Logan Steele
Muscles are identified by a number of criteria, including their shape, size, location, and function. For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull, and its name reflects its position. The size of the muscles in the buttocks also influences their names: gluteus maximus (largest), gluteus medius (medium), and gluteus minimus (smallest).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Function | Muscles are sometimes classified by the type of function they perform. |
| Shape | The rhomboid major is a rhombus or diamond shape. |
| Size | The gluteal region contains three muscles differentiated by size: gluteus maximus (large), gluteus medius (medium), and gluteus minimus (smallest). |
| Direction of muscle fibres | In the abdominal region, the muscles whose fibres run straight up and down are the rectus abdominis, the ones running transversely (left to right) are the transverse abdominis, and the ones running at an angle are the obliques. |
| Location of attachment | The sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum and clavicle and inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone. |
| Action | Flexor, extensor, abductor, adductor. |
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Muscle function
Muscles are identified by their function, shape, size, location, and attachments to the skeleton. The names of muscles are based on these criteria, which each describe the muscle in some way.
For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull. The shape of this muscle is distinctive and its name, frontalis, reflects this. The names of muscles in the buttocks are also influenced by their size: gluteus maximus (largest), gluteus medius (medium), and gluteus minimus (smallest). The names of muscles can also indicate their length: brevis (short), longus (long), and their position relative to the midline: lateralis (to the outside away from the midline), and medialis (toward the midline).
The direction of the muscle fibres and fascicles are used to describe muscles relative to the midline, such as the rectus (straight) abdominis, or the oblique (at an angle) muscles of the abdomen. The location of a muscle's attachment can also appear in its name. When the name of a muscle is based on its attachments, the origin is always named first. For instance, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the masticle process of the temporal bone.
Finally, the action of a muscle can be used to identify it. When muscles are named for the movement they produce, one can find action words in their name. Some examples are flexor (decreases the angle at the joint), extensor (increases the angle at the joint), abductor (moves the bone away from the midline), or adductor (moves the bone toward the midline).
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Muscle shape
Muscles are sometimes identified by their shape, size, location, and function. For example, the rhomboid major is a diamond shape, while the gluteal region contains three muscles differentiated by size: the gluteus maximus (large), gluteus medius (medium), and gluteus minimus (smallest). The names of muscles can also reflect their shape, such as the orbicularis muscle. The direction of muscle fibres and fascicles can also be used to identify muscles, such as the rectus (straight) abdominis, or the oblique (at an angle) muscles of the abdomen.
The location of a muscle's attachment can also be reflected in its name. For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido). The name of a muscle can also indicate its function, such as flexor (decreases the angle at the joint) or extensor (increases the angle at the joint).
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Muscle size
The size of a muscle can be used to distinguish between two muscles found in the same region. For example, the gluteal region contains three muscles differentiated by size: the gluteus maximus (large), gluteus medius (medium), and gluteus minimus (smallest). The names of muscles can also indicate their length: brevis (short) and longus (long).
The location of a muscle's attachment can also appear in its name. When the name of a muscle is based on its attachments, the origin is always named first. For instance, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
The direction of the muscle fibres and fascicles are used to describe muscles relative to the midline. For example, the rectus (straight) abdominis, or the oblique (at an angle) muscles of the abdomen.
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Muscle location
Muscles are identified by their location in the body, their shape, size, and the direction of their muscle fibres.
The location of a muscle's attachment can also appear in its name. When the name of a muscle is based on its attachments, the origin is always named first. For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
Muscles are also sometimes classified by the type of function that they perform. Most of the muscles of the forearms are named based on their function because they are located in the same region and have similar shapes and sizes. For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull. The names of muscles in the buttocks are also influenced by their size: gluteus maximus (largest), gluteus medius (medium), and gluteus minimus (smallest).
The direction in which the muscle fibres run can also be used to identify a muscle. In the abdominal region, there are several sets of wide, flat muscles. The muscles whose fibres run straight up and down are the rectus abdominis, the ones running transversely (left to right) are the transverse abdominis, and the ones running at an angle are the obliques.
Finally, the last feature by which to name a muscle is its action. When muscles are named for the movement they produce, one can find action words in their name. Some examples are flexor (decreases the angle at the joint), extensor (increases the angle at the joint), abductor (moves the bone away from the midline), or adductor (moves the bone toward the midline).
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Muscle attachments
The location of a muscle's attachment can appear in its name. When a muscle is named based on its attachments, the origin is always named first. For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum and clavicle, and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The size of the muscle can also be used to distinguish between two muscles found in the same region. For instance, the gluteal region contains three muscles differentiated by size: the gluteus maximus (large), gluteus medius (medium), and gluteus minimus (smallest).
The direction in which the muscle fibres run can also be used to identify a muscle. In the abdominal region, there are several sets of wide, flat muscles. The muscles whose fibres run straight up and down are the rectus abdominis, the ones running transversely (left to right) are the transverse abdominis, and the ones running at an angle are the obliques. The names of muscles were given to indicate length and position relative to the midline. For example, brevis (short), longus (long), lateralis (to the outside away from the midline), and medialis (toward the midline).
The shape of some muscles is also very distinctive, and the names reflect this. For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull, and the name orbicularis reflects the shape.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles are identified by their shape, size, location, and the direction of their fibres.
The rhomboid major is a rhombus or diamond shape. The orbicularis muscle reflects its circular shape.
The direction of the muscle fibres can be used to identify a muscle. The rectus abdominis runs straight up and down, the transverse abdominis runs transversely (left to right), and the obliques run at an angle.
The location of a muscle's attachment can appear in its name. The origin is always named first. For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum and clavicle.
