| MUSCLE | ACTION | ANTAGONIST | |
| trapezius | retracts and elevates scapula | serratus anterior | |
| | | | |
| latissimus dorsi | pulls forelimb dorsally and caudally | deltoid, trapezius | |
| rhomboids | retracts scapula and rotates it to depress glenoid cavity, fixes scapula to thoracic wall | serratus anterior | |
| rhomboid major | | | |
| rhomboid minor | | | |
| levator scapulae | elevates scapula, tilts glenoid cavity inferiorly by rotating scapula | | |
| Muscle | | ANTAGONIST | |
| pectoralis major | adducts and medially rotates humerus, draws scapula anteriorly and inferiorly clavicular head: flexes humerus sternocostal head: extends humerus | | |
| pectoralis minor | stabilizes scapula by drawing it inferiorly and anteriorly against thoracic wall | | |
| subclavius | depresses clavicle | | |
| serratus anterior | protracts and stabilises scapula, assists in upward rotation | rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, trapezius | |
| Muscle | Action | Antagonist | |
| deltoid | abducts, flexes, and extends shoulder | latissimus dorsi | |
| teres major | internally rotates humerus | | |
| Rotator cuff | | | |
| supraspinatus | abducts and stabilises humerus | infraspinatus, teres minor, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi | |
| infraspinatus | laterally rotates, adducts, and stabilises humerus | subscapularis, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi | |
| teres minor | laterally rotates and adducts humerus | subscapularis, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi | |
| subscapularis | medially rotates humerus, stabilizes shoulder | infraspinatus, teres minor | |
| Muscle | Action | Antagonist | |
| coracobrachialis | flexes and adducts shoulder | | |
| biceps brachii | flexes elbow, supinates forearm | triceps brachii | |
| | | | |
| brachialis | flexes elbow | | |
| | | | |
| triceps brachii | extends forearm | biceps brachii, brachialis | |
| | long head: adducts shoulder medial head: does not function at shoulder | | |
| | | | |
| anconeus | partly blended with triceps, extendsforearm, stabilises elbow, abducts ulna during pronation | | |
| | | | |
| pronator teres | pronates forearm, flexes elbow | supinator | |
| | | | |
| flexor carpi radialis | flexes and abducts wrist | extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi radialis longus | |
| palmaris longus | flexes wrist | extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi ulnaris | |
| flexor carpi ulnaris | flexes and adducts wrist | extensor carpi ulnaris | |
| flexor digitorum superficialis | flexes fingers (primarily at proximal interphalangeal joints) | extensor digitorum | |
| | | | |
| pronator quadratus | weakly pronates forearm | supinator | |
| flexor digitorum profundus | flexes wrist, flexes interphalangeal joints | extensor digitorum | |
| | | | |
| flexor pollicis longus | flexes thumb | extensor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis | |
| Muscle | | Antagonist | |
| extensor digitorum | extends hand, extends fingers | flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus | |
| extensor digiti minimi | extensor digiti minimi | anterior surface of lateral epicondyle of humerus (common extensor tendon) | |
| extensor carpi ulnaris | flexor carpi ulnaris | extensor carpi ulnaris | |
| Mobile wad | Mobile wad | Mobile wad | |
| brachioradialis | flexes forearm, pronates forearm when supine, supinates forearm when prone | | |
| extensor carpi radialis longus | extensor carpi radialis longus | 2nd metacarpal | |
| extensor carpi radialis brevis | anterior surface of lateral epicondyle of humerus (common extensor tendon) | base of 3rd metacarpal | |
| Muscle | Action | Antagonist | |
| supinator | supinates forearm | pronator teres, pronator quadratus | |
| extensor indicis | | extensor indicis | |
| Anatomical snuff box | Anatomical snuff box | Anatomical snuff box | |
| abductor pollicis longus | abducts and extends thumb | adductor pollicis | |
| extensor pollicis brevis | extensor pollicis brevis | radius, interosseous membrane of forearm | |
| extensor pollicis longus | ulna, interosseous membrane of forearm | distal phalanx of thumb | |
| Muscle | Action | Antagonist | |
| opponens pollicis | opposes thumb | | |
| flexor pollicis brevis | flexes thumb | extensor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis | |
| abductor pollicis brevis | abducts thumb | adductor pollicis | |
| adductor pollicis | adducts thumb at carpometacarpal joint | abductor pollicis longus, abductor pollicis brevis | |
| | | | |
| Muscle | Action | Antagonist | |
| palmaris brevis | wrinkle skin of palm | | |
| hypothenar | | | |
| abductor digiti minimi | abducts little finger | | |
| flexor digiti minimi brevis | flexes little finger | extensor digiti minimi | |
| opponens digiti minimi | draws 5th metacarpal anteriorly and rotates it, bringing little finger (5th digit) into opposition with thumb | | |
| Muscle | Action | Antagonist | |
| lumbrical | flex metacarpophalangeal joints, extend interphalangeal joints | | |
| dorsal interossei | abduct fingers | palmar interossei | |
| palmar interossei | adduct fingers | dorsal interossei | |
Discussion