SENIAM Electrode Placement Reference

26 SENIAM-recommended muscles · Source: SENIAM Project (Hermens et al. 2000) · Not an official SENIAM product

emgguide.de
2026-09-20

Source: All electrode positions in this document are based exclusively on the recommendations of the SENIAM Project (Surface ElectroMyoGraphy for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles, Hermens et al. 1999, ISBN 90-75452-15-2). Bilateral muscles (left/right) are shown once.

No original interpretation: emgguide.de did not develop these placements independently — they are taken from the published SENIAM recommendations. This document is not an official SENIAM product and does not replace medical advice. For the full interactive 3D model: emgguide.de.

Head & Neck

M. Trapezius Pars Descendens

Upper Trapezius

Electrode

50% on line from acromion to C7 spinous process · Toward acromion–C7 line

Origin / Insertion

External occipital protuberance, Lig. nuchae, Proc. spinosi C1–C7 → Lateral third of clavicle, acromion

Test

Elevate shoulder against resistance (shoulder shrug)

Shoulder

M. Trapezius Pars Transversa

Middle Trapezius

Electrode

50% between medial scapular border and T3 · Horizontal, toward spine–scapula line

Origin / Insertion

Proc. spinosi Th1–Th4 → Acromion, spine of scapula (medial)

Test

Retract scapulae against resistance (squeeze shoulder blades together)

M. Trapezius Pars Ascendens

Lower Trapezius

Electrode

2/3 on line from trigonum spinae to T8 · Toward trigonum spinae–Th8

Origin / Insertion

Proc. spinosi Th5–Th12 → Spine of scapula (medial third)

Test

Raise arm overhead, scapula depresses downward-medially

M. Deltoideus Pars Clavicularis

Anterior Deltoid

Electrode

1 finger width distal and anterior to acromion · Toward acromion–thumb

Origin / Insertion

Lateral third of clavicle → Deltoid tuberosity of humerus

Test

Raise arm forward (flexion) against resistance

M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis

Middle Deltoid

Electrode

Greatest curvature of the muscle · Toward acromion–lateral epicondyle

Origin / Insertion

Acromion → Deltoid tuberosity of humerus

Test

Raise arm laterally (abduction 90 degrees) against resistance

M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis

Posterior Deltoid

Electrode

2 finger widths behind the acromial angle · Toward acromion–little finger

Origin / Insertion

Spine of scapula (inferior border) → Deltoid tuberosity of humerus

Test

Move arm backward (extension) against resistance

Upper Arm

M. Biceps Brachii

Biceps Brachii

Electrode

1/3 on line between cubital fossa and acromion · Parallel to line cubital fossa–acromion

Origin / Insertion

Supraglenoid tubercle (long head), coracoid process (short head) → Radial tuberosity, bicipital aponeurosis

Test

Elbow flexion against resistance with supinated forearm

M. Triceps Brachii Caput Laterale

Triceps Brachii (Lateral Head)

Electrode

50% on line between acromion and olecranon, 2cm lateral · Parallel to line acromion–olecranon

Origin / Insertion

Posterior humerus (above radial groove) → Olecranon of the ulna

Test

Elbow extension against resistance

M. Triceps Brachii Caput Longum

Triceps Brachii (Long Head)

Electrode

50% on line between acromion and olecranon, mid-posterior · Parallel to line acromion–olecranon

Origin / Insertion

Infraglenoid tubercle of the scapula → Olecranon of the ulna

Test

Elbow extension against resistance with slightly retroverted arm

Trunk Posterior

M. Iliocostalis Lumborum

Iliocostalis Lumborum

Electrode

2 finger widths lateral to L2, above the iliac crest · Parallel to the spine (vertical)

Origin / Insertion

Iliac crest (dorsal), Os sacrum (dorsal) → Costal angles of the lower 6-9 ribs

Test

Trunk extension from prone position against resistance

M. Longissimus Thoracis

Longissimus Thoracis

Electrode

2 finger widths lateral to L1 · Parallel to the spine (vertical)

Origin / Insertion

Os sacrum, spinous processes of lumbar vertebrae, transverse processes of lower thoracic vertebrae → Transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae, costal angles of ribs 2-12

Test

Trunk extension from prone position against resistance

M. Multifidus

Multifidus

Electrode

On the line from the caudal tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the L1/L2 interspace, at the level of the L5 spinous process - about 2-3 cm from the midline · In the direction of that line; inter-electrode distance max. 20 mm, electrode size max. 10 mm along the fibres

Origin / Insertion

Os sacrum (dorsal), mammillary processes of lumbar vertebrae, transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae → Spinous processes of the 2-4 vertebrae above

Test

Trunk extension from prone position with slight rotation against resistance

Hip

M. Gluteus Maximus

Gluteus Maximus

Electrode

50% on line between sacrum and greater trochanter · Parallel to line sacrum-greater trochanter

Origin / Insertion

Os sacrum (dorsal), Os ilium (behind posterior gluteal line), sacrotuberous ligament, thoracolumbar fascia → Iliotibial tract, gluteal tuberosity of the femur

Test

Hip extension from prone position against resistance with flexed knee

M. Gluteus Medius

Gluteus Medius

Electrode

50% on line between iliac crest and greater trochanter · Parallel to line iliac crest-greater trochanter

Origin / Insertion

Gluteal surface of the Os ilium (between anterior and posterior gluteal lines) → Greater trochanter of the femur (lateral surface)

Test

Hip abduction in side-lying against resistance

M. Tensor Fasciae Latae

Tensor Fasciae Latae

Electrode

Proximal 1/6 on line ASIS-lateral femoral condyle · Parallel to line ASIS-lateral femoral condyle

Origin / Insertion

Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), iliac crest (anterior section) → Iliotibial tract -> lateral tibial condyle (Gerdy's tubercle)

Test

Hip flexion with abduction and internal rotation against resistance

Thigh Anterior

M. Rectus Femoris

Rectus Femoris

Electrode

50% on line from ASIS to the superior patellar border · Parallel to line ASIS-superior patellar border

Origin / Insertion

Anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS), superior to the acetabulum → Base of the patella -> via patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity

Test

Knee extension in sitting against resistance

M. Vastus Lateralis

Vastus Lateralis

Electrode

2/3 on line from ASIS to the lateral patellar border · 20 degrees to line ASIS-lateral patellar border

Origin / Insertion

Greater trochanter, intertrochanteric line, lateral lip of the linea aspera → Lateral border of the patella -> via patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity

Test

Knee extension in sitting against resistance

M. Vastus Medialis

Vastus Medialis

Electrode

80% on line from ASIS to the anterior edge of the medial ligament · Approx. 80 degrees to line ASIS-medial joint space

Origin / Insertion

Medial lip of the linea aspera, intertrochanteric line (distal) → Medial border of the patella -> via patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity

Test

Terminal knee extension (last 15 degrees) against resistance

Thigh Posterior

M. Biceps Femoris Caput Longum

Biceps Femoris (Long Head)

Electrode

50% on line between ischial tuberosity and lateral epicondyle · Parallel to line ischial tuberosity-lateral epicondyle

Origin / Insertion

Ischial tuberosity (together with M. semitendinosus) → Fibular head, lateral tibial condyle

Test

Knee flexion in prone position against resistance with foot external rotation

M. Semitendinosus

Semitendinosus

Electrode

50% on line between ischial tuberosity and medial epicondyle · Parallel to line ischial tuberosity-medial epicondyle

Origin / Insertion

Ischial tuberosity (together with long head of M. biceps femoris) → Pes anserinus (proximal medial tibial surface)

Test

Knee flexion in prone position against resistance with foot internal rotation

Lower Leg

M. Gastrocnemius Caput Mediale

Gastrocnemius (Medial Head)

Electrode

Most proximal part of the medial muscle belly · Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg

Origin / Insertion

Medial epicondyle of the femur (posterior) → Calcaneus (via Achilles tendon / tendo calcaneus)

Test

Heel raise (single leg) or plantar flexion against resistance with extended knee

M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale

Gastrocnemius (Lateral Head)

Electrode

Most proximal part of the lateral muscle belly · Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg

Origin / Insertion

Lateral epicondyle of the femur (posterior) → Calcaneus (via Achilles tendon / tendo calcaneus)

Test

Heel raise (single leg) or plantar flexion against resistance with extended knee

M. Soleus

Soleus

Electrode

2/3 on line from medial femoral condyle to medial malleolus · Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg

Origin / Insertion

Fibular head, proximal third of the fibula (dorsal), soleal line of the tibia → Calcaneus (via Achilles tendon / tendo calcaneus, together with gastrocnemius)

Test

Plantar flexion against resistance with flexed knee (isolated from gastrocnemius)

M. Tibialis Anterior

Tibialis Anterior

Electrode

1/3 on line from fibular head to medial malleolus · Parallel to line fibular head-medial malleolus

Origin / Insertion

Lateral tibial condyle, interosseous membrane (proximal 2/3), lateral surface of the tibia → Medial cuneiform (plantar), base of the 1st metatarsal

Test

Dorsiflexion of the foot with inversion against resistance

M. Fibularis Longus

Fibularis Longus

Electrode

25% on line from fibular head to lateral malleolus · Parallel to the fibula

Origin / Insertion

Fibular head, proximal 2/3 of the lateral fibular surface → Medial cuneiform (plantar), base of the 1st metatarsal (plantar)

Test

Foot eversion against resistance

M. Fibularis Brevis

Fibularis Brevis

Electrode

At 25% of the line from the tip of the lateral malleolus to the fibula head, anterior to the peroneus longus tendon · Along the line from the lateral malleolus to the fibula head, 20 mm inter-electrode distance

Origin / Insertion

Distal 2/3 of the lateral fibular surface → Tuberosity of the 5th metatarsal (base)

Test

Foot eversion against resistance