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Evolve Student Resources for Muscolino: The Muscular System Manual:
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The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body, 4th edition, include the
following:
• Interactive Muscle Program: A study tool that
allows you to learn and study the muscles by
placing them in any combination on illustrations.
• Stretching Customization: Create customized
stretching instructions with images for clients
to use at home.
• Interactive Exercises: Activities such as Name that
Muscle and Drag ‘n’ Drop Exercises aid in your review
of the muscles, and 200 practice test questions help you
prepare for exams.
• Flashcard app: Over 250 flashcards in this portable resource include coverage of muscles,
muscle locations, pronunciations, attachments, actions, and innervation information.
• Video Demonstrations: 130 video clips bring the palpation of every muscle to life.
• Supplementary Appendices: 6 appendices provide valuable information for study of
muscles on the following topics: soft tissue attachments, palpation guidelines,
overview of innervation, overview of arterial supply, additional skeletal muscles, and
mnemonics for remembering muscle names.

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2015v1.0
THE
MUSCULAR SYSTEM MANUAL
The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body

Basic Kinesiology Terminology, 1 1

Musculoskeletal System The Skeletal System, 33 2

How Muscles Function, 79 3

Muscles of the Shoulder Girdle Joints, 91 4

Muscles of the Glenohumeral Joint, 112 5

Muscles of the Elbow and Radioulnar Joints, 144 6

Upper Extremity
Muscles of the Wrist Joint, 172 7

Extrinsic Muscles of the Finger Joints, 200 8

Intrinsic Muscles of the Finger Joints, 238 9

Muscles of the Spinal Joints, 283 10

Muscles of the Rib Cage Joints, 382 11

Axial Body
Muscles of the Temporomandibular Joints, 411 12

Muscles of Facial Expression, 443 13

Muscles of the Hip Joint, 490 14

Muscles of the Knee Joint, 553 15

Lower Extremity Muscles of the Ankle and Subtalar Joints, 586 16

Extrinsic Muscles of the Toe Joints, 613 17

Intrinsic Muscles of the Toe Joints, 631 18

Functional Mover Groups Functional Groups of Muscles, 666 19

This page intentionally left blank
 THE
MUSCULAR
SYSTEM
MANUAL
The Skeletal Muscles
of the Human Body

FOURTH
EDITION
JOSEPH E. MUSCOLINO, DC
Instructor, Purchase College, State University of New York (SUNY)
Purchase, New York
Owner, The Art and Science of Kinesiology
Stamford, Connecticut
(www.learnmuscles.com)
3251 Riverport Lane
St. Louis, Missouri 63043

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM MANUAL: ISBN: 978-0-323-32770-1

THE SKELETAL MUSCLES OF THE HUMAN BODY,
FOURTH EDITION

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher. Details on how to seek permission, further information about the
Publisher’s permissions policies and our arrangements with organizations such as the Copyright Clearance Center
and the Copyright Licensing Agency, can be found at our website: www.elsevier.com/permissions.

This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Publisher (other than
as may be noted herein).

Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and
experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices,
or medical treatment may become necessary.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in
evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In
using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of
others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

With respect to any drug or pharmaceutical products identified, readers are advised to check
the most current information provided (i) on procedures featured or (ii) by the manufacturer of
each product to be administered, to verify the recommended dose or formula, the method and
duration of administration, and contraindications. It is the responsibility of practitioners, relying on
their own experience and knowledge of their patients, to make diagnoses, to determine dosages
and the best treatment for each individual patient, and to take all appropriate safety precautions.

To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors,
assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products
liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products,
instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.

Previous editions copyrighted 2010, 2005, 2003.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Muscolino, Joseph E., author.

Title: The muscular system manual : the skeletal muscles of the human
body /
Joseph E. Muscolino.
Description: Fourth edition. | St. Louis, Missouri : Elsevier, [2017] |
Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015039008 | ISBN 9780323327701 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Subjects: | MESH: Musculoskeletal System—anatomy & histology—Atlases. |
Muscles—physiology—Atlases.
Classification: LCC QM151 | NLM WE 17 | DDC 612.7/4—dc23 LC record available at
http://lccn.loc.gov/2015039008

Content Strategist: Shelly Stringer, Jennifer Janson

Content Development Manager: Ellen Wurm-Cutter
Associate Content Development Specialist: Kelly Skelton
Publishing Services Manager: Julie Eddy
Book Production Specialist: Celeste Clingan
Manager, Art & Design: Julia Dummitt

Printed in Canada

Last digit is the print number: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated
to Simona Cipriani,
my wife and angel.
This page intentionally left blank
REVIEWERS

Jennifer Apodaca, LMT Karen M. Hobson, MSHE, LMT

Albuquerque, New Mexico Executive Director
The International Professional School of Bodywork
Patty Berak, NCBTMB, AMTA, ABMP San Diego, California
Program Director for Therapeutic Massage and BHSA
Baker College of Clinton Township Jane Irving
Clinton Township, Michigan
Matt Isolampi, LMT, CNMT, MMP
Jennifer Boal, M.Ed, LMT Massage Therapy Instructor, OCPS Wellness Representative
School of Healthcare Team Leader Orange County Schools, Westside Tech Campus
Pittsburgh Technical Institute Winter Garden, Florida
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Kathy Lee, LMT, BS
Jill Burynski, LMBT, NCTMB Owner
Massage Therapy Educator Catalina Massage Therapy
Living Sabai Continuing Education Tuscon, Arizona
Asheville, North Carolina
David MacDougall, MA, LMT, CSHE
Andrea Claire Caplan, BA, LMT Director/Associate Professor of Massage Therapy
Owner North Country Community College
The Body Politic, LLC Saranac Lake, New York
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Serenity Martinez, CPI, NCTM, ACMT
Michelle Carbonneau, BA Chemistry, LMT, RYT Medical Instructor
Massage Therapy, Anatomy & Physiology Instructor Omega Institute Inc.
Program Director Pennsauken, New Jersey
Yogissage, LLC
Honolulu, Hawaii Patricia C. Nuovo, LMT, Naturopath
Massage Instructor
Denise Cugini, BBA, LMT, NCTMB Beacon Wellness Arts Center
Massage Instructor Petaluma, California
Beacon Wellness Arts Center
Petaluma, California Tracey Obeda, MS, LMBT, NCTMB
Massage Therapist, CEO/Owner
Angelica De Geer, LMT, CA, BA, BFA, Dental Hygiene Miller Motte College
Certificate-Sweden Cary, North Carolina
Clinic Supervisor
Midwest Institute Roger Olbrot
Earth City, Missouri Director of Education
Myotherapy College of Utah
Jeanne deMontagnac-Hall, BS, AHI, LMT Salt Lake City, Utah
Allied Health Instructor
Sinclair Community College-Courseview Campus Julie Onofrio
Mason, Ohio Licensed Massage Practitioner, Author
www.massageschoolnotes.com, www.
Gautam J. Desai, DO, FACOFP massagepracticebuilder.com
Professor, Department of Primary Care Medicine Seattle, Washington
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Kansas City, Missouri Kevin Pierce, MBA, NCBTMB

REVIEWERS vii
Elan Schacter, LMBT Terri Lynn Visovatti, BS, LMT, BCTMB, RockDoc, FMT,
Elan Schacter Massage Therapy PMT, CKTP, CES
Charlotte, North Carolina Movement Specialist/Massage Therapist/Business Owner
Urban Wellness Chicago
Michelle Tramm, NCTM Chicago, Illinois
Certified in Prenatal, Infant, Fertility, Therapeutics and
KinesioTape Jeffery B. Wood, LMT, COTA/L, BS
Instructor Massage Therapy Educator
Indiana Therapeutic Massage School Massage Smart: Education in Action
Indianapolis, Indiana Inverness, Florida

viii REVIEWERS
FOURTH EDITION FOREWORDS
Thomas Myers
Every attempt to set in order the unified, mysterious,
and seemingly miraculous symphony required for human
movement is bound to fall short. Books are limited to a
flat page, video to a linear narrative, and even the newest
interactive applications, with all their ‘Wow!’ factor, can
cause more confusion than enlightenment. The design of
the human body is organic—we are grown from a seed, not
assembled from parts.
To elucidate this design, however, we must take the
body apart to see how it is put together—it is a conundrum
that faces every anatomist. In dissection, every concept
demonstrated necessarily obscures another. My life work
has been dedicated to exposing the design concepts
currently going under the buzzword ‘fascia’, which have
been obscured over the centuries of earnest anatomists
throwing out the fascia to clarify the concepts contained in
the organ of ‘muscle’. But it is the same with every choice
in the design of each illustration, every book, and all our
curricula—maps emphasize certain features of the terrain at
the expense of others.
Hence, no one book can fulfill all our needs, and thus my
shelves, my wallet, and my wife all groan at the number of
anatomical atlases I seem to need. The clarity of Netter, the
artistry of Sobotta, the portability of Platzer, the encyclopedic
inclusiveness of Gorman, the ease of use of Trail Guide—all
these and many more have added to my knowledge with
their unique presentation of the neuromyofascial web.
Nevertheless, I am pleased to add whatever
‘endorsement’ a foreword provides to the singular effort
of Dr. Joe Muscolino in the steadily improving editions of
The Muscular System Manual. Joe has worked to make
his anatomical explanations succinct but accurate, and the
design of the book allows maximum applicability for the
working manual or movement therapist without sacrificing
the inevitable complexity that comes from synergetic,
stabilizing, and force transmitting functions that go beyond
the simple ‘bringing the two ends together’ manner in which
muscles are defined in so many of these atlases.
As far as I know, I am the therapist who said to Bob
King, “To really develop your intuition, know your anatomy!”
Science and intuition are merely two ways of knowing, and
they do not oppose but rather reinforce each other. This
book provides a number of services to the reader who
wants to develop both in tandem. I find ‘studying’ anatomy
to be an activity that is boring in the extreme, and is a good
way to find elusive sleep. Exploring anatomy, however, with
this book and a colleague to palpate, for instance, can be
an eye-opening thrill as the flat page leaps into the palpating
fingers as three-dimensional, never-to-be-lost palpatory
certainty - “This is what I am on, and I know it, and I can feel
what to do.”
Once myofascial anatomy is generally mastered—a
snowball of a process that starts slowly and painfully
but soon accumulates in a rush—further motivation for
deepening your anatomy usually comes from problem
clients—“What was that odd thing I just felt?” Such
explorations—motivated by the desire to help a particular
individual—have led me to far more knowledge than my
formal studies or late-night exam cramming.
There is also a broader motivation for learning: We are
on the threshold of a revolution in biomechanics, as models
drawn from cybernetics, complexity mathematics, and
tensegrity engineering include Newtonian leverage- and
compression-based biomechanics in a more complex,
perhaps difficult, but also more accurate picture. What we
have assumed to be true about muscles and their individual
actions is being revealed as only one part of a very dynamic
whole-body process of adaptation to myriad flickering
forces. Joe Muscolino is forthright and adroit in dealing with
the controversies and uncertainties of this transitional time.
The functional advantages of this book are well-
catalogued on the book cover and introduction. Suffice it
for me to say that its clarity, comprehension, and variety,
reflect a tremendous amount of work that has resulted in a
useful tool for any therapist or educator wanting more of the
calm confidence that comes from thoroughly knowing your
subject.
Thomas Myers
October 13, 2014
Thomas Myers, LMT, NCTMB, ARP
Thomas Myers is the author of Anatomy Trains (Elsevier
2001, 2014) and co-author of Fascial Release for Structural
Balance (North Atlantic 2010), as well as numerous articles
for trade magazines and journals. Tom and his faculty
provide continuing education worldwide for a variety
of professions. Tom studied directly with Buckminster
Fuller, Ida Rolf, and Moshe Feldenkrais and has practiced
integrative bodywork for 40 years. Tom lives, writes, and
sails on the coast of Maine in the United States with his
partner Quan and a number of animals.
FOURTH EDITION FOREWORDS ix
Joe Tatta
Physical therapists, and in fact all manual and movement
therapists, work primarily in the realm of neuromuscular
conditions, whether they are overuse conditions, postural
or movement dysfunction patterns, and/or injury or post-
surgery rehabilitation. When working with our patients, a
fundamental understanding of the anatomy and physiology
of the musculoskeletal system in imperative. Knowing
anatomy allows one to understand physiology, which leads
to an understanding of pathophysiology, and by extension,
assessment and treatment. Indeed, effective and incisive
clinical orthopedic work, whether it is manual therapy,
therapeutic exercise, or self-care advice for the patient, relies
not on memorization of cookbook recipes for treatment, but
on an understanding of underlying pathologic mechanism(s)
of the client’s condition. This requires critical thought that
is, by necessity, based on a fundamental knowledge of the
anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system.
This is where Dr. Joseph Muscolino’s The Muscular
System Manual: The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body,
4th edition, becomes so invaluable. Many muscle atlases
are available to the student and therapist, but Joseph
Muscolino has created a fully referenced, evidence-based
work that is not only the most thorough atlas of muscle
structure and function that exists, but also one that presents
the content in a manner that invites true understanding of
how the muscular system works.
Instead of simply stating the attachments and
actions of the muscles, The Muscular System Manual
explains why each muscle has the actions that it does. In
addition to the concentric joint actions, it also presents
the isometric stabilization functions and the eccentric
restraining functions of each muscle. Further, unique to
this book, it presents a full description of not only the
open-chain standard actions, but also the closed-chain
reverse actions of the muscle. And new to this edition,
and unique to this book, it presents and explains the
distinction between a muscle’s actions and its oblique
plane motion pattern. And relationships to myofascial
meridians and applications to musculoskeletal conditions
are given as well.
x FOURTH EDITION FOREWORDS
All of this information is accompanied by the most beautiful
and clear illustrations that can be found: photographs of a
real person with the bones and muscles overlaid onto the
photograph. Further, an on-line digital program accompanies
the book that allows the reader/viewer to work with thirty-
three figure views of the body and place into the figure, any
combination of muscles that would be seen from that view.
Fancier digital apps are available on the web, but none of
them are as easy and clear to use. This is a tremendous
feature not only for the beginning student to initially learn
the muscles, but also invaluable for the seasoned therapist
who desires a greater and subtler understanding of the
relationships between muscles. And other digital resource
that accompany The Muscular System Manual are video
demonstration of the author showing and explaining
the palpation for each of the muscles in the book, and a
customized digital program that allows the therapist to print
out full color stretches for the patient’s self-care program.
For any practicing therapist who wants to be able to
critically think through their patient’s condition and then
creatively apply the appropriate treatment techniques, there
is no stronger foundation for effective clinical orthopedic
work than Joseph Muscolino’s The Muscular System Manual,
4th edition! I am more than thrilled to attest to this great
work and recommend it to you.
Joe Tatta
June 11, 2015
Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, CNN
Joe Tatta is a doctor of physical therapy and certified
clinical nutritionist. He is Co-Founder of Premier Physical
Therapy & Wellness, one of the largest outpatient physical
therapy providers in the New York Tri-State area. He is board
certified in orthopedics from the American Board of Physical
Therapy Specialties and studied nutrition at the Clinical
Nutrition Certification Board and Functional Medicine at
the Institute for Functional Medicine. His greatest success
stems from the growth of his practice and the thousands
of clients healed annually. He also actively lectures and
mentors health and professionals on subjects pertaining to
injury prevention, nutrition, and functional medicine.
THIRD EDITION FOREWORD
Bob King
Although I often wonder why some texts go through
second and third editions, such was not the case with Joe
Muscolino’s The Muscular System Manual! This new and
spectacularly upgraded edition certainly establishes the
author as the leading muscular system expert for manual
therapists in this country. Indeed, the upgrades, resources,
and knowledge base of this text are nothing short of
brilliant.
Initially, Chapters 1 to 3 provide new and innovative
material on how the muscular system works with a detailed
overview of the roles of bones, joints, and connective
tissues. Dr. Muscolino’s valuable perspective on the
muscular system, the primary user of body energy, provides
a perspective and background that would be of value
to any manual or movement therapy student, even the
individual with a very limited knowledge base. The location
terminology, color drawings, bony structure, and movement
presentations provide a basic kinesiology foundation that
serves as a cornerstone for the rest of the book.
All of the muscles featured (yes, all of them!) are now
re-ordered to their respective joints, making the flow and
portability of this edition superior to other texts. Furthermore,
it coincides with the way that most muscular/myology/
kinesiology classes are taught in massage and other
bodywork schools. This is an especially useful adjunct for
today’s student of the healing arts, offering a more systematic
portrayal of muscular system and body functioning.
Remarkably enough, this edition is even more thorough
than its predecessor in the presentation of muscle function.
The author painstakingly presents not only the muscular
attachments, but also expands the functional information
of each muscle to include the concentric, shortening
mover actions, and the reverse mover actions, as well
as the eccentric lengthening and isometric stabilization
actions. Incredible! These features alone are missing from
other bodywork texts, and this material provides a more
comprehensive understanding of muscle functioning at all
levels.
Reverse mover actions are important because they
explain, for instance, why the tensor fasciae latae (TFL)
is not only a flexor of the thigh at the hip joint and an
abductor and medial rotator of the thigh at the same joint,
but also how its reverse actions anteriorly tilt the pelvis and
ipsilaterally rotate and depress that side of the pelvis as
well. This alone marks TFL as an overlooked source of low
back pain, scoliotic compensation, sacroiliac dysfunction
and a vitally essential muscle to release in the classic
lower crossed syndrome. Useful hands-on and palpatory
insights such as this abound throughout this exciting new
edition. Simply reviewing this copy generated new clinical
insights for me for several clients with whom I currently
provide clinical massage. It will be a primary resource in my
treatment room for years to come.
Consequently, not only will the student, but also the
experienced manual therapist, benefit from this clinically
relevant information, presented, once again, in a clear
and systematic fashion. Fully expect your knowledge of
challenging therapeutic cases to increase with this new
edition, which is the most thorough book on muscle
functioning currently available. I believe this text will also
upgrade, if not revolutionize, the teaching of the muscular
system, moving away from useless memorizations
and dogma to functionally important information,
descriptions, and solid explanations plotted out with
careful reasoning.
New and improved color drawings are ubiquitous
throughout this edition. Full-color drawings are featured
individually, within muscle or function groups and also
drawn on real persons, giving learners a vivid presentation
of location, palpation, and attachment points. This feature
alone will clarify concepts, and stimulate the visual learner
to an even deeper awareness of the spectacular movements
of the human body and the intricate combination of forces
that generate optimal functioning.
An interactive CD is included with the textbook that is
a first of its kind! Each of the base illustrations is given
showing the body and the skeleton along with a list of
all the muscles of that region. The student can then
build the muscular system on the illustration, choosing
any combination of muscles to show next to each
other. Do you want to see the TFL next to the sartorius?
Perhaps add in the gluteus medius and/or iliopsoas? You
choose. This CD alone will greatly enhance the beginner
student’s ability to learn the muscles, as well as challenge
seasoned therapists to better learn their anatomy. It helps
students and therapists alike, not only learn the individual
muscles, but also begin the incredibly important and
needed clinical task of putting the muscular system back
together! This along with audio files of the attachments
and actions that allow the student to burn CDs and MP3
files to study on-the-go are alone worth the price of
admission to the book.
The newly added Chapter 19 contains functional mover
groups of muscles illustrating the concentric, reverse,
eccentric, and isometric stabilization functions—once again
showcased with excellent new drawings. The second part
of this chapter illustrates (with the gracious permission of
rolfer and myofascial innovator Tom Myers) the essential
myofascial meridians depicting the fascial webbings and
relationships of connective tissue that assist with movement
and posture. This is yet another feature of The Muscular
THIRD EDITION FOREWORD xi
System Manual that underlies its premier status as the
most complete book available on this wondrous and
vital system of the human body.
The author has truly created a work of science and
art masterfully blended for optimal results!
Bob King
August 3, 2009
SECOND EDITION FOREWORD
Bob King
The more than 650 muscles of the human body, when
optimally stabilized and integrated, generate an elegant
functioning that is truly extraordinary. The static hold of
the weightlifter … the leaping twirl of the ballet dancer
… the rotational decompression of the pole vaulter at
eighteen feet … the stunning accuracy of a left hook …
a touchdown pass … or the joyous flip of an exuberant
cheerleader. Muscles in motion are the very essence of
health, performance, and life itself. Unfortunately, this kinetic
symphony sometimes comes to an abrupt halt when pain
and injury impact the soft tissues.
As a practicing massage therapist for the past 30 years,
I am still often intrigued and amazed by the “stuff” of the
athletic injury or the muscular system breakdown: the
muscles, tendons, skin, fascia, and ligaments are both
promising and puzzling to the dynamics of healing.
This soft tissue “stuff” provides the physiological basis
and the therapeutic significance of our hands-on clinical
endeavors.
In witnessing the mysterious process of healing, it would
seem that the successful hands-on bodyworkers must be
adept and comfortable with their right-brain skills. These
skills might include postural analysis, revealing global rather
than isolated segmental relationships.
Therapeutic compassion and care can jump start the
placebo effect. Intuitive hunches often prove more reliable
than high tech testing protocols. Clinical reasoning is
seldom linear. Skillful palpation includes wandering around
in myofascial neighborhoods—and wandering doesn’t mean
you’re lost. Novel explorations and vital discoveries within
the soft tissue realm are often guided by literate palpation
and three-dimensional visualization.
However, the left-brain skills of anatomical knowledge
and objective accuracy are equally vital for successful
outcomes. The charismatic extrovert, no matter how
xii THIRD EDITION FOREWORD
Bob King, LMT, NCTMB
Bob King authored manuals, books, videos, curricula, and
numerous clinical articles in a massage therapy career
spanning more than three decades. He was a Cortiva
Educational Consultant and conducted advanced myofascial
trainings throughout the country. He was the founder and
past president of the Chicago School of Massage Therapy,
served two terms as AMTA National President, and was
widely regarded as a successful innovator, activist, and
educator within the profession. In 2009, Bob was named
to the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. In 2004, he received
the Distinguished Service Award for the Massage Therapy
Foundation for visionary leadership.
reassuring and cheerful, requires a clear understanding of
rotator cuff functioning to best serve the client with upper
quarter pain. The introverted wisdom of the energy worker is
more clinically effective when the attachments and function
of the quadratus lumborum are clearly understood. Effective
palpation is clearly an art and a science.
Fortunately, compassion and competency are not
mutually exclusive skills. Neither are accuracy and artistry.
A noted neuromuscular therapist once told me, “To really
develop your intuition, know your anatomy!” How true.
So how do we creatively bring the objectivity, the detail
and the accuracy of scientific anatomy into the learning
process and the ongoing education of the bodywork
practitioner?
Some 20 years ago, a groundbreaking event occurred
with the publication of Drs. Travell and Simons’ Myofascial
Pain and Dysfunction, Volume I. Physical medicine,
manipulative medicine, and bodywork therapies were
gifted with a lavishly illustrated and referenced guide to the
human muscular system. Massage school curricula began
to change. Anatomical competencies were elevated and
anatomically-based clinical accuracy was the foundation
for many advanced trainings and specialties within the field.
“Neutralizing Trigger Points!” became the battle cry for a
whole generation of massage therapists. As the therapeutic
quest deepened and evolved, it became apparent
that trigger points were only one mechanism of pain,
dysfunction, and injury … and certainly not the only clinically
important aspect of the healing process.
Mystery, nuance, perspective, and experimentation,
all valid to the therapeutic encounter, seldom develop
within rigid formulas. Inquiry, research and dialogue come
together to compose a reflective landscape. In recent years,
more thoughtful and inclusive bodywork approaches have
emerged, encompassing muscle, fascia, function, structure,
energetics, mobilization, breathwork, and self-stabilization in
forming a new and clinically potent therapeutic philosophy.
It became evident that a new foundational textbook,
reference and muscular system manifesto was needed …
one that would encompass attachments, movement, layers,
synergists, palpation skills, an image bank, discussion
questions, an instructor’s manual, crossword puzzles, and
review questions in a four color, user-friendly, and Power
Point convertible format.
Such a book has arrived.
The newly revised The Muscular System Manual, by Dr.
Joseph Muscolino, is a comprehensive, all-in-one resource
that scientifically and artfully introduces the student,
reinforces the educator, and validates the practitioner in
learning and effectively treating the muscular system.
The book’s remarkable commitment to precision and
detail is underscored by the author’s sense of wonder and
intellectual curiosity.
The use of color, layout, design, methodology, and
muscle group illustration enables the learner to absorb
essential information while simultaneously seeing the “big
picture” of global and regional relationships. Truly, this is
a text that will integratively support the education, clinical
practice, and continuing education of the manual therapist.
While conducting a clinical symposium on the iliopsoas
complex recently, I used The Muscular System Manual
as a teaching reference. The drawings, pronunciations,
attachments, multiple actions, and learning methodology of
this manual greatly facilitated learning outcomes, expertly
organized the clinical information, and accurately supported
the student learning of palpation and assessment skills.
The author’s explanation of reverse actions was especially
useful, given the multiple action possibilities of this muscle
group. The book also documented that psoas minor is
absent in 40% of the population, the lumbar plexus is
located within the belly of psoas major, and the tenderloin
cut of steak is actually the cow’s psoas major!
I believe massage therapy education should be
informative, interactive and fun. The Muscular System
Manual not only supports these goals, it stands on its own
as a superb teaching reference book.
The author is a practicing chiropractor, massage
school anatomy instructor, and an activist for professional
standards of competency. He has served as a test
specification expert in the fields of anatomy, physiology,
and kinesiology for the National Certification Board of
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Job Analysis Survey
Task Force. He is the author of numerous anatomical and
clinical features in Journal of Bodywork and Movement
Therapies and Massage Therapy Journal.
Perhaps equally important, Dr. Muscolino has a twinkle
in his eye and a profoundly animated response whenever
discussions veer into the realm of muscles and movement.
I believe The Muscular System Manual reflects his vast
knowledge, his creative vision, and the twinkle in his eye.
The Muscular System Manual is the most current and
informative reference for the human muscular system and
its potential for function and creative movement.
This book will last you a lifetime.
Robert K. King
August 11, 2004
SECOND EDITION FOREWORD xiii
PREFACE
The Muscular System Manual: The Skeletal Muscles of the
Human Body, 4th edition, is meant to be the most thorough
atlas of muscle function that is available. Instead of simply
listing muscle attachments and actions that are typically
taught, The Muscular System Manual comprehensively
covers all muscle functions of each muscle. Shortening
action functions with their reverse actions are addressed,
as well as eccentric and stabilization functions. By offering
the student the full picture of muscle function, it actually
makes the task of learning the muscles easier, not harder.
Students can grasp the information more quickly because
they understand it and do not have to memorize it.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS BOOK?
This book is primarily written for students and practicing
therapists of manual and movement therapies, including
massage therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic,
osteopathy, orthopedists, athletic training, yoga, Pilates,
and Feldenkrais. However, anyone who needs to learn the
skeletal muscles of the body will find this book invaluable
and essential. Unlike many books, you will not outgrow
The Muscular System Manual. It will be your guide as you
first learn the muscles of the body, and it will remain an
invaluable resource on your bookshelf for as long as you are
in practice.
CONCEPTUAL APPROACH
The approach taken by The Muscular System Manual is
unique. Instead of simply listing information, it teaches the
information and makes it understandable, allowing for true
critical thinking. The beginning chapters set the framework
for how muscles work as well as give a five-step approach
to learning muscles. Each individual muscle then has notes
that explain how the actions can be reasoned out instead of
memorized. The goal of this book is to enable the student/
therapist/trainer/physician to be able to critically think
through muscle functioning when working clinically with
clients and patients.
ORGANIZATION
The Muscular System Manual is organized into five Parts. Part
1 covers the basic language of kinesiology that the student
needs to be able to understand muscle attachments and
functions and also communicate with other members of the
health care and fitness fields. Parts 2 through 4 systematically
cover each of the major muscles of the body, presenting in
a clear and organized manner the essential information of
every muscle. The beginning of each chapter in these parts
opens with large group illustrations of the muscles of the joint
region. Each muscle then has an individual layout in which
the muscle’s attachments, functions, innervation, arterial
supply, palpation, relationship to other structures, and other
xiv PREFACE
miscellaneous information that is intellectually and clinically
relevant are given. Part 5 presents illustrations of all the major
functional joint action mover groups of muscles as well as
illustrations of the muscles of the pelvic floor and myofascial
meridians of the body.
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THIS BOOK
There are many features that distinguish this book:
• The most thorough coverage of muscle function
available.
• Explanations to understand the muscle’s actions that
promote critical thinking.
• Full referencing for all joint actions.
• Information presented in a layered à la carte approach
that allows each student or instructor to determine what
content is covered.
• Beautiful illustrations in which the bones and muscles are
placed on a photograph of a real person.
• Large group illustrations for every functional group.
• Myofascial meridian information for every muscle.
• Bulleted clear and easy-to-follow palpations for each
muscle.
• An interactive digital program on Evolve that allows for
any combination of muscles to be placed on the skeleton
and body.
NEW TO THIS EDITION
All features of the 3rd edition have been preserved; the 4th
edition of The Muscular System Manual has many new
features:
• Evidence-based full referencing for all joint actions of the
muscles.
• Expanded coverage of muscle function to address the
oblique plane motion patterns of the muscles.
• A flashcard app that offers a portable resource for
studying more than 250 flashcards, which include
coverage of muscles, muscle locations, pronunciations,
attachments, actions, and innervation information.
• New illustrations for the muscle attachments and
myofascial meridians, as well as for many of the
muscles.
• A concise review of all organ systems of the body.
• Digital access to video demonstrations of the palpation
of all the muscles of the body.
• An interactive customized digital program that allows
stretches of the individual muscles to be printed out for
self-care use or for use with patients/clients.
LEARNING AIDS
• The attachment and functions information is presented in
a layered à la carte approach that allows the student to
decide at what depth to learn the information.
• This book is meant to be used not only as a textbook,
but also as an in-class manual. For this reason,
checkboxes are provided for each muscle layout as well
as each piece of information. This allows the student
to check off exactly what content will be learned.
Instructors, having students check off content covered,
allows for extremely clear expectations of what they are
responsible for.
• Arrows are placed over the muscle for each individual
muscle illustration so that the line of pull of the muscle
can be seen and visually understood. This allows for
the actions of the muscle to be understood instead of
memorized.
• A Miscellaneous section is provided that offers
interesting insights to each muscle. Many of these are
clinical applications that flesh out and make learning the
muscle more interesting.
EVOLVE ONLINE RESOURCES
This book is backed up by an Evolve website that includes
the following student resources:
• An interactive digital program that is simple, thorough,
and easy to use. A base photograph of the region of the
body is presented with the skeleton drawn in. A list of
every muscle of that region is given and you can choose
any combination of muscles and place them onto the
illustration, allowing you to not only see that muscle’s
attachments, but more importantly, to be able to see the
relationship between all the muscles of the region. Any
combination of muscles can be chosen!
• Video demonstrations by the author showing palpation of
each and every muscle of the book.
• An audio feature in which the author reads aloud the
names, attachments, and major actions of all the
muscles. This allows for studying while commuting or for
use with an MP3 device. Ideal for studying and learning
while on the go!
• Interactive review exercises such as Drag ‘n’ Drop
labeling exercises and Name That Muscle quizzes for
further review of the skeletal muscles of the human
body.
• 200 short-answer review questions to reinforce
knowledge learned in the book.
• An interactive customized digital program that allows
stretches of the individual muscles to be printed out for
self-care use or for use with patients/clients.
• A concise review of all organ systems of the body.
• Supplemental appendices featuring valuable information
on the following topics: soft tissue attachments,
palpation guidelines, overview of innervation, overview
of arterial supply, additional skeletal muscles, and
mnemonics for remembering muscle names.
OTHER RESOURCES
For instructors, the entire book is available in 50-minute
PowerPoint lectures, with learning outcomes, discussion
topics, and critical thinking questions. There is also an
instructor’s manual that provides step-by-step approaches
to leading the class through learning the muscles, as well
as case studies that allow for a critical thinking application
of the muscles to common musculoskeletal conditions.
Further, a complete image collection that contains every
figure in the book, and a test bank in ExamView containing
1,500 questions, are provided.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
The Muscular System Manual is also supported by an
excellent coloring book and set of flash cards that can be
purchased separately. Look for Musculoskeletal Anatomy
Coloring Book, 2nd edition, and Musculoskeletal Anatomy
Flash Cards, 2nd edition, published by Mosby/Elsevier. For
more on muscle palpation, look for The Muscle and Bone
Palpation Manual, With Trigger Points, Referral Patterns, and
Stretching, 2nd edition (Mosby/Elsevier, 2015).
NOTE TO THE STUDENT
This book is thick and packed with information. You can
choose exactly how much you want to learn. If you are a
beginner to learning muscles, the outstanding illustrations
and the simple and clear explanations will make learning
muscles easy. If you are an advanced student of the
muscular system, the depth of information will help you
reach new levels of knowledge and clinical application. You
will not outgrow this book. Whether as an in-class manual or
a reference text for your bookshelf, you will find this book to
be an ideal and essential book now and into the future!
PREFACE xv
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Muscle and Group Name (if applicable),
1 1
covered in a 2- to 3-page spread.
Illustration of individual muscle, with
2
arrows indicating lines of pull. Bony at-
tachments are shaded in brown for easy
identification. Muscle is deep to (behind)
a bone from this. Figures are full color an-
atomic illustrations of muscles and bones
drawn over photographs to help identify
positions of the structures. The positions
of muscles and bones in the human body
are unmistakable in this overlay artwork.
Checkboxes are used throughout the 2-
3 Standard Mover Actions
to 3-page individual muscle spreads so
you can mark information to be covered
or check it off once you have learned the
material.
A first look at the name of the muscle to see
4 the ScC joint
what free information the name gives us.
Derivation and proper pronunciation of the
5 11 Standard Mover Action Notes
muscle are provided here.
Simple attachment (origin) information.
6 abducts) the scapula at the scapulocostal joint. (action 1)
(Note: For illustrations of bones, bony
landmarks, and muscle attachment sites,
see Chapter 2.)
More detailed attachment (origin)
7 serratus anterior upwardly rotates the scapula at the
information.
Simple attachment (insertion) information.
8
(Note: If more detailed attachment [inser-
tion] information is present, it will follow
directly after this section.)
Functions section: This section covers ev-
9
ery contraction function of the muscle. This
information serves to make The Muscular
System Manual more complete, giving a
comprehensive presentation of musculo-
skeletal function. (Note: For an explanation
of muscle function, see Chapter 3.)
Concentric (Shortening) Mover Actions
10
table: The actions (standard and reverse)
xvi HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
3 †Serratus Anterior
The name, serratus anterior, tells us that this muscle has a serrated appearance and is anterior (anterior to the serratus
4
posterior superior and serratus posterior inferior).
5 †Derivation 2
serratus: L. a notching
anterior: L. in front
†Pronunciation
ser-A-tus
an-TEE-ri-or
ATTACHMENTS
† Ribs one through nine 6
† anterolaterally
7
to the
† Anterior Surface of the Entire Medial Border of the
Scapula 8
FUNCTIONS 9
10 Concentric (Shortening) Mover Actions
Reverse Mover Actions Serratus
anterior
† 1. Protracts the scapula at † 1. Retracts the trunk at the ScC
the ScC joint joint
† 2. Upwardly rotates the † 2. Depresses the trunk at the
scapula at the ScC joint ScC joint
† 3. Elevates the scapula at the
ScC joint
† 4. Depresses the scapula at the † 3. Elevates the trunk at the ScC
ScC joint joint
† 5. Medially tilts the scapula at
† 6. Downwardly tilts the scapula
at the ScC joint Figure 4-7 Lateral view of the right serratus anterior.
ScC joint = scapulocostal joint
• Upward rotation of the scapula is a coupled motion that
must accompany any abduction and/or flexion of the
• The costal (i.e., rib) attachment of the serratus anterior is arm at the glenohumeral joint. The serratus anterior is
more anterior than the scapular attachment. When the especially engaged to upwardly rotate the scapula when
serratus anterior contracts, it pulls the scapula anteriorly the arm is flexed at the glenohumeral joint. (action 2)
toward the ribs; therefore the serratus anterior protracts (i.e., • The serratus anterior is the prime mover of scapular
protraction, upward rotation, and medial tilt. (actions 1, 2, 5)
• Scapular protraction is important when pushing, punching, • Only the upper fibers of the serratus anterior can elevate
and reaching forward with the upper extremity. (action 1) the scapula. (action 3)
• When the serratus anterior contracts, it pulls on the • Only the lower fibers of the serratus anterior can depress
scapula, causing the inferior angle of the scapula to the scapula. (action 4)
swing anteriorly and superiorly toward the rib attachment • When the scapula moves at the scapulocostal joint,
of the serratus anterior (this is especially true of the the clavicle also moves at the sternoclavicular joint.
fibers attaching to the inferior angle of the scapula). This (actions 1, 2, 3, 4)
causes the glenoid fossa to orient upward; therefore the • Medial tilt (also known as lateral rotation) is a motion of
the scapula that brings its medial border back against the
scapulocostal joint. (action 2) body wall. In anatomic position, the scapula should be fully
104 PART 2 The Skeletal Muscles of the Upper Extremity
ELS-MSM4_CH04.indd 104 12/12/15 1:35 AM
that are usually taught at a beginning or
intermediate level are in bold print within
the table. The remaining actions within
the table are for more advanced levels of
learning. (Note: For illustrations of joint
actions, see Chapter 1.)
Standard Mover Action notes:
11
Methodology information that explains the
reasoning behind each of the muscle’s
standard actions.
 Reverse Mover Action notes: Methodology
12
information that explains the reasoning
behind each of the muscle’s reverse
actions.
Motions: The oblique plane motion(s) of the
13
muscle is given here to better understand
the true motion pattern(s) of the muscle.
Eccentric and Isometric Functions and
14
Notes: The importance of core stabiliza-
tion (isometric contraction) in exercise and
rehabilitation has become increasingly
understood in recent years, and negative
(eccentric) contractions are used more
and more in exercise. Coverage of this
information is unique to this book.
Additional notes on the muscle’s actions
15
are given here.
Innervation section: Two levels of detail
16
are provided, with the predominant spinal
levels shown in bold print.
Arterial Supply section: Two levels of detail
17
are provided. (Note: Arterial supply to
muscles is extremely variable. Although
specific information is provided here, this
variability must be kept in mind when
learning this material.)
Palpation section: Easy-to-follow num-
18
bered steps to palpate the muscle. See
the Evolve website for more in-depth video
palpation protocols for the muscle palpa-
tion guidelines.
Relationship section: Gives information re-
19
garding the muscle’s anatomic relationship
to other musculoskeletal structures.
Miscellaneous section: In this section, in-
20
teresting information about the muscle and
clinical applications are given.
medially tilted. If the serratus anterior muscles are weak, the
client may have a posture of winged scapulae (laterally tilted
scapulae). The fact that the serratus anterior is a strong
protractor and medial tilter is especially important because
the scapula tends to laterally tilt when it protracts. (action 5)
• Downward tilt of the scapula is a motion wherein the
inferior angle of the scapula is pulled back against the
body wall. In anatomic position, the scapula should be
fully downwardly tilted. (action 6)
Reverse Mover Action Notes 12
• The reverse action of retracting the trunk (i.e., moving it
posteriorly) relative to the scapula at the scapulocostal
joint is best seen when performing a push-up. At the
point in a push-up when the body has been pushed
up away from the ground and the elbow joints are fully
extended, there is a small additional degree of upward
movement of the body. This motion is created by the
serratus anterior pulling the trunk up (posteriorly) toward
the scapulae, which are now fixed due to the hands
being placed on the floor. (reverse action 1)
• The reverse action of depression of the trunk relative to
the scapula at the scapulocostal joint might occur if the
arms are flexed 180 degrees overhead with the hands
fixed to an immovable object when lying down and the
body is pulled downward away from the immovable
object. (reverse action 2)
• The reverse action of elevation of the trunk relative to
the scapula at the scapulocostal joint is not very likely to
occur. (reverse action 3)
13 Motion
1. The serratus anterior has one line of pull in an oblique
plane and therefore creates one motion, which is a
combination of protraction, upward rotation, medial tilt,
and downward tilt of the scapula at the scapulocostal
joint. (Note: Its upper fibers also elevate the scapula and
its lower fibers also depress the scapula.)
14 Eccentric Antagonist Functions
1. Restrains/slows scapular retraction, downward rotation,
depression, elevation, lateral tilt, and upward tilt
2. Restrains/slows protraction, elevation, and depression of
the trunk
14 Isometric Stabilization Functions
1. Stabilizes the scapula
2. Stabilizes the rib cage
Isometric Stabilization Function Note
• The stabilization of the scapula function of the serratus
anterior is particularly important for maintaining a healthy
posture of the scapula. The serratus anterior is the most
important muscle for preventing lateral tilt (winging) and
upward tilt of the scapula.
ELS-MSM4_CH04.indd 105
Serratus Anterior—cont’d
20 MISCELLANEOUS
1. The serrated appearance comes from attaching onto
separate ribs, which creates the notched look of a
serrated knife.
2. In very well-developed individuals, the serratus anterior
looks like ribs standing out in the anterolateral trunk.
3. The serratus anterior can be considered to have three
parts: the first part attaching from ribs one and two to
the superior angle of the scapula, the second part from
ribs two and three to the length of the medial border of
Serratus Anterior—cont’d
15
Additional Notes on Actions
1. Some sources state that the uppermost fibers of the
serratus anterior can downwardly rotate and laterally tilt
the scapula.
2. There is controversy regarding whether or not the
serratus anterior is involved with respiration by moving
the ribcage. Given its attachments onto the ribs, an
accessory respiratory action seems likely.
3. The pull of the serratus anterior upon the scapula at the
scapulocostal joint is also exerted upon the clavicle at
the sternoclavicular joint.
16 INNERVATION
† The Long Thoracic Nerve
† C5, C6, C7
17 ARTERIAL SUPPLY
† The Dorsal Scapular Artery (a branch of the
Subclavian Artery) and the Lateral Thoracic Artery
(a branch of the Axillary Artery)
† and the Superior Thoracic Artery (a branch of the
Axillary Artery)
18 PALPATION
1. With the client supine and the arm flexed to 90
degrees at the shoulder joint (hand pointed toward
the ceiling), place palpating hand on the rib cage on
the lateral trunk between the anterior and posterior
axillary folds of tissue.
2. Have the client protract the scapula by pushing the
hand toward the ceiling and feel for the contraction of
the serratus anterior. Resistance may be added.
3. Once located, try to follow the serratus anterior as far
anterior as possible (deep to the pectoralis major) and
as far posterior as possible (deep to the latissimus
dorsi and the scapula).
19 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER STRUCTURES
† From the posterior perspective, the majority of the
serratus anterior lies deep to the scapula and the
latissimus dorsi. From the anterior perspective, much of
the muscle lies deep to the pectoralis major and minor.
† The serratus anterior is superficial anterolaterally on the
trunk where it meets the external abdominal oblique.
† The lowest four to five slips of the costal (i.e., rib)
attachments of the serratus anterior interdigitate with the
external abdominal oblique.
† The serratus anterior lies next to (anterior to) the
subscapularis.
† The serratus anterior is located within the spiral line
myofascial meridian.
105
PART 2 The Skeletal Muscles of the Upper Extremity
12/12/15 1:35 AM
the scapula, and the third part from ribs four through nine
to the inferior angle of the scapula. The third part (most
inferior part) of the serratus anterior is the strongest.
4. The serratus anterior blends into the rhomboids on the
anterior side of the scapula (as part of the spiral line
myofascial meridian). Because of this blending, the
rhomboids and serratus anterior are sometimes referred
to as the rhomboserratus muscle. The rhomboserratus
musculature acts as a sling that holds and balances the
posture of the scapula.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK xvii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
No book of this magnitude can be achieved without help.
I would like to express my gratitude to so many people who
aided and supported me in the production of this book. This
book would not exist today if it were not for the help and
support that all of you have given me.
Much of the beauty and success of this book rests in
the beautiful illustrations of muscles and bones drawn over
photographs of models. Photography was done by Yanik
Chauvin and the principle model is Audrey Van Herck, both
of Montreal, Canada. The artists are Frank Forney and
Dave Carlson of Colorado and Giovanni Rimasti of Canada.
A big thank you is also due to Jodie Bernard of Lightbox
Visuals in Canada. Many of the illustrations from Chapters
1 and 3 were artfully done by Jean Luciano of Connecticut
and Jeanne Robertson of St. Louis and borrowed from my
Kinesiology textbook.
The art direction and layout set the tone of this book.
Thank you to Julia Dummitt for making a muscle book
so attractive to look at and so easy to negotiate. Putting
together a book of this size is no small feat. Thank you to
the Production people at Elsevier. And a special thank you
to the Editorial team at Elsevier, Shelly Stringer and Kelly
Skelton, who worked hand in hand with me throughout
this entire project. One could not ask for a more devoted
managing editor than Shelly; she was truly my partner in the
creation of this edition. And Kelly skillfully attended to every
detail along the way. And continuing appreciation to Jennifer
Watrous, my original editor, for all her work and assistance
with the earlier editions of this book.
A continuing thank you to Dr. Sharon Sawitzke, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor, Division of Anatomical Sciences at
the University of Bridgeport, College of Chiropractic, who
lent her expertise to provide the information regarding the
arterial supply to the muscles. I could not have simplified
xviii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
and organized this material without her. And continuing
thanks to David Elliot, PhD of the Touro University College
of Osteopathic Medicine, my content editor, who combed
through the original edition of this book, ensuring that the
informational content was correct. He also fielded countless
questions from me, helping me organize the content, and
provided needed information when the boundaries of my
knowledge had been reached.
Thank you also to Tom Myers of Maine who graciously
lent of his knowledge and was generous with illustrations
from the third edition of his book, Anatomy Trains.
I would like to thank Dr. Michael Carnes, my first anatomy
instructor, of Western States Chiropractic College in
Portland, Oregon. He first whetted my appetite for learning,
understanding, and appreciating the beauty of anatomy and
physiology.
I believe that textbook writing is essentially “teaching on
pages.” I am so lucky to have had the best field training that
anyone could ask for. Teaching at the Connecticut Center for
Massage Therapy (CCMT) under the guidance of Steve Kitts
shaped me as a writer. I don’t think my students realized just
how much I was learning along with them. Thank you to the
many teaching assistants I was lucky enough to have through
the years. So many of them not only assisted in the classroom,
but also improved my teaching by showing me ways of more
clearly explaining and demonstrating the material to our
students. And I always reserve a special acknowledgement to
one student (and now a fellow instructor), William Courtland,
who one day uttered the simple words, “You should write a
book.” Those words began my writing career.
Lastly, I must express my love and appreciation to
my entire family for their unending love, support, and
understanding as I sat at my computer hour after hour after
hour working on this book.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 Oh, I know we’ll get tired of each other if that’s what you’re
suggesting.

Sabine
(Detecting an agreeing look in Randolph’s face)
That may be what I mean. (Eyeing Randolph keenly as he sees
her bite her lips.) If that’s all, I’ll return to the library.

Randolph
Have you no suggestions?

Sabine
(Coldly)
Be careful not to make a fool of me—in public.

Mrs. Sabine
There speaks the man.

Randolph
Then you’ll be silent?

Sabine
Until——

Randolph
Until?

Sabine
Until you get your deserts.
 Randolph
A threat?

Sabine
(Smiling)
No. Only I know my wife.

Mrs. Sabine
And that’s the sort of man I married. (To Sabine) Do you blame me
for throwing you over?

Sabine
Have I?

Mrs. Sabine
(Indignantly)
How dared you open me to this?

Randolph
Don’t blame him, Mary.

Mrs. Sabine
(Indignantly)
You knew, and you let him steal your wife.

Sabine
Some men like their women that way.

Mrs. Sabine
 Isn’t it funny! It’s losing its romance—being handed over like some
food at supper. Isn’t it funny—and disappointing.

Randolph
I can’t say I admire you, Sabine.

Sabine
No, you can’t. But you will when you know my wife better.

Mrs. Sabine
(Losing control)
I’m more ashamed of you than I am of myself. Why didn’t you stop
me if you knew? What’s the reason? Why didn’t you strike me? Why
didn’t you, so I could feel you and I were quits? Why didn’t you—like
that and that. (She strikes him furiously with her gloves once or
twice, but he continues smiling.)

Randolph
Mary, don’t let’s have a scene. Sh!

Mrs. Sabine
I wanted a scene! And to think I wasn’t even worth insulting!
(She goes out quickly, leaving the hall door open. She has
dropped her glove and as Randolph, with a resigned,
half-bored air, starts to follow her, Sabine stoops, picks up
the glove and, smiling, halts Randolph.)

Sabine
My wife dropped her glove. Will you take it to her? I have my work,
and, as you remarked, another month will about finish it.
 Randolph
(Smiling in spite of himself)
Life would be so much simpler if all husbands were so
considerate.

Sabine
The spice would be gone.

Randolph
I suppose she is waiting——

Sabine
—For the glove. (Offering it to him.)

Randolph
(Taking it)
Yes: for her glove.

Sabine
I’m glad you will drive in the closed car.

Randolph
(At the door)
Our reputations must be protected.

Sabine
No man likes to be made a fool of.

Randolph
 (Slowly)
After all, she’s only a woman and they’re all alike, eh?

Sabine
(Slowly)
All alike. Yes.

Randolph
(Casually)
You’ll find the cigarettes on the table.

Sabine
Thanks.
(Randolph goes out, closing the door. Sabine stands a
moment, then turns to the window and looks off till he
sees the car has driven away. He turns down the light and
then crossing eagerly, he knocks on Paula’s door. He
repeats this.)
Paula! Paula!!
(He stands waiting.)
[Curtain]
 FOOTNOTES:
[E] Copyright by George Middleton. See back of title
page.
 THE HOUSE
THE PEOPLE
Charles Ray, a professor of philosophy.
Elizabeth, his wife.

SCENE
A room in an apartment hotel suite. One evening.
 THE HOUSE[F]
Professor and Mrs. Ray are at the little table finishing their coffee.
In the center there is a white-robed birthday cake with three golden
candles sending a gentle light on them. A myriad of faint wrinkles on
the Professor’s kindly face might betray his age, though his thin
body, in spite of its slight stoop, belies his seventy years. As he sits
there precisely dressed in his evening clothes, he is the
personification of fine breeding, the incarnation of all that blood and
culture can produce. And through it all, there glows an alluring
whimsy which one has no right to expect in a professor of
philosophy.
Mrs. Ray, gowned also for the ceremony they are celebrating, is
ten years younger; soft and gentle, too, yet sadder somehow, as
though, in spite of her effort to live in his enthusiasms, it has become
a bit difficult to sustain his mood of happiness.
But as they sip their coffee alone in the hotel suite with its
conventional furnishings of a stereotyped comfort, graced only by a
large bunch of white roses, one senses the deep and abiding
affection which has warmed their long life together.

Professor
(With a sigh of contentment)
Ah!
(He sees she is thoughtful: he reaches over and takes
from behind the table the quart bottle of champagne. He
 pours a little in her glass.)

Mrs. Ray
Oh, dear; I’m afraid I’ve had enough.

Professor
Nonsense.

Mrs. Ray
But I’m beginning to feel it.

Professor
That’s the intention. (Filling his glass.) There. Now a toast.
(Standing with the greatest gallantry.) Here’s to my comrade of forty
years: may we have as many more together.

Mrs. Ray
Oh, Charles, I’m afraid that’s asking too much of Providence.

Professor
We should ask much and be satisfied with less.

Mrs. Ray
(Raising her glass)
To my friend and husband.

Professor
You make a distinction?

Mrs. Ray
 The world does.

Professor
What is the world doing here on our wedding anniversary?
(Seriously) Let’s drink to each other—and the children.

Mrs. Ray
(Wistfully looking at the candles)
And the children.
(They sip: he shows he enjoys it; she sits thoughtfully
while he takes out his cigarette case. He starts to take
one, and then, with a twinkle in his eyes, offers her the
case.)

Professor
Cigarette, dear?

Mrs. Ray
(Smiling)
No: thank you. I shan’t begin at my time of life.

Professor
Cato learned Greek at eighty. The minute people cease to learn—
even a vice—they have begun to grow old. So beware.

Mrs. Ray
(Striking a match)
Let me light it for you.

Professor
 (Slyly)
Which illustrates a woman’s part in life: encouraging vice in men,
eh? (He lights it and puffs in enjoyment.) I must say I like my idea
about the cake and the candles.

Mrs. Ray
It’s lovely, dear. Who but you would have thought of having a
birthday cake on our wedding anniversary.

Professor
I started to put forty candles: one for each year; but there was no
room left for the cake.

Mrs. Ray
I like the idea of three—just three.

Professor
Yes; three birthdays that meant so much in our time together:
Teddy, Mary and Paul.

Mrs. Ray
Forty years!

Professor
It’s a long while to be married, dear. Speaks well for our patience,
eh?

Mrs. Ray
And not a word to-night from our three children.

Professor
 (Waving it aside)
After all, our marriage didn’t concern them—at the time.

Mrs. Ray
And we never forget their anniversaries.

Professor
But think how important those have always been from the
beginning: each one the start of a great adventure for us.

Mrs. Ray
And more responsibility.

Professor
Certainly. Isn’t that the way we have broadened our lives? Think,
dear, of how many times we have been young—once with our own
youth and three times with our candles.

Mrs. Ray
(She rises and goes to the roses which she inhales)
And our hair is white.

Professor
(Gallantly rising also)
That can’t be blamed on the children. White hair doesn’t indicate
marriage—always. It’s a matter of pigment, I’m told, and affects
bachelors equally.

Mrs. Ray
You’re right, of course, dear. We have kept young through having
our children; only——
 Professor
(Coming to her)
Only what? Surely there isn’t a regret as you look back?

Mrs. Ray
Oh, no, not regret; only so many of our dreams have never been
realized.

Professor
(As he breaks off a rose and gives it to her)
But we have dreamed; that’s the important thing, isn’t it?

Mrs. Ray
(Looking at rose)
I suppose so.

Professor
Of course it is, dear. And we have dreamed more than most
because we have been young four times.

Mrs. Ray
(As she crosses to the sofa)
But it’s always been through others—for others.

Professor
But now it is for ourselves.

Mrs. Ray
(Smiling)
 You mean our house?

Professor
Yes. Now that they’ve retired me with a pension and our children
no longer need our help, we can build our house.

Mrs. Ray
(Wearily, as she sits)
We have built so many houses.

Professor
Yes. Life’s an experiment. Remember the first little cottage where
Teddy was born? It didn’t leave us much margin even though it was
small. Come to think of it, dear, we’ve built three houses, haven’t
we?

Mrs. Ray
It’s the fourth we’ve really thought of most—and that hasn’t been
built yet.

Professor
That’s to be ours—all ours; with room for the children if they want
to come back.

Mrs. Ray
Oh, that’s it: they won’t come back now. Our house won’t suit
them.

Professor
(Taking a chair over near her)
 How can we expect them to come into a house that isn’t even
built? You know our modern children are very peculiar. They get that
from you.

Mrs. Ray
Nonsense. It’s you who are peculiar. Just look at the kind of house
you want.

Professor
(Doubtfully)
It is different from yours, I’ll admit.

Mrs. Ray
I don’t object to the architecture. It’s the surroundings you insist
on.

Professor
You want the city and I want the forest.

Mrs. Ray
(Shaking her head)
We’ll never agree.

Professor
(As though with an inspiration)
I have a solution. I’ll live in your city house, if you’ll have my forest
around it.

Mrs. Ray
I’m afraid, dear, that is a bit impractical at present prices.
 Professor
(With a whimsical smile)
But we certainly can’t have the city you love around my house in
the woods! I’m afraid of the streets.

Mrs. Ray
Any friendly policeman would help you across them.

Professor
Think of me walking arm in arm with a policeman! I must consider
my reputation, even though I am seventy. No. (With a twinkle.) I can’t
seem to visualize the house, can you, dear?

Mrs. Ray
It isn’t like your dream or mine.

Professor
No. I’d have a hard time finding my birch trees in the moonlight.
Have you ever noticed how lovely they are when the leaves have all
gone?

Mrs. Ray
Somehow they are no more lovely than the sense of life in the tall
ugly buildings man has built with his own hands.

Professor
But trees are eternal.

Mrs. Ray
That’s where we differ. I live in to-day: you live in all time.
 Professor
That’s my profession. You lose count of time when you are a
philosopher.

Mrs. Ray
And I am a woman of the world.

Professor
(As he goes to light another cigarette from the candles)
I’d hardly describe you that way, my dear; that sounds so naughty.

Mrs. Ray
I mean I love every minute that passes and everything the moment
brings. I love the people who are of that moment.

Professor
You still dream of having a salon of celebrities?

Mrs. Ray
(Smiling)
It’s no worse than the museum of antiquities on your book shelves.
But I keep forgetting you want your house in the forest so you can
write about the dead.

Professor
And you want your house in the city for the living.

Mrs. Ray
I wish we could compromise somehow.
 Professor
If we only had more money I could do away with the wilderness
and content myself with a few wooded acres, I suppose. Only it must
be roomy where the winds can speak. And I must have some wild
things about. Though perhaps I could compromise on a pet squirrel,
if necessary. (He smiles.) And if I met you that far do you think you
would be willing to live an hour or so from the city?

Mrs. Ray
Why, of course. But haven’t we been looking for that sort of place
for years; even when we weren’t free to live where we wished?

Professor
I can’t see why money is always getting in the way of our dreams.
I often wonder what scoundrel it was who first invented money.

Mrs. Ray
And yet we might now be able to have what we wished if——

Professor
If? The eternal if?

Mrs. Ray
(She has gone to the table, placing rose there)
I was thinking of all we gave up for our children.

Professor
Wasn’t it jolly?

Mrs. Ray
 While we still dreamed of the house we two would build for
ourselves.

Professor
With rooms for them, don’t forget that.

Mrs. Ray
And now where are our children?

Professor
Living—maybe dreaming a bit of our dreams and not knowing it is
ours. That’s the lovely thing about dreams: I like to think they are
never lost.

Mrs. Ray
Yet here we sit alone on our anniversary and they have forgotten.

Professor
The young have so many things to remember.

Mrs. Ray
And we can never build our house now.

Professor
Nonsense. We can go on building it just as though it were really
possible. Come, little mother, let’s be young together to the end. I’ll
have to throw another log on this make-believe open fire in my
house. (He pulls the sofa around so it faces the radiator which he
eyes dubiously.) Hm! That won’t stimulate the imagination. Wait! I
know.
 (He goes over to the table and smiling quaintly
he lifts up the cake with its three burning
candles and carefully places it on the low radiator.
Then he presses a switch on wall nearby
and the lights overhead go out, leaving only the
candles, a desk lamp and the moonlight through
the window to give the shadows life. He laughs
and warms his hands before the candles as he
would before a fire.)
Come, dear, before my fire! By the way, is there a log fire in your
dream-house, dear?

Mrs. Ray
(Smiling and fitting in with his fancy)
If you are to be with me, of course.

Professor
Well then we have a blazing fire in both our houses, eh? (He sits
beside her on sofa and they gaze at candles.) And how economical
fuel is when you dream about it. I’ve got a whole forest waiting to be
cut by me, to-morrow, after I’ve worked all morning on my new book.

Mrs. Ray
And I’ve been to the musicale at the Biltmore.

Professor
What did you do this afternoon, dear?

Mrs. Ray
(Tapping his arm)
Oh, I had a brilliant reception.