Massage Therapy Licensing Exam (MBLEx) Muscles: Attachments and Actions Summary

The hamstrings run down the back of the thigh and cross both the hip and the knee. They bend (flex) the knee and pull the thigh back (extend the hip).

Wrong choices

• The gluteus medius: The gluteus medius mainly abducts the hip.
• The quadriceps: The quadriceps extend the knee.
• The hip adductors: The adductors pull the thigh toward the midline.

The rotator cuff is made of four muscles: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis (SITS). They hold the head of the arm bone in the shoulder socket.

Wrong choices

• Pectoralis major: The pectoralis major is a chest muscle.
• Teres major: Teres major is near the rotator cuff but is not part of it.
• Deltoid: The deltoid covers the shoulder but is not a rotator cuff muscle.

The biceps brachii is on the front of the upper arm. It bends (flexes) the elbow and also turns the palm up.

Wrong choices

• Adduction (moving toward the midline): The elbow is a hinge joint. It does not adduct.
• Extension (straightening the elbow): The triceps brachii straightens the elbow.
• Pronation (turning the palm down): The biceps does the opposite. It turns the palm up (supination).

The triceps brachii is on the back of the upper arm. It is the main muscle that straightens (extends) the elbow.

Wrong choices

• Brachioradialis: The brachioradialis helps bend the elbow.
• Biceps brachii: The biceps brachii bends the elbow.
• Brachialis: The brachialis also bends the elbow.

The origin is usually the attachment that stays still when a muscle contracts. The insertion is the end that moves toward the origin.

Wrong choices

• The belly: The belly is the thick middle part of the muscle, not an attachment.
• The fascia: Fascia is the connective tissue wrapped around the muscle.
• The insertion: The insertion is the more movable attachment.

The gastrocnemius and soleus join into the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon. This tendon attaches to the back of the heel bone (calcaneus). Together they point the foot down (plantarflexion).

Wrong choices

• On the top of the tibia: The top of the tibia is near the knee, not the lower end of the calf.
• On the base of the big toe: The calf muscles do not reach the toes.
• On the talus through the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon: The talus is the ankle bone above the heel. The tendon attaches to the heel bone.

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle under the lungs. When it contracts it flattens, which pulls air into the lungs.

Wrong choices

• Transverse abdominis: The transverse abdominis squeezes the belly and helps forced breathing out.
• Gluteus maximus: The gluteus maximus is a hip muscle.
• Rectus abdominis: The rectus abdominis flexes the trunk and can help push air out.

The gluteus medius lies on the side of the hip. It moves the thigh out to the side and keeps the pelvis level when you stand on one leg.

Wrong choices

• Iliopsoas: The iliopsoas mainly flexes the hip.
• Biceps femoris: The biceps femoris is a hamstring. It flexes the knee and extends the hip.
• Adductor longus: The adductor longus pulls the thigh toward the midline.

The pectoralis minor runs from ribs 3 to 5 up to the coracoid process of the shoulder blade. It pulls the shoulder blade forward and down.

Wrong choices

• Pectoralis major: The pectoralis major inserts on the upper humerus (arm bone).
• Infraspinatus: The infraspinatus inserts on the greater tubercle of the humerus.
• Upper trapezius: The upper trapezius inserts on the clavicle (collarbone) and the acromion.

The sternocleidomastoid runs from the breastbone and collarbone up to the bone behind the ear. When one side contracts, it tilts the head toward that side and turns the face to the opposite side.

Wrong choices

• To the right (the same side): One sternocleidomastoid turns the face to the opposite side, not the same side.
• Straight up toward the ceiling: Looking up is extension of the neck, done by both sides working together with neck extensors.
• Straight down toward the chest: Bringing the chin down needs both sides working together.