Nomenclature
Most muscles have names that are descriptive. Some muscle are named according to their location, such as the pectoralis muscles in the chest. Other muscles are named according to their origin and insertion, such as the brachioradialis muscle, which extends from the are to the radius. Some muscles are named according to the number of heads, such as the biceps brachii, which has two heads; and some according to their function, such as the flexor digitorum, which flexes the digits. Other muscles are named according to their size, such as vastus, which means large; their shape, such as deltoid, which means triangular; or the orientation of their fasciculi, such as rectus, which means straight. Recognizing the descriptive nature of muscle names makes learning those nemes much easier. The most superficial muscles are shown in figure 7.13. Examining surface anatomy can be a great advantage to the anatomy student in gaining a muscles of the upper and lower limbs that can be seen on the surface of the body. Some muscles are especially well developed in bodybuilders.