Table of upper limb movements and muscles

s.no Joint Movement Muscles responsible for the movement

1. Shoulder joint Forward flexion Deltoid - anterior fibers

Pectoralis major
Coracobrachialis
Biceps
Extension Deltoid - posterior fibers
Teres minor
Teres major
Latissimus dorsi
Pectoralis major
Triceps
Horizontal adduction Pectoralis major
Deltoid – anterior fibers

Horizontal abduction Deltoid – posterior fibers

Teres major
Teres minor
Infraspinatus
Abduction Deltoid
Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Subscapularis
Teres minor
Long head of biceps
Adduction Pectoralis major
Latissimus dorsi
Teres major
Subscapularis
Medial rotation Pectoralis major
Deltoid- anterior fibers
Latissimus dorsi
Teres major
Subscapularis
Lateral rotation Infraspinatus
Deltoid
Teres minor
Elevation of scapula Trapezius – upper fibers
Levator scapulae
Rhomboid major
 Table of upper limb movements and muscles
Rhomboid minor

Depression of scapula Serratus anterior

Pectoralis major
Pectoralis minor
Latissimus dorsi
Trapezius - lower fibers
Protraction Serratus anterior
Pectoralis major
Pectoralis minor
Latissimus dorsi
Retraction Trapezius
Rhomboid major
Rhomboid minor
Lateral rotation of inferior Trapezius
angle of scapula Serratus anterior

Medial rotation of inferior Levator scapulae

angle of scapula Rhomboid major
Rhomboid minor
Pectoralis minor
2. Elbow joint Flexion Brachialis
Biceps brachii
Brachioradialis
Pronator teres
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Extension Triceps
Anconeus

Supination Supinator
Biceps brachii

Pronation Pronator quadratus

Pronator teres
Flexor carpi radialis
3. Wrist joint Flexion Flexor carpi radialis
Flexor carpi ulnaris

Extension Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extensor carpi radialis brevis
Extensor carpi ulnaris
 Table of upper limb movements and muscles
Ulnar deviation Flexor carpi ulnaris
Extensor carpi ulnaris

Radial deviation Flexor carpi radialis

Extensor carpi radialis longus
Abductor pollicis longus
Extensor pollicis brevis
4. Fingers Extention Extensor digitorum communis
Extensor indicis ( second finger)
Extensor digiti minimi (little finger)
Flexion Flexor digitorum profundus
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Lumbricals
Interossei
Flexor digiti minimi
Abduction (with fingers Dorsal interossei
extended) Abductor digiti minimi

Adduction (with fingers Palmar interossei

extended)

5. Thumb Extension Extensor pollicis longus

Extensor pollicis brevis
Abductor pollicis longus
Flexion Flexor pollicis brevis
Flexor pollicis longus
Opponens pollicis
Abduction Abducdor pollicis longus
Abductor pollicis brevis

Adduction Adductor pollicis

Opposition of thumb and little Opponens pollicis

finger Flexor pollicis brevis
Abductor pollicis brevis
Opponens digiti minimi

All the very best ….

From R.Vijayapradeep MPT.,