Nomenclature of Muscles

The muscles have been named in a number of ways

1. According to their shape, e.g. trapezius, rhomboideus, scrratus anterior, latissimus dorsi, etc.
2. According to the number of heads of origin, e.g. biceps, triceps, quadriceps, digastric, etc.
3. According to their gross structure, e.g. scmilcndinosus, semi-‘membranosus, etc.
4. According to their location, e.g. temporalis, supra-spinatus, intercostales.
5. According to their attachments, e.g. stylohyoid, cricothyroid, etc.
6. According to their action, e.g. adductor longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, abductor pollicis longus, etc.
7. According to direction of their fibers, e.g. rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, orbicularis oculi.
8. A muscle with two bellies with an intervening tendon is called digastric muscle. Muscle with number of intervening tendons or intersections is the rectus abdominis.
9. The muscles that extend over two or more joints are called diarthric or polyarthric muscles, e.g. flexor carpi radialis and flexor digitorum profundus.