1. Muscle Names

2. Guidelines for naming muscles
Direction of muscle fibers
1. Rectus – along/parallel to a line
a. Ex. rectus femoris – along femur
2. Oblique – run at a slant to a line
a. Ex. abdominal obliques

3. Relative Size
1. Maximus – largest
2. Medius - middle
3. Minimus – smallest
Gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus

4. Location of the muscle
1. Associated bone names
a. Ex. temporalis

5. Number of Origins
1. Ex. Biceps brachii, triceps brachii

6. Location of origins and insertions
1. Ex. Sternocleidomastoid – attaches at sternum, clavicle, and mastoid process of temporal bone

7. Shape of the muscle
1. Ex. Deltoid – delta (triangle shape)

8. Action of the muscle
1. Flexor, extensor, adductor