Muscle Terminology

Terms Indicating Direction Relative to Body Axes:

• Anterior (front)
• Externus (superficial)
• Extrinsic (outside)
• Inferioris (inferior)
• Internus (deep, internal)
• Intrinsic (inside)
• Lateralis (lateral)
• Medialis/medius (medial, middle)
• Obliquus (oblique)
• Posterior (back)
• Profundus (deep)
• Rectus (straight, parallel)
• Superficialis (superficial)
• Superioris (superior)
• Transversus (transverse)

Terms Indicating Specific Regions:

• Abdominus (abdomen)
• Anconeus (elbow)
• Auricularis (auricle of the ear)
• Brachialis (brachium)
• Capitis (head)
• Carpi (wrist)
• Cervicis (neck)
• Cleido/clavius (clavicle)
• Coccygeus (coccyx)
• Costalis (ribs)
• Cutaneous (skin)
• Femoris (femur)
• Genio- (chin)
• Glosso/glossal (tongue)
• Hallucis (great toe)
• Ilio- (ilium)
• Inguinal (groin)
• Lumborum (lumbar region)
• Nasalis (nose)
• Nuchal (back of the neck)
• Oculo- (eye)
• Oris (mouth)
• Palpebrae (eyelid)
• Pollicis (thumb)
• Popliteus (behind the knee)
• Psoas (loin)
• Radialis (radius)
• Scapularis (scapula)
• Temporalis (temples)
• Thoracis (thoracic region)
• Tibialis (tibia)
• Ulnaris (ulna)
• Uro- (urinary)

Terms Indicating Structural Characteristics:

• Origin:
• Biceps (two heads)
• Triceps (three heads)
• Quadriceps (four heads)

Terms Indicating Shape, Size, and Color:

• Alba (white)
• Brevis (short)
• Deltoid (triangle)
• Gracilis (slender)
• Lata (wide)
• Latissimus (widest)
• Longus (long)
• Magnus (large)
• Major (larger)
• Maximus (largest)
• Minimus (smallest)
• Minor (smaller)
• Orbicularis (circle)
• Pectinate (comblike)
• Piriformis (pear-shaped)
• Platys- (flat)
• Pyramidal (pyramid)
• Rhomboideus (rhomboid)
• Serratus (serrated)
• Splenius (bandage)
• Teres (long and round)
• Trapezius (trapezoid)
• Vastus (huge or great)

Terms Indicating Direction of Fibers:

• Rectus (straight)
• Oblique (diagonal)
• Transverse (across)
• Circularis (circular)

Terms Indicating Body Location:

• Brachii (arm)
• Gluteus (buttocks)
• Infra (below)
• Lateralis (lateral)
• Pectoralis (chest)
• Sub (underneath)
• Supra (above)

Terms Indicating Action:

• Abduction: moves away from the midline
• Adduction: moves closer to the midline
• Depressor
• Extension: increases the angle of a joint
• Flexion: decreases the angle of a joint
• Levator
• Pronation: turns the palm of the hand down
• Rotation: moves a bone around its longitudinal axis
• Supination: turns the palm of the hand up
• Tensor
• Dorsiflexion: elevates the foot
• Plantar flexion: lowers the foot, pointing the toes

This page was updated in December 2005.

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