Logan Steele
Muscles are named according to a number of different characteristics, including their shape, size, orientation of fibres, action, number of attachments, points of attachment, and location. For example, the risorius muscle is also known as the 'smiling muscle' because it pulls the corners of the mouth upwards when it contracts, creating a smile. The orbicularis oculi muscle is named after the Latin word for 'circular', as it encircles the eye.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shape | The orbicularis oculi muscle is named after its shape, as 'orbicularis' is the Latin word for 'circular' |
| The rhomboid muscles of the back are also named for their shape, as 'rhombus' is the Greek word for 'parallelogram' | |
| The platysma muscle is named after the Greek word 'platus', meaning 'flat and wide' | |
| Size | The morphology of a muscle with regard to its dimensions can also be used to derive the name of a muscle |
| Orientation of fibres | N/A |
| Action | The risorius muscle is also known as the 'smiling muscle' as 'risus' in Latin means 'laugh or smile' |
| Muscles can be described as flexors or extensors, such as the flexor hallucis brevis muscle, which flexes the great toe | |
| Muscles can also be described as supinators or pronators, such as the supinator muscle, which supinates the forearm on contraction | |
| Number of attachments | N/A |
| Points of attachment | N/A |
| Location | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- Muscles can be named by their actions, for example, the risorius muscle is also known as the smiling muscle as it pulls the corner of the mouth upwards
- Muscles can be named by their shape, for example, the orbicularis oculi muscle encircles the eye, and the orbicularis oris muscle circles the lips
- Muscles can be named by their size, for example, the Greek word 'platus' means flat and wide, giving the platysma muscle its name
- Muscles can be named by their number of attachments, for example, the flexor hallucis brevis muscle flexes the great toe
- Muscles can be named by their points of attachment, for example, the supinator muscle supinates the forearm on contraction
Muscles can be named by their actions, for example, the risorius muscle is also known as the smiling muscle as it pulls the corner of the mouth upwards
Some muscles are named after their shape, such as the orbicularis oculi muscle, which is the pepperoni-like muscle that encircles the eye. The word orbicularis is Latin for circular, which describes the shape of this muscle. The same applies for the orbicularis oris muscle, which circles the lips. The rhomboid muscles of the back are also named for their shape, with the Greek word rhombus describing a parallelogram shape characteristic of the two rhomboid muscles, thus giving them their names rhomboid major and minor.
The morphology of a muscle with regard to its dimensions can also be used to derive its name. For example, the Greek word platus means flat and wide, thus giving the delicate flat muscle the name platysma.
Other characteristics that can be used to name muscles include their size, orientation of fibres, number of attachments, points of attachment, and location.
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Muscles can be named by their shape, for example, the orbicularis oculi muscle encircles the eye, and the orbicularis oris muscle circles the lips
Muscles can also be named by their action, which can be helpful as it gives an idea of the movements they carry out. For example, the risorius muscle is also known as the smiling muscle, as 'risus' in Latin means 'laugh' or 'smile'. When this muscle contracts, it pulls the corner of the mouth upwards, creating a smile. Muscles can be described as flexors or extensors, such as the flexor hallucis brevis muscle, which flexes the great toe, or the extensor digiti minimi muscle, which extends the little finger.
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Muscles can be named by their size, for example, the Greek word 'platus' means flat and wide, giving the platysma muscle its name
Muscles can be named by their size, shape, orientation of fibres, action, number of attachments, points of attachment, and location. For example, the Greek word 'platus' means flat and wide, giving the platysma muscle its name. The risorius muscle is also known as the smiling muscle, as 'risus' in Latin means laugh or smile. The orbicularis oculi muscle is named after its shape, as 'orbicularis' is the Latin word for circular, and the rhomboid muscles of the back are named for their shape, as the Greek word 'rhombus' describes a parallelogram. Muscles can also be described as flexors or extensors, such as the flexor hallucis brevis muscle, which flexes the great toe, or the extensor digiti minimi muscle, which extends the little finger.
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Muscles can be named by their number of attachments, for example, the flexor hallucis brevis muscle flexes the great toe
Muscles can be named by their number of attachments. For example, the flexor hallucis brevis muscle flexes the great toe. This is an example of a muscle named by its action, which is helpful as it gives us an idea of the movement it carries out. Other muscles named by their actions include the supinator muscle, which supinates the forearm on contraction, and the pronator teres muscle, which pronates the forearm.
Some muscles are named after their shape, such as the orbicularis oculi muscle, which encircles the eye. The Latin word 'orbicularis' means 'circular', perfectly describing the shape of this muscle. The same applies to the orbicularis oris muscle, which circles the circumference of the lips. The Greek word 'rhombus' describes a parallelogram shape characteristic of the two rhomboid muscles of the back, thus giving them their names rhomboid major and minor.
Muscles can also be named after their size. For example, the Greek word 'platus' means 'flat and wide', giving the delicate flat muscle the name platysma.
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Muscles can be named by their points of attachment, for example, the supinator muscle supinates the forearm on contraction
Some muscles are named after their shape. For example, the orbicularis oculi muscle is the pepperoni-like muscle that encircles the eye. The word 'orbicularis' comes from the Latin for 'circular', which perfectly describes the shape of this muscle. The same applies to the orbicularis oris muscle, which circles the circumference of the lips. The rhomboid muscles of the back are also named for their shape. The Greek word 'rhombus' describes a parallelogram shape characteristic of the two rhomboid muscles, thus giving them their names rhomboid major and minor. The Greek word 'platus' means flat and wide, which is how the delicate flat muscle platysma got its name.
Some muscles are named after their action, but this is not always obvious. For example, the risorius muscle is also known as the smiling muscle as 'risus' in Latin means laugh or smile. When this muscle contracts, it pulls the corner of the mouth upwards, creating a smile and is used in laughing.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles are named based on their shape, size, orientation of fibres, action, number of attachments, points of attachment, and location.
Muscles can be described as flexors or extensors, like the flexor hallucis brevis muscle, which flexes the great toe, or the extensor digiti minimi muscle, which extends the little finger.
The orbicularis oculi muscle, which encircles the eye, is named after the Latin word for circular, 'orbicularis'. The rhomboid muscles of the back are also named for their shape, with the Greek word 'rhombus' describing a parallelogram shape.
