Match the Muscle Trivia Quiz

Answer: Upper leg

The biceps femoris muscle, also known as the thigh or leg flexor, is a two-headed muscle located at the back of the thigh. It belongs to the group of ischiocrural muscles and works closely with the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles.

The long head affects both the hip and knee joints, extending and externally rotating the hip and bending the knee. In contrast, the short head only affects the knee joint, assisting in knee flexion. Both heads can also rotate the lower leg outwards when the knee is bent.

Answer: Buttocks

The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the buttocks and one of the strongest in the body. It originates from the pelvis and attaches to the thigh by a thick tendon along the outer thigh.

Its primary functions are to extend and externally rotate the hip joint, which is important for standing up, running and climbing stairs. The gluteus maximus also helps to stabilise the pelvis and can either abduct or adduct the leg, depending on which part of the muscle is active.

The gluteus maximus plays a key role in maintaining upright posture and generating power in the lower body.

Answer: Shoulder

The deltoid muscle (Musculus deltoideus) is a triangular muscle that shapes the shoulder and stabilizes the shoulder joint. It enables most movements of the arm above the head or to the side, such as lifting the arm to the side, forward and backward.

In everyday life, the deltoid muscle is important for lifting, carrying, throwing and supporting objects. It provides strength and stability to the shoulder area, making it essential for movements that go beyond normal arm positions, such as reaching up, stretching or pushing.

The deltoid is frequently targeted in strength training and physical therapy to support better posture, prevent injuries and boost overall athletic performance.

Answer: Mouth

The glossa (the tongue) is a muscular organ covered by a mucous membrane that is located in the mouth. It is also the organ responsible for the sense of taste, distinguishing between sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami flavours.

Anatomically, the tongue is divided into a tip, a body and a root, and contains internal muscles that change its shape, as well as external muscles that connect it to the surrounding structures. Its mobility enables speech, the movement of food between the teeth, and the movement of food down the throat when swallowing.

The tongue is also involved in oral hygiene by supporting the self-cleaning of the teeth and oral cavity. Diseases can affect the taste, mobility or external appearance of the tongue.

Answer: Lower leg

The gastrocnemius muscle is the calf's main superficial muscle and gives it its shape. Together with the deeper soleus muscle, it forms the triceps surae, a powerful muscle that moves the ankle joint.

The gastrocnemius's main function is to flex the foot downward (plantar flexion), meaning it plays a central role in activities such as walking, running, jumping and cycling. It also supports knee flexion and foot supination. In conjunction with the soleus muscle, it provides strength, stability and propulsion during movement.

Answer: Upper arm

The triceps brachii muscle, commonly known as the triceps, is located at the back of the upper arm and is the sole extensor of the elbow. It pulls the forearm backwards until the olecranon stops the movement.

The triceps consists of three heads: the long head, the medial head and the lateral head. The long head originates at the shoulder blade and stabilises the shoulder joint, while the other two heads originate from the upper arm bone.

The triceps' main function is to extend the elbow joint. The long head can also move the arm backwards in the shoulder joint (retroversion) and bring it closer to the body (adduction). The triceps act as antagonists to the biceps and is essential for all movements involving the active extension of the elbow.

Answer: Chest

The pectoralis minor is a small muscle located beneath the larger pectoralis major muscle in the chest. It originates from the middle ribs and extends to the front of the shoulder blade.

This muscle helps move the shoulder forward and downwards, as well as rotating the shoulder blade slightly inwards. It also assists with breathing.

Important blood vessels and axillary lymph nodes run beneath the muscle, making it a key point of reference during surgery or in the event of injury. During activities that place heavy strain on the chest and shoulders, such as pull-ups or push-ups, the pectoralis minor works together with the larger pectoral muscle to stabilise and move the arms.

Answer: Back

The latissimus dorsi muscle is the largest muscle in the back. It runs from the lower back and pelvis to the upper arm and covers a large part of the spine. This muscle enables the arm to be pulled backwards and rotated slightly. It also assists with bending the upper body sideways and stretching it backwards. It also assists with breathing, particularly during forceful exhalation.

The latissimus dorsi works closely with other muscles in the shoulder and back areas, for example during movements such as pull-ups or rowing. The name "latissimus dorsi" means "broadest muscle of the back".

Answer: Face

The masseter muscle is a powerful masticatory muscle that runs from the cheekbone to the lower jaw. It is responsible for closing the jaw and for the movements involved in chewing. Consisting of a superficial and a deeper part, its fibres run partly diagonally, enabling lateral jaw movement.

The masseter is controlled by a nerve in the jaw area and has a good blood supply. Its strength is particularly pronounced in humans and in other omnivorous species, which is why it also plays a role in cooking: beef and pork cheeks come from this muscle and are considered a delicacy after prolonged braising.

Answer: Hand

The thenar muscles are a group of three small muscles located in the fleshy mound at the base of the thumb on the palm side of the hand. These muscles are the abductor pollicis brevis, the flexor pollicis brevis and the opponens pollicis.

Together, they control the movements of the thumb, including abduction (moving the thumb away from the hand), flexion (bending the thumb) and opposition (bringing the thumb across to touch the fingertips). Opposition is especially important, as it enables grasping and manipulating objects - a key feature that makes the human hand so versatile.