Muscle Anatomy Diagram and Functions: Learn the Muscular System of the Human Body

Mar 30 2022

Muscle Anatomy

Learn about the human body's muscular system by studying the skeletal muscle diagram and functions below.

The muscles of the human body that operate the skeletal system are under voluntary control, and are responsible for movement, balance and posture. Human muscle, like the muscles of other species, is typically classified as striated (or skeletal) muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle.

This page is about the human skeletal muscles, with a focus on muscular movements, the muscular groups and how they work. The parts that follow give a fundamental framework for understanding gross human muscular anatomy, including explanations of the major muscle groups and their functions. The numerous muscle groups work together to regulate the motions of the human body.

For images of the muscle, click on each link under location.

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Function	Location
Abductors (tensor fasciae latae, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus)	Ilium	Femur	Brings hip away from body.	Upper leg- rear of human upper leg
Adductors (includes adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus muscles	Pubis	Femur	Brings leg back to and across body.	Upper leg- rear of human upper leg
Biceps brachii	Scapula	Radius and ulna	Flexes elbow and moves forearm.	Arm- front view of human arm
Brachialis	Humerus and septa	Coronoid process and ulna	Flexes elbow.	Arm- front view of human arm
Brachioradialis	Humerus and septum	Radius	Flexes and rotates the elbow.	Arm- front view of human arm
Deltoid	Clavicle, deltoid tuberosity, acromion and scapula	Deltoid tuberosity (humerus)	Raises and rotates arms in all directions.	Arm- front view of human arm
Erector spinae	Sacrum and ilium	Upper thoracic vertebrae	Extends spine and trunk back.	Body- rear view of human body
Gastrocnemius (calf muscle)	Femur Lower leg - back	Calcaneum (by Achilles tendon)	Raised heel when leg is straight.	Lower leg- rear of human lower leg
Gluteus maximus	Ilium	Femur	Moves hips forward.	Upper leg- rear of human upper leg
Hamstrings (made of 3 muscles): 1. Biceps femoris 2. Semitendinosus 3.Semimembranosus	1. Ischium 2. Ischium 3. Ischium	1. Fibula and femur 2. Tibia 3. Tibia	1. Bends knee. 2. Bends knee. 3. Bends knee.	Upper leg- rear of human upper leg
Iliopsoas	Ilium, sacrum, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae	Femur	Moves hips backwards.	Upper leg- front of human upper leg
Latissimus dorsi	Lower thoracic, lumbar vertebrae and sacrum	Humerus	Brings shoulders and arms back to body.	Body- rear view of human body
Pectoralis major and minor	Sternum	Humerus	Moves humerus (arm) to chest.	Body- front view of human body
Quadriceps (made of 4 muscles): 1. Rectus femoris 2. Vastus lateralis 3. Vastus medialis 4. Vastus intermedius	1. Ilium 2. Femur 3. Femur 4. Femur	1. Tibia (patella tendon) 2. Tibia (patella tendon) 3. Tibia (patella tendon) 4. Tibia (patella tendon)	1. Extends leg out. 2. Extends knee. 3. Extends knee. 4. Extends knee.	Upper Leg - front of human upper leg
Rectus abdominis	Costal cartilages, medial inferior costal	Margin and xiphoid	Brings trunk forward, and aids expiration.	Body- front view of human body
Rhomboids	Upper thoracic vertebrae	Scapula	Pulls back scapula (shoulder blades).	Body- rear view of human body
Soleus (calf muscles)	Tibia and fibula	Calcaneum (by Achilles tendon)	Raised heel when leg is bent.	Lower leg- front of human lower leg
Tibialis anterior	Tibia	Metatarsal # 1 (big toe)	Raises front of foot.	Lower leg- rear of human lower leg
Trapezius	Starts at the base of the skull. Ends at last thoracic vertebra.	Scapula and clavicle elevation.	Elevates and lowers pectoral girdle. Also, moves the scapula towards the spine.	Body- rear view of human body
Triceps	Brachii, scapula and Humerus	Olecranon process (elbow)	Extends forearm.	Arm- rear view of human arm

Muscles of Hamstring and Back of the Leg (hamstring, gastrocnemius, gluteus maximus)

Muscles in the Human Body (Pectoralis Major, Abdominals, Obliques)

Muscles of the Upper Limb (Deltoid, Biceps, Forearms)

Muscles of Back (Trapezius, Latissimus Dorsi)

Muscles in the Arm (triceps, rear deltoid)

Muscles of the Hip & Thigh (quadriceps, hips)

Muscles of Lower Leg (calf, soleus)

Muscles of Calf

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