Flexor carpi Flexor of wrist, adducts hand, stabilizes wrist ulnaris Flexor digitorum Finger flexor (curl fingers) Pronator Pronates forearm quadratus Extensor Extends wrist/hand carpi Extensor digitorum Prime mover of finger extension Extensor pollicis brevis & longus Extends thumb Muscles Crossing Hip and Sartorius & laterally rotates knee; crosses leg “Tailor’s muscle”; flexes Knee Joints Adductor Flexes and rotates thigh longus Gracilis Flexes and rotates leg when walking Rectus Extends knee, flexes thigh femoris Vastus lateralis Extends knee Vastus Extends knee, stabilizes patella medialis Vastus Extends knee intermedius Gluteus maximus Major extensor of thigh Gluteus medius Rotates thigh, steadies pelvis, critical in walking Gluteus Same as gluteus medius minimus Biceps Extends thigh, flexes knee, laterally rotates leg femoris Extends thigh, flexes knee, medially rotates leg Semitendinosus Same as semitendinosus Semimembranosus Muscles That Move Ankle Tibialis anterior Prime mover of dorsiflexion, inverts foot and Toes Plantar flexes foot (to go on tiptoe, for instance) Gastrocnemius Soleus Plantar flexes ankle, important for walking, running, dancing
Flexor carpi ulnaris Flexor of wrist, adducts hand, stabilizes wrist Flexor digitorum Finger flexor (curl fingers) Pronator quadratus Pronates forearm Extensor carpi Extends wrist/hand Extensor digitorum Prime mover of finger extension Extensor pollicis brevis & longus Extends thumb Muscles Crossing Hip and Knee Joints Sartorius “Tailor’s muscle”; flexes & laterally rotates knee; crosses leg Adductor longus Flexes and rotates thigh Gracilis Flexes and rotates leg when walking Rectus femoris Extends knee, flexes thigh Vastus lateralis Extends knee Vastus medialis Extends knee, stabilizes patella Vastus intermedius Extends knee Gluteus maximus Major extensor of thigh Gluteus medius Rotates thigh, steadies pelvis, critical in walking Gluteus minimus Same as gluteus medius Biceps femoris Extends thigh, flexes knee, laterally rotates leg Semitendinosus Extends thigh, flexes knee, medially rotates leg Semimembranosus Same as semitendinosus Muscles That Move Ankle and Toes Tibialis anterior Prime mover of dorsiflexion, inverts foot Gastrocnemius Plantar flexes foot (to go on tiptoe, for instance) Soleus Plantar flexes ankle, important for walking, running, dancing