Muscles for NBCAAM Exam – Animal Anatomy Study Guide for Acupressure and Massage
Certification
Masseter muscle - ANS ✔✔O: Zygomatic arch
I: Mandible
A: Raises mandible in closing the mouth
TEST: Extend jaw. Primarily palpation.
Sternocephalicus muscle - ANS ✔✔O: Sternum (specifically the manubrium)
I: Head (mastoid part of temporal bone and nuchal crest of the occipital bone)
A: Moves head laterally (when one side contracts) or brings head down (when both sides
contract)
TEST: Extensors the neck and laterally flex
Splenius Muscle - ANS ✔✔Part of the transversospinalis system of epaxial muscles / Lies deep
to the caudal portion of the Rhomboideus
O: Spines of the 1st 3 thoracic vertebrae, nuchal ligament, and median raphe of the neck (T3 to
occipital bone)
I: Nuchal crest and mastoid process of temporal bone
A: Extension of the neck
TEST: Flex the neck
Brachiocephalicus-Cleidocephalicus - ANS ✔✔(compound muscle separated by clavicular
intersection)
O: Head and Neck
I: Distal third of Humerus
, A: Draws neck laterally, advances limb, extends shoulder
TEST: Flex shoulder, extend elbow while dog is recumbent, draw head up and laterally flex when
dog is standing
Omotransversarius (Strap-like) - ANS ✔✔O: Spine of Scapula (distal part)
I: Transverse process of Atlas (caudal side of wing of atlas)
A: Advances limb or flexes neck laterally
Note: Origin and Insertion are interchangeable based on moving part.
slide scapula caudally, laterally flex neck when dog is standing and/or when scapula is stabilized
Supraspinatus - ANS ✔✔O: Supraspinous fossa
I: Greater tubercle of the humerus
A: Extends and stabilizes shoulder joint
TEST: Flex shoulder with stabilized scapula. Primarily palpation.
Infraspinatous - ANS ✔✔O: Infraspinous fossa (lower part of scapula)
I: Greater tubercle of humerus
A: Extend of flex joint, abduct and rotate arm laterally; primary movement is flexion
TEST: Primarily palpation
Triceps Brachii - 4 Heads - ANS ✔✔O: Scapula and Humerus
I: Olecranon Process
Certification
Masseter muscle - ANS ✔✔O: Zygomatic arch
I: Mandible
A: Raises mandible in closing the mouth
TEST: Extend jaw. Primarily palpation.
Sternocephalicus muscle - ANS ✔✔O: Sternum (specifically the manubrium)
I: Head (mastoid part of temporal bone and nuchal crest of the occipital bone)
A: Moves head laterally (when one side contracts) or brings head down (when both sides
contract)
TEST: Extensors the neck and laterally flex
Splenius Muscle - ANS ✔✔Part of the transversospinalis system of epaxial muscles / Lies deep
to the caudal portion of the Rhomboideus
O: Spines of the 1st 3 thoracic vertebrae, nuchal ligament, and median raphe of the neck (T3 to
occipital bone)
I: Nuchal crest and mastoid process of temporal bone
A: Extension of the neck
TEST: Flex the neck
Brachiocephalicus-Cleidocephalicus - ANS ✔✔(compound muscle separated by clavicular
intersection)
O: Head and Neck
I: Distal third of Humerus
, A: Draws neck laterally, advances limb, extends shoulder
TEST: Flex shoulder, extend elbow while dog is recumbent, draw head up and laterally flex when
dog is standing
Omotransversarius (Strap-like) - ANS ✔✔O: Spine of Scapula (distal part)
I: Transverse process of Atlas (caudal side of wing of atlas)
A: Advances limb or flexes neck laterally
Note: Origin and Insertion are interchangeable based on moving part.
slide scapula caudally, laterally flex neck when dog is standing and/or when scapula is stabilized
Supraspinatus - ANS ✔✔O: Supraspinous fossa
I: Greater tubercle of the humerus
A: Extends and stabilizes shoulder joint
TEST: Flex shoulder with stabilized scapula. Primarily palpation.
Infraspinatous - ANS ✔✔O: Infraspinous fossa (lower part of scapula)
I: Greater tubercle of humerus
A: Extend of flex joint, abduct and rotate arm laterally; primary movement is flexion
TEST: Primarily palpation
Triceps Brachii - 4 Heads - ANS ✔✔O: Scapula and Humerus
I: Olecranon Process
