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WorksheetsTrunk Muscles
Total questions: 55
Worksheet time: 28mins
Which regions of the trunk contain muscles that assist with movement, stability, and breathing?
Thoracic (chest) region and abdominal wall
Cervical (neck) region and lumbar spine
Pelvic region and lower limbs
Cranial region and upper limbs
Which of the following is NOT a function of the trunk muscles?
Assisting in breathing
Providing stability and posture
Twisting and bending movements
Producing hormones
Explain how the muscles of the thoracic and abdominal regions contribute to both movement and stability in the human body.
They allow twisting, bending, and flexion while maintaining posture.
They only help with breathing and do not affect movement.
They are responsible for hormone production and digestion.
They only stabilize the body and do not assist in movement.
Which abdominal muscle is commonly referred to as the "six-pack" muscle?
Rectus abdominis
External oblique
Internal oblique
Transversus abdominis
Which abdominal muscle forms the deepest layer of the anterolateral wall?
Rectus abdominis
External oblique
Internal oblique
Transversus abdominis
Which muscle is located just beneath the external oblique in the abdominal wall?
Rectus abdominis
Internal oblique
Transversus abdominis
External oblique
If a person is targeting their superficial side muscles during a workout, which abdominal muscle group are they focusing on?
Rectus abdominis
External oblique
Internal oblique
Transversus abdominis
What is the origin of the Rectus Abdominis muscle?
Xiphoid process of sternum
Costal cartilages of ribs 5–7
Pubic symphysis and pubic crest
Linea alba
Which of the following is the insertion point for the Rectus Abdominis muscle?
Iliac crest
Xiphoid process of sternum and costal cartilages of ribs 5–7
Pubic symphysis
Sacrum
What action is performed by the bilateral contraction of the Rectus Abdominis muscle?
Extends the trunk
Flexes the trunk (bringing rib cage toward pelvis)
Rotates the trunk
Abducts the trunk
Explain how the Rectus Abdominis muscle assists in forced exhalation and defecation.
By flexing the knee
By increasing intra-abdominal pressure
By rotating the trunk
By extending the spine
Which ribs serve as the origin for the external oblique muscle?
Ribs 1 through 4
Ribs 5 through 12
Ribs 9 through 15
Ribs 2 through 8
What is the primary action of the external oblique muscle during bilateral contraction?
Trunk extension
Trunk flexion
Lateral flexion
Shoulder elevation
During unilateral contraction, what movement does the external oblique muscle assist with?
Lateral flexion and contralateral rotation
Trunk extension and ipsilateral rotation
Shoulder abduction and adduction
Hip flexion and extension
How does the external oblique muscle assist with abdominal function?
By decreasing intra-abdominal pressure
By compressing abdominal contents and increasing intra-abdominal pressure
By relaxing the abdominal wall
By expanding the rib cage
Which muscle lies deep to the external oblique and superficial to the transversus abdominis?
Internal oblique
Rectus abdominis
Latissimus dorsi
Pectoralis major
What is the origin of the internal oblique muscle?
Anterior two-thirds of the iliac crest
Inferior borders of ribs 10–12
Posterior surface of the sacrum
Lateral border of the scapula
Which of the following is a function of bilateral contraction of the internal oblique muscle?
Trunk flexion and compression of abdominal contents
Extension of the elbow
Flexion of the knee
Abduction of the arm
Explain how the internal oblique muscle contributes to forced expiration.
By compressing abdominal contents, increasing intra-abdominal pressure
By relaxing the diaphragm
By expanding the rib cage
By flexing the hip joint
Which muscle is described as the deepest of the flat muscle group in the abdomen?
Transversus abdominis
Rectus abdominis
External oblique
Internal oblique
What is the origin of the transversus abdominis muscle?
Internal surfaces of costal cartilages 7–12
External surfaces of costal cartilages 1–6
Iliac crest and pubic symphysis
Lumbar vertebrae
Which of the following is a major function of the transversus abdominis muscle?
Compresses abdominal contents to help maintain intra-abdominal pressure
Flexes the hip joint
Extends the knee
Rotates the shoulder
How does the transversus abdominis assist with respiration?
It assists with forced expiration
It assists with forced inspiration
It inhibits breathing
It only functions during rest
Explain how the transversus abdominis supports stabilization of the spine, especially in the lumbar region.
By compressing abdominal contents and increasing intra-abdominal pressure, it stabilizes the trunk and supports the organs, which helps stabilize the spine, especially in the lumbar region.
By flexing the spine forward, it increases mobility.
By relaxing the abdominal wall, it reduces pressure on the spine.
By rotating the pelvis, it stabilizes the thoracic region.
Which muscle originates from the pubis and inserts into ribs 5–7 and the xiphoid process?
Rectus abdominis
External oblique
Internal oblique
Transversus abdominis
What is the main action of the transversus abdominis muscle?
Compresses abdominal contents, stabilizes trunk
Flexes the trunk (bending forward)
Ipsilateral rotation, lateral flexion, trunk flexion
Lateral flexion, contralateral rotation, trunk flexion
Which muscle is responsible for lateral flexion, contralateral rotation, and trunk flexion?
External oblique
Rectus abdominis
Internal oblique
Transversus abdominis
The internal oblique muscle originates from which anatomical structures?
Iliac crest, inguinal ligament
Pubis
Ribs 5–12
Ilium, ribs, inguinal ligament
Which muscle is the largest and most superficial muscle of the chest wall?
Pectoralis Major
Deltoid
Trapezius
Latissimus Dorsi
What is the shape of the pectoralis major muscle?
Fan-shaped
Circular
Rectangular
Triangular
Which action is NOT performed by the pectoralis major muscle?
Adduction of the arm
Medial (internal) rotation of the arm
Flexion of the arm
Extension of the leg
How does the pectoralis major assist in the movement of the scapula?
Drawing the scapula anteroinferiorly (down and forward) on the thoracic wall
Elevating the scapula
Retracting the scapula
Rotating the scapula upward
Which muscle lies deep (beneath) the pectoralis major, closer to the ribs and scapula?
Pectoralis Minor
Deltoid
Trapezius
Latissimus Dorsi
What is one of the main actions of the pectoralis minor muscle?
Stabilizes the scapula by drawing it anteroinferiorly against the thoracic wall
Flexes the elbow
Extends the wrist
Rotates the femur
When acting in combination with the serratus anterior, what function does the pectoralis minor help with?
Protraction of the scapula
Extension of the spine
Flexion of the hip
Rotation of the humerus
How does the pectoralis minor assist in deep inspiration?
By elevating ribs 3-5 when the scapula is fixed
By contracting the diaphragm
By expanding the abdominal cavity
By relaxing the intercostal muscles
Which of the following best describes the role of the pectoralis minor as an accessory respiratory muscle?
It elevates ribs 3-5 to assist in deep inspiration
It contracts the abdominal muscles to force air out
It flexes the neck to open the airway
It rotates the scapula to increase lung capacity
Which muscle is described as a fan-shaped muscle lying along the lateral thoracic wall, deep to the pectoral muscles and extending toward the scapula?
Serratus Anterior
Biceps Brachii
Trapezius
Deltoid
What is the primary action of the serratus anterior muscle on the scapula?
Protraction
Retraction
Depression
Adduction
Which function of the serratus anterior is important for raising the arm above shoulder level?
Upward rotation of the scapula
Downward rotation of the scapula
Flexion of the elbow
Extension of the wrist
How does the serratus anterior help stabilize the scapula during movement?
Prevents the scapula from winging off the rib cage
Pulls the scapula downward
Rotates the humerus
Flexes the spine
When the scapula is fixed, what additional role can the serratus anterior muscle perform?
Elevate ribs and act as an accessory inspiratory muscle
Flex the hip joint
Extend the knee
Rotate the pelvis
Which muscle is positioned under the clavicle, between the clavicle and the first rib?
Subclavius
Deltoid
Trapezius
Pectoralis major
What is one primary function of the subclavius muscle?
Anchors and stabilizes the clavicle
Flexes the elbow
Extends the wrist
Rotates the humerus
When the subclavius muscle contracts, what action does it perform on the clavicle?
Depresses the clavicle
Elevates the clavicle
Rotates the clavicle
Lengthens the clavicle
In certain contexts, what additional action can the subclavius muscle perform when the clavicle is fixed?
Elevate the first rib
Flex the shoulder
Rotate the scapula
Extend the humerus
Why is the stabilization of the clavicle by the subclavius muscle important during movement?
It helps maintain the position of the clavicle at the sternoclavicular joint
It increases the flexibility of the shoulder
It prevents the humerus from dislocating
It strengthens the rib cage
In the event of a clavicle fracture, what role does the subclavius muscle play regarding neurovascular structures?
It helps protect subclavian vessels and the brachial plexus
It repairs the broken bone
It increases muscle mass in the area
It prevents infection
Explain how the subclavius muscle could assist in respiration in certain contexts.
By elevating the first rib when the clavicle is fixed, aiding in expanding the thoracic cavity
By contracting the diaphragm directly
By increasing lung volume through shoulder movement
By stabilizing the vertebral column during breathing
Which muscles lie between the ribs and play a role in respiration and maintaining thoracic cage integrity?
Intercostal muscles
Abdominal muscles
Deltoid muscles
Gluteal muscles
What is one of the main functions of the intercostal and other thoracic muscles?
Assisting in respiration
Flexing the elbow
Rotating the hip
Extending the knee
Which of the following best describes the function of the external intercostal muscles?
They assist in inspiration by elevating the ribs.
They assist in forced expiration by pulling the ribs downward.
They run between non-adjacent ribs to depress the ribs.
They contract to flex the spine.
What direction do the fibers of the internal intercostal muscles run?
Downward and backward
Upward and forward
Horizontally
Circularly around the ribs
Where is the transversus thoracis muscle located?
On the inner surface of the anterior thoracic wall
On the outer surface of the abdominal wall
On the back, near the spine
On the surface of the diaphragm
During which type of breathing are the transversus thoracis muscles typically more active?
Forced breathing (e.g. heavy exercise, coughing)
Quiet breathing
Sleep breathing
Shallow breathing
