The Concise Book of Muscles, Fourth Edition

Chris Jarmey

• Publisher: Lotus Publishing
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781623173395
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Anatomy

This revised fourth edition is a comprehensive guide to the major muscle groups. Easy to use and fully illustrated with more than 500 drawings, it provides a complete profile for each muscle, clearly showing its origin, insertion, nerve supply, action, the movements that use it, and, where appropriate, exercises that stretch and strengthen it. The book's distinctive quick-reference format shows students exactly how to locate and identify specific muscles, highlighting those that are heavily used and therefore subject to injury in a variety of sports and activities. Each muscle chapter now includes an overview of the gross anatomy of the body area to show bony landmarks, cross-sections of muscle layers, and points of attachment as well as a quick reference table and an overview of the nerve pathways that are most relevant. The book also includes a new chapter on the pelvic floor muscles, which are of particular interest to those studying or practicing yoga and Pilates.While designed for the student and beginning practitioner of anatomy, massage, bodywork, physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, physiotherapy, yoga, and Pilates, The Concise Book of Muscles is equally useful for athletes and anyone interested in the workings of the human body.

1

Anatomical Terms

Positions

To describe the relative positions of body parts and their movements, it is essential to have a universally accepted initial reference position. This is known as the anatomical position, which is simply the upright standing position, with feet flat on the floor, arms hanging by the sides and the palms facing forward (see Figure 1.1). The directional terminology used always refers to the body as if it were in the anatomical position, regardless of its actual position. Note also that the terms left and right refer to the sides of the object or person being viewed, and not those of the reader.

Figure 1.1. Anterior. In front of; toward or at the front of the body.

Figure 1.2. Posterior. Behind; toward or at the back of the body.

Figure 1.3. Superior. Above; toward the head or the upper part of the structure or the body.

Figure 1.4. Inferior. Below; away from the head or toward the lower part of the structure or the body.

Figure 1.5. Medial. (from Latin medius = “middle”). Toward the midline of the body; on the inner side of a limb.

Figure 1.6. Lateral. (from Latin latus = “side”). Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of the body or a limb.

Figure 1.7. Proximal. (from Latin proximus = “nearest”). Closer to the center of the body (the navel), or to the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Figure 1.8. Distal. (from Latin distans = “distant”). Farther away from the center of the body, or from the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Figure 1.9. Superficial. Toward or at the body surface.

Figure 1.10. Deep. Farther away from the body surface; more internal.

Figure 1.11. Dorsal. (from Latin dorsum = “back”). On the posterior surface, e.g. the back of the hand.

Figure 1.12. Palmar. (from Latin palma = “palm”). On the anterior surface of the hand, i.e. the palm.

Figure 1.13. Plantar. (from Latin planta = “sole”). On the sole of the foot.

Regions

The two primary divisions of the body are its axial parts, consisting of the head, neck, and t...