Innervation Name Action

spinal accessory
elevates, depresses, retracts, and
nerve (CN XI)
Trapezius rotates scapula

thoracodorsal nerve
adducts, extends (backwards
elevation), and internally rotates
Latissimus dorsi humerus
long thoracic nerve
Serratus anterior protracts (protrudes) scapula

elevates, downward rotation of

Levator scapulae scapula
Dorsal scapular
nerve Rhomboid minor retracts and elevates scapula

Rhomboid major retracts and elevates scapula

SHOULDER
stabilizes shoulder (also abducts
Supraspinatous humerus, but that's a lesser role)
suprascapular nerve
stabilizes shoulder and laterally
Infraspinatous rotates humerus

subscapular nerves - stabilizes shoulder and medially

upper & lower Subscapularis rotates humerus
subscapular nerve - internally (medially) rotates
lower Teres major humerus

stabilizes shoulder and laterally

Teres minor rotates humerus
axillary nerve
abducts, flexes (forward elevation),
Deltoid and extends humerus

lateral and medial

pectoral nerves Pectoralis major adduct and medially rotate humerus
medial pectoral pulls the scapula anteriorly and
nerve Pectoralis minor inferiorly

UPPER ARM

musculocutaneous
Biceps brachii flexes elbow and supinates arm
nerve
musculocutaneous
nerve
Brachialis Flexes elbow

Coracobrachialis Flexes, adducts humerus

FOREARM

Pronator teres pronates, flexes elbow

Flexor carpi radialis flexes, abducts wrist

flexes wrist, tightens palmar

Palmaris longus aponeurosis
median nerve
flexes wrist, matacarpophalangeal
Flexor digitorum joints, proximal interphalangeal
superficialis joints

Flexor pollicis longus flexes thumb

Pronator quadratus pronates elbow

median and ulnar

Flexor digitorum flexes wrist, metacarpophalangeal
nerves
profundus joints, distal interphalangeal joints

ulnar nerve
Flexor carpi ulnaris flexes, adducts wrist

Brachioradialis Flexes elbow

Extensor carpi radialis
longus extends, abducts wrist
Extensor carpi radialis
brevis extends wrist

Extensor digitorum extends fingers and wrists

Extensor digiti minimi extends digit 5

Extensor carpi ulnaris extends and adducts wrist

radial nerve
Anconeus extends elbow

Supinator supinates forearm

radial nerve

Abductor pollicis Abducts and extends (spreads away

longus from palm) thumb

Extensor pollicis extends thumb at

brevis metacarpophalangeal joint

Extensor pollicis extends thumb at interphalangeal

longus joint

Extensor indicis extends second digit (index finger)

HAND

Tenses skin over hypothenar

Palmaris brevis muscles

Adductor pollicis Adducts thumb

Abductor digiti minimi abducts 5th digit

Flexor digiti minimi

brevis flexes proximal phalanx of 5th digit
ulnar nerve
Opponens digiti
minimi opposes digit to thumb

Palmar interossei 1-3 adducts digits

Dorsal interossei 1-4 abducts digits

flexes wrist, metacarpophalangel

Lumbricals 3-4 joints, extend interphalangeal joints

flexes wrist, metacarpophalangel

Lumbricals 1-2 joints, extend interphalangeal joints

Abductor pollicis
median nerve
brevis abducts , opposes thumb
median nerve

Opponens pollicis
brevis opposes thumb to other digits

Flexor pollicis brevis flexes thumb (hold up 4 fingers)

Attachment Attachment Classification
C7-T12 spinous lateral clavicle,
processes, occipital acromion and spine
bone of scapula superficial back muscle

thoracocolumbar
fascia, thoracic
vertebrae, iliac crest,
inferior ribs, inferior intertubercular
angle of scapula groove of humerus superficial back muscle
medial border of
ribs 1-8 scapula

C1-C4 transverse upper medial border

processes of scapula medium depth back muscle
C7-T1 spinous medial margin of
processes scapula medium depth back muscle
T2-T5 spinois medial margin of
processes scapula medium depth back muscle

greater tubercle of
supraspinous fossa humerus rotator cuff muscle
greater tubercle of
infraspinous fossa humerus rotator cuff muscle

lesser tubercle of
subscapular fossa humerus rotator cuff muscle
interior angle of intertubercular shoulder muscle, posterior
scapula sulcus of humerus compartment

lateral border of the greater tubercle of

scapula humerus rotator cuff muscle

clavicle, acromion deltoid tuberosity of shoulder muscle, posterior

and spine of scapula humerus compartment

sternum and clavicle humerus

coracoid process of
ribs 3-5 scapula

Long head:
supraglenoid tubercle
of scapula Short
head: coracoid anterior compartment
process radial tuberosity flexor
Anterior aspect of anterior compartment
humerus tuberosity of ulna flexor
Coracoid process of Medial surface of anterior compartment
scapula humerus flexor

medial epicondyle (of lateral surface of anterior compartment--

humerus) radius attach to or move elbow
medial epicondyle (of anterior compartment--
humerus) 2nd metacarpal attach to and move wrist
Flexor retinaculum
medial epicondyle (of and palmar anterior compartment--
humerus) aponeurosis attach to and move wrist
middle
medial epicondyle (of (intermediate) anterior compartment--
humerus), proximal phalanges of digits attach to and move digits
ulna and radius 2-5 2-5

distal phalanx of anterior compartment--

anterior radius digit 1 attach to and move thumb
anterior compartment--
distal ulna distal radius attach to or move elbow

anterior compartment--
medial surface of distal phalanx of attach to and move digits
ulna digits 2-5 2-5

medial epicondyle, pisiform, hamate, anterior compartment--

proximal ulna 5th metacarpal attach to and move wrist

inferolateral part of styloid process of posterior compartment--

humerus radius attach to or move elbow
lateral epicondyle of posterior compartment--
humerus 2nd metacarpal attach to and move wrist
lateral epicondyle of posterior compartment--
humerus 3rd metacarpal attach to and move wrist
posterior compartment--
lateral epicondyle of extensor expansion attach to and move digits
humerus digits 2-5 2-5

lateral epicondyle of extension expansion posterior compartment--

humerus of digit 5 attach to and move digit 5
lateral epicondyle of posterior compartment--
humerus 5th metacarpal attach to and move wrist
lateral epicondyle of olecranon process posterior compartment--
humerus of ulna attach to or move elbow

lateral epicondyle of distal to radial posterior compartment--

ulna tuberosty, lat. ulna attach to or move elbow
 posterior compartment--
radius, ulna 1st metacarpal attach to and move thumb

1st proximal posterior compartment--

radius phalanx attach to and move thumb

distal phalanx of posterior compartment--

ulna digit 1 attach to and move thumb
posterior compartment --
middle & distal attach to and move 2nd
ulna phalanxes of digit 2 digit

anterior compartment--
palmar apaneurosis, dermis on ulnar side attach to and move 5th
flexor retinaculum of hand digit

Metacarpals 2-3, proximal phalanx of anterior compartment--

capitate 1st digit (thumb) attach to and move thumb
anterior compartment--
proximal phalanx of attach to and move 5th
pisiform 5th digit digit
anterior compartment--
proximal phalanx of attach to and move 5th
hamate 5th digit digit
anterior compartment--
attach to and move 5th
hamate 5th metacarpal digit
anterior compartment--
proximal phalanges attach to and move digits
metacarpals 2,4,5 2,4,5 2-5
posterior compartment--
adjacent sides of 2 proximal phalanges attach to and move digits
metacarpals 2-4 2-5

lateral sides of
medial 2 tendons of extensor expansion
flexor digitorum for digits (post. anterior compartment--
profundus Proximal phalanx attach to and move digits

lateral sides of
lateral two tendons extensor expansion
of flexor digitorum for digits (post. anterior compartment--
profundus proximal phalanx attach to and move digits

proximal phalanx of anterior compartment--

scaphoid, trapezium 1st digit (thumb) attach to and move thumb
 anterior compartment--
scaphoid, trapezium 1st metacarpal attach to and move thumb

proximal phalanx of anterior compartment--

scaphoid, trapezium 1st digit (thumb) attach to and move thumb
Other
20% of people are missing it, no
noticible pathology

median: 1&2 ulna: 4&5

mostly used to flexelbow when

forearm mid-supine or supine
palmar aponeurosis: deep fascia
of the palm

mnemonic: people come

together under the palm tree
(palmar interossei adduct)

and leave by the door (dorsal

interossei abduct)

lumbricals are weird and attach

to tendons instead of bone
abduct for thumb: pushes
thumb perpendicular to the
plane of the palm
oppose for thumb: movement
that lets you touch each
fingertip with your thumb

1/2L-OAF mnemonic for median

nerve in hand
Name Action Innervation Attachment
adduct and medially lateral annd medial sternum and
Pectoralis major rotate humerus pectoral nerves clavicle

pulls the scapula medial pectoral

Pectoralis minor anteriorly and inferiorly nerve ribs 3-5
abducts, flexes clavicle, acromion
(forward elevation), and spine of
Deltoid and extends humerus axillary nerve scapula
protracts (protrudes)
Serratus anterior scapula long thoracic nerve ribs 1-8
thoracocolumbar
fascia, thoracic
adducts, extends vertebrae, iliac
(backwards elevation), crest, inferior ribs,
and internally rotates inferior angle of
Latissimus dorsi humerus thoracodorsal nerve scapula
elevates, depresses, C7-T12 spinous
retracts, and rotates spinal accessory processes,
Trapezius scapula nerve (CN XI) occipital bone

elevates, downward Dorsal scapular C1-C4 transverse

Levator scapulae rotation of scapula nerve processes
retracts and elevates Dorsal scapular C7-T1 spinous
Rhomboid minor scapula nerve processes
retracts and elevates Dorsal scapular T2-T5 spinois
Rhomboid major scapula nerve processes

stabilizes shoulder (also

abducts humerus, but supraspinous
Supraspinatous that's a lesser role) suprascapular nerve fossa
stabilizes shoulder and
laterally rotates
Infraspinatous humerus suprascapular nerve infraspinous fossa
stabilizes shoulder and
medially rotates lower and upper
Subscapularis humerus subscapular nerves subscapular fossa
stabilizes shoulder and
laterally rotates lateral border of
Teres minor humerus axillary nerve the scapula

internally (medially) lower subscapular interior angle of

Teres major rotates humerus nerve scapula
 Long head:
infraglenoid
tubercle of
scapula Lateral
extends elbow, extends and Medial heads:
and adducts arm at posterior survace
Triceps brachii shoulder radial nerve of humerus
Long head:
supraglenoid
tubercle of
scapula Short
flexes elbow and musculocutaneous head: coracoid
Biceps brachii supinates arm nerve process
musculocutaneous Anterior aspect of
Brachialis Flexes elbow nerve humerus

Flexes, adducts musculocutaneous Coracoid process

Coracobrachialis humerus nerve of scapula

abducts (pushes thumb

perpendicular to the
plane of the palm),
opposes (movement
that lets you touch
each fingertip with your recurrent median scaphoid,
Abductor pollicis brevis thumb) thumb nerve trapezium

opposes thumb to other recurrent median scaphoid,

Opponens pollicis brevis digits nerve trapezium

flexes thumb (hold up 4 recurrent median scaphoid,

Flexor pollicis brevis fingers) nerve trapezium

Flexor pollicis longus flexes thumb median nerve anterior radius

Metacarpals 2-3,
Adductor pollicis Adducts thumb ulnar nerve capitate

Abducts and extends

(spreads away from
Abductor pollicis longus palm) thumb radial nerve radius, ulna
 extends thumb at
Extensor pollicis brevis carpometacarpal joint radial nerve radius

Extensor pollicis longus extends thumb radial nerve ulna

Abductor digiti minimi abducts 5th digit ulnar nerve pisiform

flexes proximal phalanx

Flexor digiti minimi brevis of 5th digit ulnar nerve hamate

Opponens digiti minimi opposes digit to thumb ulnar nerve hamate

Tenses skin over palmar

hypothenar muscles apaneurosis (deep
(hypothenar muscles fascia of the
are the 3 above: palm), flexor
abductor digiti minimi, retinaculum
flexor digiti minimi, (transverse carpal
Palmaris brevis opponens digiti minimi) ulnar nerve ligament)

lateral epicondyle
Extensor digiti minimi extends digit 5 radial nerve of humerus

flexes erist, medial epicondyle

matacarpophalangeal (of humerus),
joints, proximal proximal ulna and
Flexor digitorum superficiali interphalangeal joints median nerve radius
flexes wrist,
metacarpophalangel
joints, distal median and ulnar medial surface of
Flexor digitorum profundus interphalangeal joints nerves ulna

flexes wrist, lateral two

metacarpophalangel tendons of flexor
joints, extend digitorum
Lumbricals 1-2 interphalangeal joints median nerve profundus
 flexes wrist,
metacarpophalangel medial 2 tendons
joints, extend of flexor digitorum
Lumbricals 3-4 interphalangeal joints ulnar nerve profundus

Palmar interossei 1-3 adducts digits ulnar nerve metacarpals 2,4,5

extends fingers and lateral epicondyle

Extensor digitorum wrists radial nerve of humerus

adjacent sides of
Dorsal interossei 1-4 abducts digits ulnar nerve 2 metacarpals

medial
epicondyle,
Flexor carpi ulnaris flexes, adducts wrist ulnar nerve proximal ulna

medial epicondyle
Flexor carpi radialis flexes, abducts wrist median nerve (of humerus)

flexes wrist, tightens medial epicondyle

Palmaris longus palmar aponeurosis median nerve (of humerus)

lateral epicondyle
Extensor carpi radialis longuextends, abducts wrist radial nerve of humerus

lateral epicondyle
Extensor carpi radialis breviextends wrist radial nerve of humerus

extends and adducts lateral epicondyle

Extensor carpi ulnaris wrist radial nerve of humerus
 medial epicondyle
Pronator teres pronates, flexes elbow median nerve (of humerus)

Pronator quadratus pronates elbow median nerve distal ulna

lateral epicondyle
Anconeus extends elbow radial nerve of humerus

lateral
supracondylar
Brachioradialis Flexes elbow radial nerve ridge of humerus

lateral epicondyle
Supinator supinates forearm radial nerve of ulna
Attachment Classification Other

humerus

coracoid process
of scapula
shoulder muscle,
deltoid tuberosity posterior
of humerus compartment
medial border of
scapula

superficial back
humerus muscle
lateral clavicle,
acromion and superficial back
spine of scapula muscle

upper medial medium depth back

border of scapula muscle
medial margin of medium depth back
scapula muscle
medial margin of medium depth back
scapula muscle

greater tubercle of
humerus rotator cuff muscle

greater tubercle of
humerus rotator cuff muscle

lesser tubercle of
humerus rotator cuff muscle

greater tubercle of
humerus rotator cuff muscle
shoulder muscle,
intertubercular posterior
sulcus of humerus compartment
olecranon process posterior
of ulna compartment of arm

anterior compartment
radial tuberosity flexor
anterior compartment
tuberosity of ulna flexor

Medial surface of anterior compartment

humerus flexor

proximal phalanx anterior

of 1st digit compartment--attach
(thumb) to and move thumb

anterior
compartment--attach
1st metacarpal to and move thumb

proximal phalanx anterior

of 1st digit compartment--attach
(thumb) to and move thumb

anterior
distal phalanx of compartment--attach
digit 1 to and move thumb

proximal phalanx anterior

of 1st digit compartment--attach
(thumb) to and move thumb

posterior
compartment--attach
1st metacarpal to and move thumb
 posterior
1st proximal compartment--attach
phalanx to and move thumb

posterior
distal phalanx of compartment--attach
digit 1 to and move thumb

anterior
proximal phalanx compartment--attach
of 5th digit to and move 5th digit

anterior
proximal phalanx compartment--attach
of 5th digit to and move 5th digit

anterior
compartment--attach
5th metacarpal to and move 5th digit

anterior
dermis on ulnar compartment--attach
side of hand to and move 5th digit

extension posterior
expansion of digit compartment--attach
5 to and move digit 5

middle anterior
(intermediate) compartment--attach
phalanges of to and move digits 2-
digits 2-5 5
anterior
compartment--attach
distal phalanx of to and move digits 2-
digits 2-5 5
lateral sides of
extensor
expansion for
digits 2-5
(lumbricals are anterior
weird and attach compartment--attach
to tendons instead to and move digits 2-
of bone) 5
lateral sides of
extensor
expansion for
digits 2-5
(lumbricals are anterior
weird and attach compartment--attach
to tendons instead to and move digits 2-
of bone) 5
anterior
compartment--attach
proximal to and move digits 2-
phalanges 2,4,5 5
posterior
extensor compartment--attach
expansion digits to and move digits 2-
2-5 5
mnemonic from lab:
people come together
under the palm tree
posterior (palmar interossei
compartment--attach adduct) and leave by the
proximal to and move digits 2- door (dorsal interossei
phalanges 2-4 5 abduct)

anterior
pisiform, hamate, compartment--attach
5th metacarpal to and move wrist

anterior
compartment--attach
2nd metacarpal to and move wrist

Flexor retinaculum anterior 20% of people are

and palmar compartment--attach missing it, no noticible
aponeurosis to and move wrist pathology

posterior
compartment--attach
2nd metacarpal to and move wrist

posterior
compartment--attach
3rd metacarpal to and move wrist

posterior
compartment--attach
5th metacarpal to and move wrist
 anterior
lateral surface of compartment--attach
radius to or move elbow

anterior
compartment--attach
distal radius to or move elbow

posterior
olecranon process compartment--attach
of ulna to or move elbow

posterior
styloid process of compartment--attach
radius to or move elbow

posterior
distal to radial compartment--attach
tuberosity to or move elbow