Lab 8: Appendicular Muscular System

Figure 8.1 Appendicular muscles of the human body

Exercise 8 Learning Goals 

After completing this lab, you should be able to: 

Define the terms prime mover/agonist, antagonist, synergists, and fixators in reference to muscle groups contributing to movement

• Describe the origins, insertions, and actions of select muscles that:
  • Stabilize the pectoral girdle
  • Move the humerus
  • Move the forearm
  • Move the wrist, hand, and fingers
  • Move the thigh
  • Move the lower leg
  • Move the feet

Pre-Lab Activities for Exercise 8

Pre-Lab Activity 8.1: Muscle Name & O.I.A.

Before lab begins, please make sure you research and write down the origins, insertions and actions for the muscles listed in the table below. Use the required textbook as a guide.

Figure 8.2 Relationship between prime mover and synergist at the elbow joint

Muscles shorten when they work in groups to create the dynamic movements of the skeleton, especially movements at the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee joints. Muscles are classified into four main functional groups depending on their movement: prime mover/agonist, antagonist, synergist (Figure 8.2) and fixator.

Pre-Lab Activity 8.2 Prime movers, antagonists, synergists, and fixators

Name the prime mover, antagonist, synergist, and fixators of movements listed in the table below.

Exercise 8 Activities: The Appendicular Muscular System

Anatomy in Clay® Instructions

To demonstrate your understanding of origins, insertions, and fascicle arrangement of the muscles, you will use an oil-based clay to form select muscles on the Maniken®. Please follow the instructions below. If you are unsure of what to do, ask your instructor.

• Keep your space clean and organized.
• Keep track of your tools and supplies.
• Feel free to stand or sit when working on your model.
• Move your model around so it is easy to build on but be careful!
• Use dry paper towels to remove clay from hands and tools (DO NOT USE SOAP OR WATER).
• Use red/ tera cotta clay to build muscles.
• Always keep the clay on the green mats.

Clean up at the end of lab period

1. Take all clay off the model!

2. Roll into balls NO BIGGER than image shown and organize into plastic bags.

3. Use dry paper towels to wipe off as much clay as possible from the model and tools used.

4. Return your model to its original place.

Muscles of the Upper Limb

Muscles of the shoulder and upper limb can be divided into four groups: muscles that stabilize and position the pectoral girdle, muscles that move the arm, muscles that move the forearm, and muscles that move the wrists, hands, and fingers.

Activity 8.1: Muscles that position the Pectoral Girdle

For each of the following groups of muscles, use the anatomical models in the lab and the figures in this chapter to exam the individual muscle’s origins, insertions, and fascicle arrangement. Fill out the table after completing your examination of the anatomical models and figures.

The pectoral girdle, or shoulder girdle, consists of the lateral ends of the clavicle and scapula, along with the proximal end of the humerus, and the muscles covering these three bones to stabilize the shoulder joint. The girdle creates a base from which the head of the humerus, in its ball-and-socket joint with the glenoid fossa of the scapula, can move the arm in multiple directions.

Figure 8.3. Muscles that position the pectoral girdle

Complete the table for muscles that position the pectoral girdle

Muscles that Position the Pectoral Girdle

On your model, place the muscles pectoralis minor and rhomboid major and include fascicle orientation.

Activity 8.2: Muscles of the shoulder

Figure 8.4 Muscles of the shoulder

Muscles of the Shoulder

On your model, place the muscles pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi and deltoid and include fascicle orientation.

Activity 8.3: Muscles of the Forearm/Elbow

Figure 8.5 Muscles of the forearm and elbow

Muscles of the Forearm/Elbow

On your model, place the brachialis, biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles and include the fascicle orientation.

Activity 8.4: Muscles that move the Wrist, Hand, and Fingers

Figure 8.6 Muscles that move the wrist, hand, and fingers

Muscles that move the Wrist, Hand, and Fingers

On your model, place the extensor digitorum and abductor pollicis longus muscles and include the fascicle orientation.

Muscles of the Lower Limb

The appendicular muscles of the lower body help stabilize the pelvic girdle, which serves as a foundation for the lower limbs. Comparatively, there is much more movement at the pectoral girdle than at the pelvic girdle. There is little movement of the pelvic girdle because of its connection with the sacrum at the base of the axial skeleton. The pelvic girdle has less range of motion because it was designed to stabilize and support the body.

Figure 8.7 Muscles of the hip/thigh

Activity 8.5: Muscles of the Hip/Thigh

Muscles that move the Thigh

On your model, place the gluteus maximus and sartorius muscles and include the fascicle orientation.

Activity 8.6: Anterior Thigh – Quadriceps Femoris; Posterior Thigh- Hamstrings

Muscles that Move the Lower Leg

On your model, place the rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles and include the fascicle orientation.

Activity 8.7: Muscles of the lower Leg/Ankle

Figure 8.8 Muscles of the lower leg and ankle

Muscles that Move the Feet

On your model, place the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles and include the fascicle orientation.

Post-Lab 8 Review

Post Lab Activity 8.1: Identification of Axial and Appendicular Muscles

On the diagrams below identify the muscles using the appropriate letter. 

Post Lab Activity 8.2: Appendicular Muscle OIA

Match the axial muscle to its origin, insertion, or action