful
 of the coracoid the radius flexes arm (long nerve (C5,6) supinator only if the
process of the head), supinates elbow is flexed
scapula; long
head:
supraglenoid
tubercle of the
scapula

brachialis anterior surface coronoid flexes the forearm musculocutaneous brachial a., a powerful flexor
of the lower process of the nerve (C5,6) radial recurrent
one-half of the ulna a.
humerus and
the associated
intermuscular
septa

brachioradialis upper two- lateral side of flexes the elbow, radial nerve radial recurrent although
thirds of the the base of the assists in pronation & a. brachioradialis is
lateral styloid process supination innervated by the
supracondylar of the radius nerve for extensors
ridge of the (radial), its primary
humerus action is elbow
flexion; the neutral
position of this
muscle is half way
between supination
and pronation
(elbow flexed,
thumb up)

coracobrachialis coracoid medial side of flexes and adducts the musculocutaneous brachial a. the
process of the the humerus at arm nerve (C5,6) musculocutaneous
scapula mid-shaft nerve passes
through the
coracobrachialis
muscle to reach the
other arm flexor
mm.(biceps brachii
and brachialis)

deltoid lateral one-third deltoid abducts arm; anterior axillary nerve posterior the deltoid muscle
of the clavicle, tuberosity of fibers flex & medially (C5,6) from the circumflex is the principle
acromion, the the humerus rotate the arm; posterior cord of humeral a. abductor of the arm
lower lip of the posterior fibers extend the brachial plexus but due to poor
crest of the & laterally rotate the mechanical
spine of the arm advantage it cannot
scapula initiate this action; it
is assisted by the
supraspinatus m.

dorsal four muscles, base of the flex the ulnar nerve, deep dorsal and bipennate muscles;
interosseous each arising proximal metacarpophalangeal branch palmar remember DAB &
(hand) from two phalanx and joint, extend the metacarpal aa. PAD - Dorsal
adjacent the extensor proximal and distal interosseous mm.
metacarpal expansion on interphalangeal joints ABduct and Palmar
shafts lateral side of of digits 2-4, abduct interosseous mm.
 the 2nd digit, digits 2-4 (abduction of ADduct - then you
lateral & digits in the hand is can figure out
medial sides of defined as movement where they must
the 3rd digit, away from the midline insert to cause
and medial of the 3rd digit) these actions
side of the 4th
digit

extensor carpi lateral dorsum of the extends the wrist; radial nerve radial a. works with the
radialis brevis supracondylar third abducts the hand extensor carpi
ridge of the metacarpal radialis longus and
humerus bone (base) flexor carpi radialis
(common in abduction of the
extensor hand
tendon

extensor carpi lower one-third dorsum of the extends the wrist; deep radial nerve radial a. works with the
radialis longus of the lateral second abducts the hand extensor carpi
supracondylar metacarpal radialis brevis and
ridge of the bone (base) flexor carpi radialis
humerus in abduction of the
hand

extensor carpi common medial side of extends the wrist; deep radial nerve ulnar a. works with the
ulnaris extensor the base of the adducts the hand flexor carpi ulnaris
tendon & the 5th metacarpal in adduction of the
middle one-half hand
of the posterior
border of the
ulna

extensor digiti common joins the extends the deep radial nerve interosseous extensor digiti
minimi extensor extensor metacarpophalangeal, recurrent a. minimi appears to
tendon (lateral digitorum proximal be the ulnar-most
epicondyle of tendon to the interphalangeal and portion of extensor
the humerus) 5th digit and distal interphalangeal digitorum
inserts into the joints of the 5th digit
extensor
expansion

extensor common extensor extends the deep radial nerve interosseous the extensor
digitorum extensor expansion of metacarpophalangeal, recurrent a. and expansion inserts
tendon (lateral digits 2-5 proximal posterior via a central band
epicondyle of interphalangeal and interosseous a. on the base of the
the humerus) distal interphalangeal middle phalanx,
joints of the 2nd-5th while lateral &
digits; extends wrist medial slips insert
on the distal
phalanx

extensor indicis interosseous its tendon joins extends the index deep radial nerve posterior extensor indicis is a
membrane and the tendon of finger at the interosseous a deep forearm
the the extensor metacarpophalangeal, extensor, whereas
posterolateral digitorum to proximal extensor digiti
surface of the the second interphalangeal and minimi is in the
distal ulna digit; both distal interphalangeal superficial layer of
 tendons insert joints extensors
into the
extensor
expansion

extensor pollicis interosseous base of the extends the thumb at deep radial nerve posterior the tendons of
brevis membrane and proximal the interosseous a extensor pollicis
the posterior phalanx of the metacarpophalangeal brevis and abductor
surface of the thumb joint pollicis longus
distal radius make the lateral
border of the
anatomical
snuffbox, in which
the radial arterial
pulse can be felt

extensor pollicis interosseous base of the extends the thumb at deep radial nerve posterior the tendon of
longus membrane and distal phalanx the interphalangeal interosseous a extensor pollicis
middle part of of the thumb joint longus hooks
the around the dorsal
posterolateral radial tubercle; it
surface of the forms the medial
ulna border of the
anatomical
snuffbox, in which
the radial arterial
pulse can be felt

flexor carpi common flexor base of the flexes the wrist, median nerve ulnar a. works with the
radialis tendon from the second and abducts the hand extensor carpi
medial third radialis longus and
epicondyle of metacarpals brevis mm. to
the humerus abduct hand

flexor carpi common flexor pisiform, hook flexes wrist, adducts ulnar nerve ulnar a. the ulnar nerve
ulnaris tendon & (ulnar of hamate, and hand passes between
head) from base of 5th the two heads of
medial border metacarpal origin of the flexor
of olecranon & carpi ulnaris m.
upper 2/3 of the
posterior border
of the ulna

flexor digiti hook of hamate proximal flexes the ulnar nerve, deep ulnar a. flexor digiti minimi
minimi brevis & the flexor phalanx of the carpometacarpal and branch brevis, abductor
(hand) retinaculum 5th digit metacarpophalangeal digiti minimi, and
joints of the 5th digit opponens digiti
minimi are in the
hypothenar
compartment of the
hand

flexor digitorum posterior border base of the flexes the median nerve ulnar a., anterior ulnar nerve
profundus of the ulna, distal phalanx metacarpophalangeal, (radial one-half); interosseous a. innervates the
proximal two- of digits 2-5 proximal ulnar nerve (ulnar portion of
thirds of medial interphalangeal and one-half) profundus that acts
 border of ulna, distal interphalangeal on digits 4 & 5 (the
interosseous joints ulnar 2 digits)
membrane

flexor digitorum humeroulnar shafts of the flexes the median nerve ulnar a. median nerve
superficialis head: common middle metacarpophalangeal travels distally in
flexor tendon; phalanges of and proximal the forearm on the
radial head: digits 2-5 interphalangeal joints deep surface of the
middle 1/3 of flexor digitorum
radius superficialis m.

flexor pollicis flexor proximal flexes the recurrent branch of superficial flexor pollicis
brevis retinaculum, phalanx of the carpometacarpal and the median nerve palmar br. of the brevis, abductor
trapezium 1st digit metacarpophalangeal radial a. pollicis brevis, and
joints of the thumb opponens pollicis
are the three
muscles of the
thenar
compartment of the
hand

flexor pollicis anterior surface base of the flexes the median nerve anterior the tendon of flexor
longus of radius and distal phalanx metacarpophalangeal interosseous a. pollicis longus
interosseous of the thumb and interphalangeal passes through the
membrane joints of the thumb carpal tunnel with
the other long
digital flexor
tendons and the
median nerve

infraspinatus infraspinatous greater laterally rotates the suprascapular suprascapular a. infraspinatus,

fossa tubercle of the arm nerve supraspinatus,
humerus teres minor and
(middle facet) subscapularis are
the rotator cuff
muscles

interosseous, four muscles, base of the flex the ulnar nerve, deep dorsal and bipennate muscles;
dorsal (hand) each arising proximal metacarpophalangeal branch palmar remember DAB &
from two phalanx and joint, extend the metacarpal aa. PAD - Dorsal
adjacent the extensor proximal and distal interosseous mm.
metacarpal expansion on interphalangeal joints ABduct and Palmar
shafts lateral side of of digits 2-4, abduct interosseous mm.
the 2nd digit, digits 2-4 (abduction of ADduct - then you
lateral & digits in the hand is can figure out
medial sides of defined as movement where they must
the 3rd digit, away from the midline insert to cause
and medial of the 3rd digit) these actions
side of the 4th
digit

interosseous, three muscles, base of the flexes the ulnar nerve, deep palmar unipennate
palmar arising from the proximal metacarpophalangeal, branch metacarpal aa. muscles; remember
palmar surface phalanx and extends proximal and PAD & DAB:
of the shafts of extensor distal interphalangeal Palmar interossei
metacarpals 2, expansion of joints and adducts ADduct and Dorsal
 4, & 5 the medial digits 2, 4, & 5 interossei ABduct,
side of digit 2, (adduction of the digits and you will be able
and lateral of the hand is in to figure out where
side of digits 4 reference to the they must insert
&5 midline of the 3rd digit)

latissimus dorsi vertebral spines floor of the extends the arm and thoracodorsal thoracodorsal a. the inserting tendon
from T7 to the intertubercular rotates the arm nerve (C7,8) from twists so that fibers
sacrum, groove medially the posterior cord originating highest
posterior third of the brachial insert lowest
of the iliac plexus
crest, lower 3
or 4 ribs,
sometimes
from the inferior
angle of the
scapula

levator scapulae transverse medial border elevates the scapula dorsal scapular dorsal scapular levator scapulae is
processes of of the scapula nerve (C5); the a. named for its action
C1-C4 from the upper part of the
vertebrae superior angle muscle receives
to the spine branches of C3 &
C4

lumbrical (hand) flexor digitorum extensor flex the median nerve superficial lumbricals,
profundus expansion on metacarpophalangeal (radial 2) via palmar arterial (lumbricus is latin
tendons of the radial side joints, extend the palmar digital arch for "worm") arise
digits 2-5 of the proximal proximal and distal nerves & ulnar from the profundus
phalanx of interphalangeal joints nerve (ulnar 2) via tendons and have
digits 2-5 of digits 2-5 deep branch the same pattern of
innervation as does
the profundus
muscle (ulnar and
median nn. split the
task equally)

opponens digiti hook of hamate shaft of 5th opposes the 5th digit ulnar nerve, deep ulnar a. opposition is a
minimi and flexor metacarpal branch rotational
retinaculum movement of the
5th metacarpal
around the long
axis of its shaft;
opponens digiti
minimi, abductor
digiti minimi, and
flexor digiti minimi
brevis are in the
hypothenar
compartment of the
hand

opponens flexor shaft of 1st opposes the thumb recurrent branch of superficial opposition is a
pollicis retinaculum, metacarpal median nerve palmar branch rotational
trapezium of the radial a. movement of the
1st metacarpal
 around the long
axis of its shaft;
opponens pollicis,
abductor pollicis
brevis, and flexor
pollicis brevis are in
the thenar
compartment of the
hand

palmar three muscles, base of the flexes the ulnar nerve, deep palmar unipennate
interosseous arising from the proximal metacarpophalangeal, branch metacarpal aa. muscles; remember
palmar surface phalanx and extends proximal and PAD & DAB:
of the shafts of extensor distal interphalangeal Palmar interossei
metacarpals 2, expansion of joints and adducts ADduct and Dorsal
4, & 5 the medial digits 2, 4, & 5 interossei ABduct,
side of digit 2, (adduction of the digits and you will be able
and lateral of the hand is in to figure out where
side of digits 4 reference to the they must insert
&5 midline of the 3rd digit)

palmaris brevis fascia overlying skin of the draws the skin of the superficial br. of ulnar a. palmaris brevis
the hypothenar palm near the ulnar side of the hand the ulnar n. improves the grasp
eminence ulnar border of toward the center of
the hand the palm

palmaris longus common flexor palmar flexes the wrist median nerve ulnar a. palmaris longus is
tendon, from aponeurosis absent in about
the medial 13% of forearms; it
epicondyle of may be present on
the humerus one side only

pectoralis major medial 1/2 of crest of the flexes and adducts the medial and lateral pectoral branch the deep fascia on
the clavicle, greater arm, medially rotates pectoral nerves of the its anterior surface
manubrium & tubercle of the the arm (C5-T1) thoracoacromial should not be fused
body of humerus trunk to the fascia of the
sternum, costal mammary gland - if
cartilages of it is, this is an
ribs 2-6, important clinical
sometimes sign indicating
from the rectus breast disease
sheath of the
upper
abdominal wall

pectoralis minor ribs 3-5 coracoid draws the scapula medial pectoral pectoral branch branches of medial
process of the forward, medialward, nerve (C8, T1) of the pectoral nerve
scapula and downward thoracoacromial usually pierce
trunk pectoralis minor to
reach the pectoralis
major muscle

pronator medial side of anterior pronates the forearm median nerve via anterior pronator quadratus
quadratus the anterior surface of the the anterior interosseous a. is the deepest
surface of the distal one- interosseous nerve muscle in the distal
distal one- fourth of the forearm; it works
 fourth of the radius with pronator teres
ulna and has the same
nerve supply

pronator teres common flexor midpoint of the pronates the forearm median nerve ulnar a., anterior median nerve
tendon and lateral side of ulnar recurrent passes between
(deep or ulnar the shaft of the a. the two heads of
head) from radius origin of pronator
medial side of teres
coronoid
process of the
ulna

rhomboideus spines of medial border retracts, elevates and dorsal scapular dorsal scapular named for its shape
major vertebrae T2- of the scapula rotates the scapula nerve (C5) a.
T5 inferior to the inferiorly
spine of the
scapula

rhomboideus inferior end of medial border retracts, elevates and dorsal scapular dorsal scapular named for its shape
minor the ligamentum of the scapula rotates the scapula nerve (C5) a
nuchae, spines at the root of inferiorly
of vertebrae C7 the spine of
and T1 the scapula

serratus anterior ribs 1-8 or 9 medial border it draws the scapula long thoracic nerve lateral thoracic a lesion of long
of the scapula forward; the inferior (from ventral rami a. thoracic nerve will
on its costal fibers rotate the C5-C7) cause winging of
(deep) surface scapula superiorly the scapula (i.e.,
the medial border
of the scapula falls
away from the
posterior chest wall
and looks like an
angel's wing)

serratus thoracolumbar ribs 9-12, pulls down lower ribs branches of the lowest posterior a respiratory
posterior inferior fascia, spines lateral to the ventral primary intercostal a., muscle, it receives
of vertebrae angles rami of spinal subcostal a., ventral ramus
T11-T12 and nerves T9-T12 first two lumbar innervation;
L1-L2 aa. embryonically
related to the
intercostal muscles,
not the deep back
mm.

serratus ligamentum ribs 1-4, lateral elevates the upper ribs branches of the posterior a respiratory
posterior nuchae, spines to the angles ventral primary intercostal aa. 1- muscle, it receives
superior of vertebrae C7 rami of spinal 4 ventral ramus
and T1-T3 nerves T1-T4 innervation;
embryonically
related to the
intercostal muscles,
not the deep back
mm.
subclavius first rib and its inferior surface draws the clavicle (and nerve to subclavius clavicular br. of it serves an
cartilage of the clavicle hence the shoulder) (C5) the important protective
down and forward thoracoacromial function - it
trunk cushions the
subclavian vessels
from bone
fragments in
clavicular fractures

subscapularis medial two- lesser tubercle medially rotates the upper and lower subscapular a. subscapularis,
thirds of the of the humerus arm; assists extention subscapular supraspinatus,
costal surface of the arm nerves (C5,6) infraspinatus, and
of the scapula teres minor are the
(subscapular rotator cuff muscles
fossa)

supinator lateral lateral side of supinates the forearm deep radial nerve recurrent deep radial nerve
epicondyle of proximal one- interosseous a. passes through the
the humerus, third of the supinator to reach
supinator crest radius the posterior
& fossa of the compartment of the
ulna, radial forearm
collateral
ligament,
annular
ligament

supraspinatus supraspinatous greater abducts the arm suprascapular suprascapular a. supraspinatus

fossa tubercle of the (initiates abduction) nerve (C5,6) from initiates abduction
humerus the superior trunk of the arm, then the
(highest facet) of the brachial deltoid muscle
plexus completes the
action; a member
of the rotator cuff
group

teres major dorsal surface crest of the adducts the arm, lower subscapular circumflex teres major inserts
of the inferior lesser tubercle medially rotates the nerve (C5,6) from scapular a. beside the tendon
angle of the of the humerus arm, assists in arm the posterior cord of latissimus dorsi,
scapula extension of the brachial and assists
plexus latissimus in its
actions

teres minor upper 2/3 of the greater laterally rotates the axillary nerve circumflex fixes the head of
lateral border of tubercle of the arm (C5,6) from the scapular a. the humerus in the
the scapula humerus posterior cord of glenoid fossa
(lowest facet) the brachial plexus during abduction &
flexion of the arm; a
member of the
rotator cuff group

trapezius medial third of lateral third of elevates and motor: spinal transverse named for its
the superior the clavicle, depresses the scapula accessory (XI), cervical a. shape; trapezius is
nuchal line, medial side of (depending on which proprioception: C3- an example of a
external the acromion part of the muscle C4 muscle that
occipital and the upper contracts); rotates the migrates during
 protuberance, crest of the scapula superiorly; development from
ligamentum scapular retracts scapula its level of origin
nuchae, spine, tubercle (cervical) to its final
spinous of the scapular position, pulling its
processes of spine nerve and artery
vertebrae C7- along behind
T12

triceps brachii long head: olecranon extends the forearm; radial nerve deep brachial long head of the
infraglenoid process of the the long head extends (profunda triceps separates
tubercle of the ulna and adducts arm brachii) a. the triangular and
scapula; lateral quadrangular
head: spaces (teres
posterolateral major, teres minor
humerus & and the humerus
lateral are the other
intermuscular boundaries); all
septum; medial three heads of
head: origin insert by a
posteromedial common tendon
surface of the
inferior 1/2 of
the humerus