CAT MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Origin, Insertion and Action Table

Muscles of the Abdominal Wall

Origin Insertion Action

lumbodorsal fascia and extensive neurosis passing constrictor of the

External Oblique
posterior ribs through the linea alba abdomen

Internal oblique second sheet of the

linea alba (through compressor of the
lumbodorsal fascia; border
extensive aponeurosis) abdomen
Transversus of the pelvic girdle
retracts ribs and
anterior end of the pubic sternum and costal
Rectus abdominis sternum; compressor of
symphysis cartilages
the abdomen

Muscles of the Chest

Origin Insertion Action

flat tendon on the fascia of

Pectoantibrachialis manubrium
the forearm

sternum; median ventral

Pectoralis major humerus
raphe
draws arms towards the
chest
Pectoralis minor sternum humerus

Xiphihumeralis sternum humerus

Muscles of the Neck and Throat

Origin Insertion Action

median raphe and lambdoidal ridge into turn head; draw head to
Sternomastoid
manubrium mastoid process neck
Sternohyoid sternum basihyoid draws hyoid posteriorly
thyroid cartilage of the
Sternothyroid sternum pulls larynx posteriorly
larynx
posterior horn of the
Thyrohyoid thyroid cartilage raises the larynx
hyoid
pulls clavicle craniad or
* mastoid process of
Cleidomastoid * clavicle turns head; draw head
temporal
to neck
clavicle; fibers of
Clavobrachialis 1 ulna flexor of the arm
clavotrapezius

* Interchangeable
1
Clavobrachialis + Clavotrapezius = Cephalobrachial

Masseter zygomatic arch
superior nuchal line to
Temporal zygromatic process; part
of the zygomatic arch
jugular and mastoid
Digastric
process of skull
Mylohyoid mandible
Geniohyoid mandible near symphysis
Muscles of the Back and Shoulder
Origin
neural spine of last
thoracic and most
Latissimus dorsi
lumbars; lumbodorsal
fascia
Levator scapulae transverse process of atlas
ventralis and occipital bone
superior nuchal line;
Clavotrapezius median dorsal line of the
neck
neural spines of cervical
Acromiotrapezius
and first thoracic
spines of the thoracic
Spinotrapezius
vertebrae
neural spines of vertebrae
Rhomboideus
and adjacent ligaments
Rhomboideus capitis superior nuchal line
Splenius middorsal line and fascia
whole surface of
Supraspinatus
supraspinous fossa
whole surface of
Infraspinatus
infraspinous fossa
Subscapularis subscapular fossa
posterior half of lateral
surface of mandible
coronoid process of
mandible
mandible
median raphe
body of the hyoid
Insertion
tendon on medial surface
of humerus
metacromion process and
neighboring fascia
clavicle
metacromion process and
spine of scapula; fascia of
clavotrapezius
fascia of scapula
vertebral column of
scapula
scapula
superior nuchal line
greater tuberosity of
humerus
greater tuberosity of
humerus
lesser tuberosity of
humerus
elevator of lower jaw
elevator of lower jaw
depressor of mandible
raises floor of the
mouth; brings hyoid
forward
draws hyoid forward
Action
pulls forelimb dorsally
and caudally
draws the scapula
craniad
draws clavicle dorsad
and craniad
draws scapula dorsad
and holds two scapula
together
draws scapula dorsad
and caudad
draws scapula dorsad
draws scapula craniad;
rotates scapula
raises or turns the head
extends the humerus
rotates the humerus
pulls the humerus
medially
 Clavodeltoid (also clavicle and fibers of the
Clavobrachial) clavotrapezius
Acromiodeltoid acromion of scapula
Spinodeltoid spine of scapula
axillary border of scapula;
Teres major fascia of neighboring
muscles
Teres minor axillary border of scapula
slips from first 9 or 10 ribs;
Serratus ventralis transverse process of last
5 cervical vertebrae
aponeurosis from medial
Serratus dorsalis
dorsal line
Scalenes ribs
External intercostals posterior margin of the rib
Internal intercostals anterior margin of the rib
Multifidus spinae lumbar pleurapophyses
Sacrospinalis various parts of more
a) Semispinalis posterior sacral, lumbar,
b) Longissimus thoracic and cervical
c) Iliocostalis vertebrae
Muscles of the Upper Arm
Origin
Triceps brachii
distal end of the humerus
(anconeus)
Epitrochlearis/ Extensor
latissimus dorsi
antibrachii
Biceps brachii glenoid fossa
Brachialis lateral surface of humerus
Muscles of the Forearm
Origin
lateral epicondyle of
Extensor carpi ulnaris humerus; semilunar notch
of ulna
ulna
surface of other deltoids
deltoid ridge of humerus
tendon on medial surface
of humerus
greater tuberosity
scapula near vertebral
border
last ribs
transverse process of
cervical vertebra
anterior margin of
adjacent posterior rib
posterior margin of
adjacent posterior rib
neural spine of the
vertebra
neural processes of more
anterior vertebrae
Insertion
lateral surface of ulna
olecranon
radius
ulna
Insertion
proximal end of fifth (5th)
metacarpal
raises and rotates the
humerus
rotates the humerus
and lowers the humerus
assists the infraspinatus
draws the scapula
craniad; ventrad and
against thoracic wall
draws the ribs forward
draws rib forward, bend
the neck
bring ribs forward
draw ribs back
extends vertebral
column
extends and flexes
vertebral column
Action
strengthens elbow
joint; rotates ulna
rotate the ulna
flexor of the forearm
Action
extends 5th digit and
ulnar side of wrist
 External digitorum
lateralis lateral surface of humerus
tendons internal to wrist
above the lateral extends 3 or 4 digits
External digitorum ligaments
epicondyle
communis
Supinator longus/ lower end of radius and rotates hand to supine
middle of humerus
Brachioradialis adjacent ligaments position
second and third
Extensor carpi radialis humerus extends hand
metacarpals
rotates radius to prone
Pronator teres radius
position
medial epicondyle of second and third flexes second and third
Flexor carpi radialis
humerus metacarpals metacarpals
tendons passing through
Palmaris longus flexor of digits
wrist ligaments
Flexor profundus
ulna and humerus basal phalanges general flexor of fingers
digitorum
medial epicondyle of
Flexor carpi ulnaris pisiform bone of wrist flexes ulnar side of wrist
humerus; olecranon

Muscles of the Thigh

Origin Insertion Action
adjacent fascia; crest of
ilium, lateral surface of
greater trochanter of
Gluteus medius ilium, transverse process abduct thigh
femur
of last sacral and first
caudal vertebra
fascia and transverse
Gluteus maximus processes of last sacral fascia abduct thigh
and first caudal vertebra
transverse processes of 2nd abduct thigh; extends
Caudofemoralis patella
and 3rd caudal vertebra shank
proximal end of the tibia & adductor and rotator of
crest and ventral border of
Sartorius patella and fascia & the thigh;extensor of
ilium
ligaments between shank
ilium and neighboring
Tensor fascia latae fascia lata tightens the fascia latae
fascia
patella and tibia; fascia of abduct thigh; flexes
Biceps femoris tuberosity of ischium
shank shank
Quadriceps femoris
greater trochanter and
a) Vastus lateralis
surface of femur
b) Rectus femoris ilium near acetabulum patella and adjacent
extensor of the shank
ligaments
c) Vastus medialis femur
d) Vastus intermedius surface of femur
 ischial and pubic aponeurosis which passes
Gracilis adducts leg
symphysis to tibia
Adductor longus and
pubis femur adduct thigh
Adductor femoris
medial epicondyle of
Semimembranosus ischium femur, proximal end of extends thigh
tibia
transverse process of
Semitendinosus fascia of shank extends thigh
second caudal vertebrae

Muscles of the Shank

Origin Insertion Action
proximal parts of tibia and st
Tibialis anterior first (1 ) metatarsal flexor of foot
fibula
Extensor digitorum lateral epicondyle of tendon inserted on each
extensor of digits
longus femur digit
extensor and flexor of
Peroneus fibula metatarsals and digits
foot
surface fascia; femur,
Gastrocnemius tendon, and fascia of extensor of foot
plantaris
calcaneus
Soleus fibula extensor of foot
Plantaris patella and femur flexor of digits
tibia, fibula, adjacent
Flexor digitorum longus phalanges flexor of digits
fascia
scaphoid and medial
Tibialis posterior tibia, fibula, fascia extensor of foot
cuneiform of ankle

References:
Hyman, LH. 1965. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. Chicago, USA: The University of Chicago Press.

Sia, AJ. n.d. Cat Muscular System. Manila, Philippines: Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences,
University of the Philippines Manila