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Naming Muscles:

As you already know, many of the terms used in anatomy and physiology are derived from Latin and Greek words. So if you can pick apart a term into its roots and stems, you can tell a lot about the structure and sometimes even the location of a muscle.

Muscles are named based on 7 characteristics including direction of the fibers, location, shape, relative size, attachments, origins and actions. Complete the table below with information related to each of these 7 characteristics. Label the diagrams where appropriate.

Characteristic Terminology Meaning Muscle Example

Direction

Rectus

Transverse

Oblique

Location Frontalis

Anterior

Lateralis

Medialis

Shape

Deltoid

Rhomboid

Serratus

Platysma

Relative Size

Maximus

Minimus

Medius

Major

Minor

Longus

Brevis

Location of attachments

Sterno-

Cleido-

Mastoid-

Brachio-

Radialis

Number of origins

Bi

Tri

Action

Levator

Flexor

extensor