Learning the muscular system can quickly become overwhelming for anatomy students. There are hundreds of muscles in the human body, and many have unfamiliar names. This muscle coloring and identification activity gives students a visual way to learn the major superficial muscles of the body.

The activity includes views of both the ventral (anterior) and dorsal (posterior) sides of the muscular system. Students use the provided color key to locate and color individual muscles on each figure.

Rather than simply memorizing a list of names, students must examine the illustrations and determine where each muscle is located. Coloring also makes neighboring muscles easier to distinguish, particularly in areas where several muscles are positioned close together. Another advantage of coloring sheets is that students usually only have black and white diagrams. Adding color can make the muscle locations easier to remember.

The diagrams focus on major muscles students are likely to encounter in an introductory Anatomy and Physiology course. These include muscles of the face and neck, chest, abdomen, back, arms, thighs, and lower legs. The focus is on the superficial muscles, like the trapezius, biceps brachii, and pectoralis major.

Identify Muscles from Their Locations

After completing the muscle coloring diagrams, students apply what they learned to a set of identification questions.

Instead of simply asking, “Where is the deltoid?” the questions provide anatomical clues and ask students to determine the muscle being described. For example, a clue might describe a muscle as forming the rounded contour of the shoulder or as being located on the lateral side of the posterior thigh. Students will need to refer back to their coloring to answer these questions.

The questions also reinforce useful directional terminology such as anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral. For example, they must locate the muscles that covers the lateral side of the abdomen. Answer: external oblique.

Related Resources

Muscle Anatomy Unit – contains all the resources I use in the muscle anatomy unit, includes slides, notes, labeling, and coloring activities

Naming the Muscles Guided Learning – activity where students progress through slides to learn the major muscles and how they are named. This is ideal for remote learners.

Labeling Muscle Fiber Structure – learn the basics of myofibrils and myofilaments

Muscle Model – a miniature muscle man for display on your desk; by Axis Scientific