Anterior Muscles

It isn't possible to label the locations of all the skeletal muscles of the human body on one diagram because:

  1. They are in and visible from views of different areas of the body e.g. anterior, posterior, medial, lateral etc., and
  2. There are layers of muscles: 'Deep' muscles are closest to bones. 'Superficial' muscles are just beneath the skin.

Anterior Muscles in the Body

Above: Diagram of the Anterior Muscles of the Human Body

In this diagram superficial muscles are labelled in black and the locations of deep muscles are labelled in green and indicated with orange lines and/or highlighted areas.

The muscles and associated muscle tissues labelled in the above anterior muscles diagram are listed in bold in the following sections re. Trunk / Torso, Arm / Hand, Leg / Foot and Head / Neck / Face.

Trunk / Torso

  • Sternocleidomastoid
  • Trapezius
  • Serratus Anterior
  • Latissimus Dorsi
  • Pectoralis Major
  • Pectoralis Minor (deep muscle)
  • Rectus Abdominus
  • External Oblique
  • Internal Oblique
  • Abdominus Transversalis

Arm / Hand

  • Deltoid
  • Biceps
  • Triceps
  • Brachialis
  • Coraco Brachialis (deep muscle)
  • Brachioradialis
  • Pronator Teres
  • Flexor Carpi Radialis
  • Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus
  • Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
  • Flexor Carpi Digitorum
  • Flexor Digitorum Superficialis

Leg / Foot

Upper Leg:

  • Iliacus
  • Psoas (Psoas Major & Psoas Minor)
  • Rectus Femoris
  • Vastus Lateralis
  • Vastus Medialis
  • Vastus Intermedialis (deep muscle)
  • Adductor Longus
  • Adductor Magnus
  • Adductor Brevis
  • Gracilis
  • Sartorius

Lower Leg / Foot:

  • Gastrocnemius
  • Soleus
  • Peroneus Longus
  • Tibialis Anterior
  • Extensor Digitorum Longus
  • Extensor Hallucis Longus
  • Flexor Digitorum Longus (deep muscle)

Head / Neck / Face

  • Frontalis
  • Temporalis
  • Sternocleidomastoid

See the page muscle names and locations for more about all of the muscles in this table including links to other pages where they are labelled on muscle diagrams.

See also posterior muscles and facial muscles.

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