{{Short description|none}} {{Anatomical lists}} {{For|the genus of fish|Flexor incus}}{{Redirect|Flexer|people with the surname|Flexer (surname)}}
In anatomy, '''flexor''' is a muscle that contracts to perform '''flexion''' (from the Latin verb ''flectere'', to bend),<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Anderson |editor1-first=Kenneth N. |title=Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary |edition=4th |year=1994 |publisher=Mosby-Year Book |location=St. Louis |isbn=9780801672255 |oclc=312496360 |page=624|display-editors=etal}}</ref> 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==== thumb|The iliacus and nearby muscles The hip flexors are (in descending order of importance to the action of flexing the hip joint):<ref name="Platzer-246">Platzer (2004), p 246</ref>
*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.<ref name="Platzer-246" />
====Thigh==== * of thigh at knee (L5-S2)<ref>[http://www.exrx.net/Articulations/Knee.html#anchor22052 Knee Articulations<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> **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 joint<ref>[http://www.exrx.net/Articulations/Toes.html#anchor229680 Foot Articulations<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ** 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== {{Anatomy-terms}} *List of extensors of the human body
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Joints}}
Category:Anatomical terms of motion