Tap or click each muscle it names on a front and back body chart.
Muscle Labeling Quiz
Name Date
Tap the temporalis
1 of 7
More options
Write the name of each numbered muscle.Answer key
Frontalis (frontal belly of occipitofrontalis)
Temporalis
Orbicularis oculi
Zygomaticus major (smiling muscle)
Orbicularis oris
Masseter (chewing muscle)
Sternocleidomastoid
Pectoralis major (chest muscle)
Serratus anterior
Rectus abdominis (abs)
External oblique
Trapezius (traps)
Latissimus dorsi (lats)
Deltoid (shoulder muscle)
Biceps brachii (biceps)
Brachialis
Brachioradialis
Forearm flexors (wrist and finger flexors)
Infraspinatus
Triceps brachii (triceps)
Forearm extensors (wrist and finger extensors)
Tensor fasciae latae (TFL)
Sartorius (tailor's muscle)
Adductor longus
Gracilis
Rectus femoris
Vastus lateralis
Vastus medialis
Gluteus medius
Gluteus maximus (glutes)
Biceps femoris
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Tibialis anterior (shin muscle)
Fibularis longus (peroneus longus)
Gastrocnemius (calf muscle)
Soleus
Drawn for this site, 2026-09-20. Licence: own work.
Each numbered ring is a button. Use the arrow keys to move between them and Enter to choose. Names are read out in Study, and once a muscle is answered.
Frontalis (frontal belly of occipitofrontalis)The front belly of the occipitofrontalis. It raises the eyebrows, as when you look surprised. A flat tendon over the top of the skull joins it to the belly at the back of the head.
TemporalisIt fans down from the temporal bone to the mandible. It helps the masseter close the jaw and pulls the lower jaw back.
Orbicularis oculiA circular muscle around the eye socket. It closes the eye.
Zygomaticus major (smiling muscle)The prime mover for smiling. It runs from the zygomatic bone (the cheekbone) to the corner of the mouth and pulls that corner up and out.
Orbicularis orisA circular muscle around the mouth. It moves the lips and shapes them during speech.
Masseter (chewing muscle)The main muscle used for chewing. It runs from the zygomatic arch down to the mandible and lifts the lower jaw to close the mouth.
SternocleidomastoidOne side alone turns the head to the opposite side. Both together bend the head forward. Named for its attachments: sternum (sterno), clavicle (cleido) and the mastoid process behind the ear.
Chest, abdomen and back 6
Pectoralis major (chest muscle)A thick, fan-shaped muscle over the upper chest. It runs from the clavicle, the sternum and the rib cartilages to the humerus, and it pulls the arm across the front of the body.
Serratus anteriorIt pulls the scapula forward around the rib cage. It starts as separate slips on the upper eight or nine ribs and runs back to the inner border of the scapula.
Rectus abdominis (abs)It bends the trunk forward, as in a sit-up. Rectus means straight. The pair runs from the pubis up to the sternum and ribs. Three bands of connective tissue cross each muscle, which gives the six-pack look.
External obliqueThe outermost of three flat layers in the abdomen's side wall. Its fibers slant down and inward, the way your fingers point when you slide a hand into a front pocket. It twists the trunk and bends it to the side.
Trapezius (traps)It shrugs the shoulders and pulls the shoulder blades together. It also tilts the head back. It runs from the skull and the vertebral column out to the clavicle and the spine of the scapula.
Latissimus dorsi (lats)The name is Latin for broadest of the back. It runs from the lower vertebrae, the last ribs and the iliac crest up to the humerus. It pulls the arm down and back, and with the arms fixed overhead it pulls the trunk upward.
Shoulder and arm 8
Deltoid (shoulder muscle)A thick muscle that gives the shoulder its rounded outline. It runs from the clavicle and the scapula down to the humerus, and it is the main muscle that lifts the arm out to the side.
Biceps brachii (biceps)Bi means two: it has two origins, both on the scapula. It crosses the shoulder and the elbow, bends the elbow and turns the palm up.
BrachialisIt adds power to bending the elbow. It lies deep to the biceps brachii, on the front of the lower humerus.
BrachioradialisIt helps bend the elbow, quickly or under a load. It starts on the outer ridge of the humerus just above the elbow and runs down the thumb side of the forearm.
Forearm flexors (wrist and finger flexors)A group, not one muscle. Flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum superficialis all start at the medial epicondyle of the humerus and bend the wrist and fingers.
InfraspinatusOne of the four rotator cuff muscles. It fills the hollow of the scapula below the scapular spine and turns the arm outward.
Triceps brachii (triceps)The muscle that straightens the elbow, as in a push or punch. Tri means three: one origin is on the scapula and two are on the back of the humerus.
Forearm extensors (wrist and finger extensors)A group, not one muscle. Extensor digitorum, extensor carpi ulnaris and their neighbors start at or just above the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and straighten the wrist and fingers.
Hip and thigh 12
Tensor fasciae latae (TFL)A thick, squarish muscle at the top of the outer thigh. It pulls tight the iliotibial tract, a long band down the outside of the thigh, which steadies the outer side of the knee.
Sartorius (tailor's muscle)The longest muscle in the body. It runs from the front point of the hip crest to the inner side of the tibia. Sartor is Latin for tailor: the muscle helps make the cross-legged sitting position.
Adductor longusOne of the adductors of the inner thigh. It starts on the pubis near the pubic symphysis and pulls the thigh toward the midline. Longus means long.
GracilisA strap-like muscle on the inner edge of the thigh. It pulls the thigh toward the midline and helps bend the knee.
Rectus femorisThe middle muscle of the quadriceps femoris group. The only one of the four that starts on the hip bone. It straightens the knee and helps lift the thigh. All four share the tendon that holds the patella.
Vastus lateralisThe quadriceps muscle on the outer side of the thigh. Lateralis means to the outside, away from the midline. It starts on the femur and straightens the knee.
Vastus medialisThe quadriceps muscle on the inner side of the thigh. Medialis means toward the midline. It starts on the femur and straightens the knee. The fourth quadriceps muscle, vastus intermedius, is hidden under the rectus femoris.
Gluteus mediusThe middle-sized gluteal muscle. Most of it lies under the gluteus maximus. It lifts the thigh out to the side.
Gluteus maximus (glutes)The largest of the three gluteal muscles. Also the largest muscle in the body. It is the main muscle that straightens the hip, as when you stand back up after bending over.
Biceps femorisThe outer of the three hamstrings. They start on the ischial tuberosity (the sit bone), bend the knee and pull the thigh back. Their tendons form the edges of the hollow behind the knee.
SemitendinosusAn inner hamstring, named for its very long tendon. It lies between the other two hamstrings and on top of the semimembranosus. It bends the knee and pulls the thigh back.
SemimembranosusThe innermost of the three hamstrings. Named for its flat tendon of origin. It is wider and flatter than the semitendinosus and lies under it. It bends the knee and pulls the thigh back.
Lower leg 4
Tibialis anterior (shin muscle)A long, thick muscle beside the tibia. It lifts the front of the foot toward the shin and turns the sole inward.
Fibularis longus (peroneus longus)It points the foot down and turns the sole outward. It runs down the outer side of the leg from the top of the fibula. Many books still call it peroneus longus.
Gastrocnemius (calf muscle)The most visible muscle of the calf. It starts on the femur just above the knee, and with the soleus it joins the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon, which attaches to the heel bone. It points the foot down and helps bend the knee.
SoleusA wide, flat muscle under the gastrocnemius. It points the foot down and helps keep you upright when you walk. It shares the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon.
How this list was compiled: Muscle names, positions, attachments and actions were checked, for facts only and with nothing copied, against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, read 2026-09-19: https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/11-2-naming-skeletal-muscles (word meanings: rectus, longus, maximus, medius, lateralis, medialis, bi, tri, sternocleidomastoid), https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/11-3-axial-muscles-of-the-head-neck-and-back, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/11-4-axial-muscles-of-the-abdominal-wall-and-thorax, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/11-5-muscles-of-the-pectoral-girdle-and-upper-limbs and https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/11-6-appendicular-muscles-of-the-pelvic-girdle-and-lower-limbs. Single muscles, each read 2026-09-19: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sartorius_muscle (longest muscle; sartor, tailor), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluteus_maximus (largest muscle; main extensor of the hip), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latissimus_dorsi_muscle (meaning of the name; actions), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitendinosus_muscle and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semimembranosus_muscle (names and positions of the inner hamstrings). Labels, hints, detail lines and position notes were written for this site. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site, 2026-09-20. Original line drawing built from written proportions; nothing was traced or copied from an existing illustration. Read for accuracy on 2026-09-20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sartorius_muscle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latissimus_dorsi_muscle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapezius, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamstring, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygomaticus_major_muscle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrocnemius_muscle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serratus_anterior_muscle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensor_fasciae_latae_muscle and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastus_medialis. Licence: own work
How it works
This muscle labeling quiz uses a chart of the surface muscles. It shows a front view, a back view and a larger side view of the head and neck, with 37 numbered muscles. Tap or click the muscle the question names, or switch to Name it and name the one that lights up. At the end, the main button replays your misses. The chart prints blank or labeled.
Read the full guide
Find it, Name it and Study
Find it shows a name, such as gastrocnemius (calf muscle), and you tap its numbered ring. A wrong tap tells you which muscle you did tap, gives the answer and marks it missed. Name it lights one muscle. Answer with Name it, from four choices, or with Type it. Typing forgives one slipped letter, and short forms such as lats and SCM count. Study writes every name on the chart; tap a muscle for its detail line.
One region at a time
The sets under Start from cut a round down to the head and neck (7 muscles), the chest, abdomen and back (6), the shoulder and arm (8), the hip and thigh (12) or the lower leg (4), and the chart zooms to match. As a skeletal muscle labeling quiz before a lab practical, give the hip and thigh extra rounds: six similar quadriceps and hamstring names share one thigh.
Where missed muscles go
A finished round shows a line like 9 of 12, and the main button becomes Practise the 3 you missed for a round of only those. Share score, in More options, copies a link with your score to beat and no name, which suits a major muscles quiz between lab partners.
Read the name for clues. Rectus means straight, lateralis toward the outside, medialis toward the midline, and maximus and medius are sizes.
Biceps brachii is in the arm and biceps femoris in the thigh. Read the second word before you tap.
Sternocleidomastoid spells out its own route: sternum, clavicle (cleido) and the mastoid process behind the ear.
On the back of the thigh, biceps femoris is the outer hamstring. Semitendinosus lies on top of semimembranosus on the inner side.
Treat it as a muscles quiz anatomy students can finish between classes: one group in Find it, then again in Name it set to Type it.
Questions and answers
Does this cover every muscle in the body?
No. It covers 37 surface muscles that a first course asks for on a whole-body chart: 35 single muscles and two forearm groups too slim to tap muscle by muscle. Deep muscles such as the diaphragm, the iliopsoas and the erector spinae cannot appear on a surface chart. As a skeletal muscles quiz this page is the starting map, and the single-region pages below go further.
Is there a printable muscle labeling worksheet pdf?
Yes. Print blank gives the chart with rings numbered 1 to 37, a name and date line, and an answer line for each number. Print labelled is the muscle labeling worksheet answer key. For a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print dialog. Together they make a muscle labeling worksheet with answers for self-checking.
Which names does the quiz accept?
Labels give the standard anatomical name first and the everyday name in brackets, as in gastrocnemius (calf muscle). Typed answers accept either, plus short forms such as biceps, lats, abs, glutes and TFL, and the older name peroneus longus for fibularis longus. Names were checked against an open anatomy textbook on the date at the bottom of this page.
Is this a skeletal muscle anatomy quiz for college or for school?
Both. The names are the ones a first college anatomy and physiology course uses, and the everyday names in brackets keep it usable in high school. As an anatomy labeling quiz it asks where a muscle is, and the detail line after each answer adds what it does. It does not ask for origins, insertions or nerve supply.
Should I learn the bones or the muscles first?
Bones first, if you can choose. Many muscles are named for the bones they attach to, as in tibialis anterior, sternocleidomastoid and biceps femoris. The bones page uses the same pose and layout as this chart, so the two work as a bones and muscles quiz: run a region on one page, then the matching region on the other.
Where does the muscle chart come from?
It is an original line drawing made for this site, with muscle shapes checked against public-domain anatomical plates. The side view of the head is there because face muscles are too small to tap on a standing figure.