Which term refers to the fixed attachment point of a muscle to bone?

• A. Belly
• B. Ligament
• C. Insertion
• D. Origin

Answer: (D)

The fixed attachment point of a muscle to bone is called the origin. During contraction, one end stays relatively stationary—the origin—while the other end moves toward it, called the insertion. The central fleshy part of the muscle is the belly, which isn’t the anchor point. So the term that describes the fixed attachment is origin. For example, the biceps brachii originates on the scapula and inserts on the radius; during elbow flexion the radius moves toward the scapula while the origin remains relatively stable. Ligaments connect bone to bone, not muscle to bone, and the insertion is the movable attachment.