In: Anatomy and Physiology
when describing muscle what does external and internal mean?
A muscle will named by its size, shape or structure, action and sometimes by its position where it lies ( location).
For example,
long head of triceps , adductor longus , pectoralis major & minor - all named by its size & shape.
Sameway the names external & internal means by their location. For example take external oblique & internal oblique ( abdominal muscles) were named by location. Internal means something interior or deep & external means outer. So both muscle got named as external & internal as by its location.
Sometimes we will muscles as mention external & internal by their action also. For example shoulder internal rotation is done by subscapularis, pectoralis & lattissimus dorsi. All together called as internal rotators. Same like we mention for external rotators & for hip hoint, trunk, neck also.
Conclusion:
On naming a muscle external & internal means either its Position or Action.