Ex 14: Muscles of the Anterior Trunk

Deltoid

Flex and medially rotate arm; abduct arm; extend and laterally rotate arm.

Pectoralis major

Whole muscle adducts and medially rotates arm, clavicular head only flexes arm, and sternocostal head only extends arm.

Subscapularis

Medially rotates arm.

Serratus anterior

Abducts scapula and rotates it upward. This occurs when throwing a punch and is often called the boxers muscle.

Pectoralis minor

Abducts scapula and rotates it downward; elevates 3rd through 5th ribs during forced inspiration.

Rectus abdominis

Flexes vertebral column and compresses abdomen.

External oblique

Bilateral contraction flexes vertebral column and compresses abdomen. Unilateral contraction laterally flexes and rotates vertebral column to the opposite side.

Internal oblique

Bilateral contraction flexes vertebral column and compresses abdomen. Unilateral contraction laterally flexes and rotates vertebral column to the same side.

Transversus Abdominal

Compresses abdomen and stabilizes trunk.