Very Basic Overview of Muscles

By Published on October 3, 2025
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    1. QUESTION

     

    Very Basic Overview of Muscles

     

     

    Quadriceps (front of thigh) 

    Function: Hip flexion and knee extension
    Exercises:  Lunges, squats, leg press machine, vertical jumping, stair climbing, jump roping, resisted knee extensions (often referred to as “leg extensions” but are actually “knee extensions”)

     

    Hamstrings (back of thigh) 

    Function: Hip extension and knee flexion
    Exercises:  Lunges, squats, leg press machine, vertical jumping, stair climbing, jump roping, leg (knee) curls

     

    Tensor Fasciae Latae (top of outside hip)

    Function: thigh flexion and slight internal rotation

    Exercises: hip abduction exercises (I called this the “fat pocket machine” at the gym, where your knees are together and push outwards against resistance)

     

    Gracilis (top of inside thigh)

    Function: hip adduction and slight knee flexion

    Exercises: side lunges, lateral shuffles, hip adduction exercises

     

    Gluteus Maximus (Your bottom)

    Function: Hip extension and external rotation
    Exercises: Squats, lunges, cycling, jumping rope, stair climbing

     

    Gluteus Minimus

    Function: helps to abduct and medially rotate the thigh at the hip. Helps steady the pelvis when the opposite leg is raised from the ground.

    Exercises: squats, lunges


    Gastrocnemius (Calf)
    Function: Plantar flexion at ankle (pointing the toes)
    Exercises: Hill running, jump rope, calf raises (with free weights), stair climbing

     

    Soleus (also part of the calf)

    Function: Plantar flexion at ankle (pointing the toes)
    Exercises: Hill running, jump rope, calf raises (with free weights), stair climbing

     

    ** The only difference between the soleus and gastrocnemius muscle when it comes to movement is that the soleus is more active when the knee is bent. In contrast, the gastrocnemius muscle is under most tension when the knee is straight.

     

    Tibialis Anterior (Shin)

    Function: Dorsiflexion at ankle (bringing the toes up toward your knee)
    Exercises: isometric exercises against something such as the bottom of your dresser where you try to pull your toe up, band or partner exercises with dorsiflexion resistance


    Rectus Abdominus (the Abs)
    Function: Forward spinal flexion (mainly responsible for torso stabilization and good posture)
    Exercises: Crunches, planks, etc.

    External & Internal Obliques (front sides of the torso)
    Function: torso rotation

    Exercises: Twisting crunches (leading with the shoulder towards the opposite knee), side planks

     

    Pectoralis Major (Pecs, front of shoulders, upper chest) specifically: Clavicle (collar bone), Sternum (breast bone)
    Function: Flexion, adduction, internal rotation
    Exercises: Push-ups, pull-ups, incline & regular bench press, climbing rope

    Deltoid (shoulder)
    Function: Abduction (entire muscle), Flexion, internal rotation (anterior fibers), Extension, external rotation (posterior fibers)
    Exercises: Lateral 'butterfly' exercises with free weights, over-head or 'military' press with free weights ..........note: the muscle that is isometrically contracted when you stand in a doorway and press the back of your hands against the door frame (you probably did this as a child)

    Latissimus Dorsi (Lats, back)
    Function: Extension, adduction, internal rotation
    Exercises: Chin-ups, rope climbing, rowing, any exercise that involves pulling the  arms downward against a resistive force as in 'lat' pulls on the machine (machine with the tall bar that most females have difficulty reaching)

    Trapezius (Traps, back) note: also seen from the front in heavily muscled individuals

    Function: Elevation of scapula (upper), Adduction of scapula (middle), Depression of scapula (lower) note: scapula= shoulder blade
    Exercises: Upright rows, shoulder shrugs with resistance


    Biceps Brachii (upper arm, above the elbow)
    Function: Elbow flexion
    Exercises: "Curling" with free weights, pull ups

    Triceps Brachii (opposite the biceps)

    Function: Extension at the elbow

    Exercises: Dips on parallel bars, box, desk, etc., kickbacks, and push-ups

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Other Terms:

     

     

    agonists

    These muscles cause the movement to occur. They create the normal range of movement in a joint by contracting. Agonists are also referred to as prime movers since they are the muscles that are primarily responsible for generating the movement.

    antagonists

    These muscles act in opposition to the movement generated by the agonists and are responsible for returning a limb to its initial position.

    synergists

    These muscles perform, or assist in performing, the same set of joint motion as the agonists. Synergists are sometimes referred to as neutralizers because they help cancel out, or neutralize, extra motion from the agonists to make sure that the force generated works within the desired plane of motion.

    fixators

    These muscles provide the necessary support to assist in holding the rest of the body in place while the movement occurs. Fixators are also sometimes called stabilizers.

     

    Flexion: A movement by which the angle of a joint is decreased

    Extension: A movement by which the angle of a joint is increased

    Adduction: Movement toward the central axis

    Abduction: Movement away from the central axis

    Medial rotation: Rotation toward the medial side of the body

    Lateral rotation: Rotation towards the lateral side of the body

    Pronation: This movement occurs in the forearm whereby the palm is turned backwards

    Supination: This movement also occurs in the forearm whereby the palm is turned forwards

    Supine: Laying down face up

    Prone: Laying down face down

    Proximal: near the trunk

    Distal: away from the trunk

    Anterior: towards the front.

    Posterior: toward the back

    Superior: toward the head

    Inferior: toward the feet

    Medial: toward the median plane (near the middle of the body)

    Lateral: away from the median plane (away from the middle of the body)

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Subject Nursing Pages 6 Style APA
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Answer

Vertical –

2-gastrocnemius

3-isometric

4-deltoid

5-hamstring

8-triceps

10-abduction

13-extension

15-obliques

8-rectus femoris

Horizontal

 

1-Adduction

2-goniometer

6-hypoxemia

7-flexion

10-antagonist

11-sartorius

12-agonist

14-eccentric

17-tibialis anterior

16-biceps brachii

 

 

 

 

References

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix

Appendix A:

Communication Plan for an Inpatient Unit to Evaluate the Impact of Transformational Leadership Style Compared to Other Leader Styles such as Bureaucratic and Laissez-Faire Leadership in Nurse Engagement, Retention, and Team Member Satisfaction Over the Course of One Year

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