In anatomy, flexor is a muscle that contracts to perform flexion (from the Latin verb flectere, to bend), a movement that decreases the angle between the bones converging at a joint. For example, one's elbow joint flexes when one brings their hand closer to the shoulder, thus decreasing the angle between the upper arm and the forearm.
Flexors Upper limb
of the humerus bone (the bone in the upper arm) at the shoulder Pectoralis major Anterior deltoid Coracobrachialis Biceps brachii of the forearm at the elbow Brachialis Brachioradialis Biceps brachii of carpus (the carpal bones) at the wrist flexor carpi radialis flexor carpi ulnaris palmaris longus of the hand flexor pollicis longus muscle flexor pollicis brevis muscle flexor digitorum profundus muscle flexor digitorum superficialis muscle
Lower limb Hip
The hip flexors are (in descending order of importance to the action of flexing the hip joint):Platzer (2004), p 246
Collectively known as the iliopsoas or inner hip muscles: Psoas major Iliacus muscle Anterior compartment of thigh Rectus femoris (part of the quadriceps muscle group) Sartorius One of the gluteal muscles: Tensor fasciae latae Medial compartment of thigh Pectineus Adductor longus Adductor brevis Gracilis
Without the iliopsoas muscles, flexion in sitting position is not possible across the horizontal plane.
Thigh of thigh at knee (L5-S2)Knee Articulations Biceps femoris Semitendinosus Semimembranosus Gracilis Sartorius Gastrocnemius Popliteus Plantaris (negligible)
of toes Posterior compartment of leg Flexor hallucis longus Flexor digitorum longus Flexor digitorum brevis Quadratus plantae Flexor hallucis brevis Flexor digiti minimi brevis of proximal phalanges at metatarsophalangeal jointFoot Articulations Lumbrical muscle (foot) Plantar interossei Dorsal interossei
Other torso/lumbar vertebrae Rectus abdominis muscle neck at atlanto-occipital joint Longus capitis muscle Longus colli muscle
See also
List of extensors of the human body
References