Flexor muscle

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A flexor muscle is a skeletal muscle whose contraction bends a joint, decreasing the angle between components of a limb, such as bending the knee or elbow. This action is known as flexion.

The type of muscle that has the opposite effect is the extensor muscle, which opens a joint, increasing the angle between limb components. Some of the flexor muscles of the upper limbs are: the brachialis and the biceps. Other types of muscles include: abductors, adductors, supinators and rotators In humans, some muscles include 'flexor' in their name. Some examples are:

• Flexor carpi radialis
• Flexor carpi ulnaris
• Flexor digitorum profundus muscle