Overview of peripheral muscle innervation

For an overview of muscles per nerve, see below

Brachial plexus

 

Abductor digiti minimi muscle = ulnar nerve, C8, T1

function: abduction of little finger

Abductor pollicis brevis muscle = median nerve, C8, T1

function: abduction of the thumb

Abductor pollicis longus muscle posterior interosseous nerve, C7, C8

function: abduction of the thumb

Adductor pollicis muscle = ulnar nerve, C8, T1

function: adduction of thumb

Biceps muscle musculocutaneous nerve, C5, C6

function: flexion of supinated forearm

Brachioradialis muscle = radial nerve, C5, C6

function: flexion of forearm between pronation and supination

Deltoid muscle  = axillary nerve, C5, C6

function: abduction of upper arm

Extensor carpi radialis longus muscle radial nerve, C5, C6

function: extension and abduction of hand

Extensor carpi ulnaris muscle = posterior interosseous nerve, C7, C8

function: extension and adduction of the hand

Extensor digitorum muscle = posterior interosseous nerve, C7, C8

function: extension of metacarpolphalangeal joints

Extensor pollicis brevis muscle posterior interosseous nerve, C7, C8

function: extension of the thumb at the metacarpophalangeal joint

Extensor pollicis longus muscle posterior interosseous nerve, C7, C8

function: extension of the thumb at interphalangeal joint

First dorsal interosseous muscle = ulnar nerve, C8, T1

function: abduction of index finger

First lumbrical-interosseous muscle = median nerve, C8, T1

function: extension of index finger at proximal interphalangeal joint

Flexor carpi radialis muscle = median nerve, C6, C7

function: flexion and abduction of the hand

Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle = ulnar nerve, C7, C8, T1

function: flexion and abduction of wrist

Flexor digiti minimi muscle  = ulnar nerve, C8, T1

function: flexion of little finger at metacarpophalangeal joint

Flexor digitorum profundus I & II muscles anterior interosseous nerve, C7, C8

function: flexion of distal phalanx of the index finger

Flexor digitorum profundus III & IV muscles = ulnar nerve, C7, C8

function: flexion of distal interphalangeal joint

Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle = median nerve, C7, C8, T1

function: flexing of vingers at proximal interphalangeal joint

Flexor pollicis longus muscle = anterior interosseous nerve, C7, C8

function: flexion of distal phalanx of the thumb

Infraspinatus muscle suprascapular nerve, C5, C6

function: external and lateral rotation of humerus

Latissimus dorsi muscles = thoracodorsal nerves, C6, C7, C8

function: horizontal abduction, flexion from an extended position, and internal rotation of the shoulder joint

Opponens pollicis muscle = median nerve, C8, T1

function: opposition of thumb

Pectoralis major - clavicular head lateral pectoral nerve, C5, C

function: flexion, horizontal adduction, and inward rotation of the humerus

Pectoralis major - sternocostal head = lateral and medial pectoral nerves, C6, C7, C8

function: adduction of humerus

Pronator teres muscle = median nerve, C6, C7

function: pronation of forearm

Rhomboid muscles dorsal scapular nerve, C4, C5                    

function: retraction of scapula

Second palmar interosseous muscle  = ulnar nerve, C8, T1

function: adduction of index finger

Serratus anterior muscle = long thoracic nerve, C5, C6, C7      

function: pulling scapula forward around thorax

Supinator muscle = radial nerve, C6, C7

function: supination of forearm with extended elbow

Supraspinatus muscle = suprascapular nerve, C5, C6

function: abduction of the arm

Teres major muscle subscapular nerve, C5, C6, C7

function: medial rotator and adductor of the humerus

Trapezius muscle spinal accessory nerve, C3, C4                    

function: elevating shoulders against resistance

Triceps muscle = radial nerve, C6, C7, C8

function: extension of forearm

 

 

Lumbosacral plexus

 

Adductor muscles = obturator nerve, L2, L3, L4

function: adduction of hip

Extensor digitorum brevis muscle = deep peroneal nerve, L5, S1

function: dorsiflexion of proximal phalanges of the toes

Extensor digitorum longus muscle = deep peroneal nerve, L5, S1

function: dorsiflexion of toes

Extensor hallucis longus muscle= deep peroneal nerve, L5, S1

function: dorsiflexion of distal phalanx of big toe

Flexor digitorum longus muscle = tibial nerve, L5, S1, S2

function: flexion of toes

Flexor hallucis longus muscle = tibial nerve, L5, S1, S2

function: flexion of big toe

Gastrocnemius muscle = tibial nerve, S1, S2

function: plantar flexion of foot

Gluteus maximum muscle = inferior gluteal nerve, L5, S1, S2

function: extension of the hip

Gluteus medius and minimus muscle and tensor faciae latae  = superior gluteal nerve, L4, L5, S1

function: abduction of the hip

Hamstring muscles = sciatic nerve, L5, S1, S2

function: extenion of hip when the trunk is fixed; flexion of the knee and medial rotation of lower leg when the knee is bent

Iliopsoas muscle = femoral nerve, branches from L1, L2, L3

function: flexion of thigh at the hip

Peroneus longus and brevis muscles = superficial peroneal nerve, L5, S1

function: eversion of foot

Quadriceps femoris muscle = femoral nerve, L2, L3, L4

function: extension of lower leg

Small muscles of the foot = medial and lateral plantar nerves, S1, S2

function: cupping of the sole of the foot

Soleus muscle = tibial nerve, S1, S2

function: plantar flexion of foot

Tibials anterior muscle = deep peroneal nerve, L4, L5

function: dorsiflexion of foot

Tibialis posterior muscle = tibial nerve, L4, L5

function: inversion of foot

 

 

Overview of muscles per nerve

 

Spinal accessory nerve

- Trapezius muscle

 

Brachial plexus

- Rhomboid muscles

- Serratus anterior muscle

- Pectoralis major muscle

- Supraspinatus muscle

- Infraspinatus muscle

- Latissimus dorsi muscle

- Teres major muscle

 

Axillary nerve

- deltoid muscle

 

Musculocutaneous nerve

- biceps muscle

- brachialis muscle

 

Radial nerve

- triceps muscle

- brachioradialis muscle

- extensor carpi radialis muscle

 

Posterior interosseous nerve

- supinator muscle

- extensor carpi ulnaris muscle

- extensor digitorum muscle

- abductor pollicis longus muscle

- extensor pollicis longus muscle

- extensor pollicis brevis muscle

- extensor indicis

 

Median nerve

- pronator teres muscle

- flexor carpi radialis muscle

- flexor digitorum superficialis muscle

- abductor pollicis brevis muscle

- flexor pollicis brevis muscle (often partially or wholly by ulnar nerve)

- opponens pollicis muscle

- lumbrical muscles I & II

 

Anterior interosseous nerve

- pronator quadratus muscle

- flexor digitorum profundus muscles I & II

- flexor pollicis longus muscle

 

Ulnar nerve

- flexor carpi ulnaris muscle

- flexor digitorum profundus muscles III & IV

- hypothenar muscles

- adductor pollicis muscle

- flexor pollicis brevis muscle

- palmar interossei muscles

- dorsal interossei muscles

- lumbrical muscles III & IV

 

Femoral nerve

- iliopsoas muscle

- quadriceps femoris muscle (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, rectus femoris)

 

Obturator nerve

- adductor longus muscle

- adductor magnus muscle

 

Superior gluteal nerve

- gluteus medus and minimus muscles

- tensor fasciae latae muscles

 

Inferior gluteal nerve

- gluteus maximus muscle

 

Sciatic and tibial nerves

- semitendinosus muscle

- biceps muscle

- semimembranosus muscle

- gastrocnemius and soleus muscle

- tibialis posterior muscle

- flexor digitorum longus muscle

- abductor hallucis muscle

- abductor digiti minimi muscle

- interossei muscles

 

Sciatic and common peroneal nerve

- tibialis anterior muscle

- extensor digitorum longus muscle

- extensor hallucis longus muscle

- extensor digitorum brevis muscle

- peroneus longus muscle

- peroneus brevis muscle