Lower Limb

Gluteus Maximus Proximal

Ilium posterior to gluteal line; dorsal surface of sacrum and coccyx; sacrotuberous ligament

Gluteus Maximus Distal

most fibers end in iliotibial tract, which inserts into lateral condyle of tibia; some fibers insert on gluteal tuberosity

Gluteus Maximus Innervation

Inferior gluteal nerve (L5, S1, S2)

Gluteus Maximus Action

extends hip joint (especially from flexed position) and assists in lateral rotation; fixes hip joint and assists in rising from sitting position

Gluteus Maximus Blood Supply

inferior gluteal artery

Gluteus Medius proximal

external surface of ilium between anterior and posterior gluteal lines

Gluteus Medius distal

lateral surface of greater trochanter of femur

Gluteus Medius innervation

superior gluteal nerve (L5, S1)

Gluteus Medius action

abduct and medially rotate hip joint; keep pelvis level when ipsilateral limb is weight bearing and advance opposite (unsupported) side during its swing phase

Gluteus Medius blood supply

superior gluteal artery

Gluteus Minimus proximal

external surface of ilium between anterior and inferior gluteal lines

Gluteus Minimus distal

anterior surface of greater trochanter of femur

Gluteus Minimus innervation

superior gluteal nerve (L5, S1)

Gluteus Minimus action

abduct and medially rotate hip joint; keep pelvis level when ipsilateral limb is weight bearing and advance opposite (unsupported) side during its swing phase

Gluteus Minimus blood supply

superior gluteal artery

Piriformis proximal

anterior surface of sacrum; sacrotuberous ligament

Piriformis distal

superior border of greater trochanter of femur

Piriformis innervation

branches of anterior rami of S1 and S2

Piriformis action

laterally rotate extended hip joint and abduct hip joint when flexed; stabilize hip joint

Piriformis blood supply

superior gluteal artery and inferior gluteal artery

Gemellus superior proximal

ischial spine

Gemellus superior distal

medial surface of greater trochanter of femur (trochanteric fossa)

Gemellus superior innervation

nerve to obturator internus (L5, S1)

Gemellus superior action

laterally rotate extended hip joint and abduct hip joint when flexed; stabilize hip joint

Gemellus superior blood supply

inferior gluteal artery

Obturator Internus proximal

pelvic surface of obturator membrane and surrounding bones

Obturator Internus distal

medial surface of greater trochanter of femur

Obturator Internus innervation

nerve to obturator internus (L5, S1)

Obturator Internus action

laterally rotate extended hip joint and abduct hip joint when flexed; stabilize hip joint

Obturator Internus blood supply

internal pudendal and obturator artery

Gemellus inferior proximal

ischial tuberosity

Gemellus inferior distal

medial surface of greater trochanter of femur

Gemellus inferior innervation

nerve to quadratus femoris (L5, S1)

Gemellus inferior action

laterally rotate extended hip joint and abduct hip joint when flexed; stabilize hip joint

Gemellus inferior blood supply

medial circumflex femoral artery

Tensor Fascia Lata proximal

anterior superior iliac spine; anterior part of iliac crest

Tensor Fascia Lata distal

Iliotibial tract, which attaches to lateral condyle of tibia

Tensor Fascia Lata innervation

superior gluteal nerve (L5, S1)

Tensor Fascia Lata action

abduct and medially rotate hip joint; keep pelvis level when ipsilateral limb is weight bearing and advance opposite (unsupported side) during its swing phase

Tensor Fascia Lata blood supply

lateral circumflex femoral artery

Obturator Externus proximal

margins of obturator foramen and obturator membrane

Obturator Externus distal

trochanteric fossa of femur

Obturator Externus innervation

obturator nerve (L3, L4)

Obturator Externus action

laterally rotates hip joint; stabilizes hip joint

Obturator Externus blood supply

medial circumflex femoral artery and obturator artery

Quadratus femoris proximal

lateral border of ischial tuberosity

Quadratus femoris distal

quadrate tubercle on intertrochanteric crest of femur and area inferior to it

Quadratus femoris innervation

nerve to quadratus femoris (L5, S1)

Quadratus femoris action

laterally rotates hip joint; stabilizes hip joint

Quadratus femoris blood supply

medial circumflex femoral artery

Vastus lateralis proximal

greater trochanter and lateral lip of linea aspera of femur

Vastus lateralis distal

via common tendinous (quadriceps tendon) and independent attachments to base of patella; indirectly via patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity; medial and lateral vasti also attach to tibial tuberosity; medial and lateral vast also attach to tibia and patella via aponeuroses (medial and lateral patellar retinacula)

Vastus lateralis innervation

Femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Vastus lateralis action

extends knee joint

Vastus lateralis blood supply

lateral circumflex femoral artery and profunda femoris artery

Biceps Femoris Short Head proximal

linea aspera and lateral supracondylar line of femur

Biceps Femoris Short Head distal

lateral side of head of fibula. tendon is split at this stie by fibular collateral ligament of knee

Biceps Femoris Short Head innervation

common fibular division of sciatic nerve (L5, S1, S2)

Biceps Femoris Short Head action

flexes knee joint and laterally rotates it when flexed

Biceps Femoris Short Head blood supply

perforating branches of profunda femoris, inferior gluteal, and medial circumflex femoral arteries

Biceps Femoris Long Head proximal

ischial tuberosity

Biceps Femoris Long Head distal

lateral side of head of fibula, tendon is split at this stie by fibular collateral ligament of knee

Biceps Femoris Long Head innervation

tibial division of sciatic nerve (L5-S2)

Biceps Femoris Long Head action

flexes knee joint and laterally rotates it when flexed; extends hip joint

Biceps Femoris Long Head blood supply

perforating branches of profunda femoris, inferior gluteal, and medial circumflex femoral arteries

Sartorius proximal

anterior superior iliac spine and superior part of notch inferior to it

Sartorius distal

superior part of medial surface of tibia (pes anserinus)

Sartorius innervation

femoral nerve (L2, L3)

Sartorius action

flexes, abducts, ad lateral rotates hip joint; flexes knee joint (medially rotates leg when knee joint is flexed)

Sartorius blood supply

femoral artery

Gracilis proximal

body and inferior ramus of pubis

Gracilis distal

superior part of medial surface of tibia (as part of pes anserinus)

Gracilis innervation

obturator nerve (L2, L3)

Gracilis action

Adducts hip joint; flexes knee joint, medially rotating it when flexed

Gracilis blood supply

profunda femoris artery, medial circumflex femoral artery

Semitendinosus proximal

ischial tuberosity

Semitendinosus distal

superior part of medial surface of tibia (pes anserinus)

Semitendinosus innervation

tibial division of sciatic nerve part of tibia (L5, S1, S2)

Semitendinosus action

extend hip joint; flex knee joint and medially rotate it when flexed. when hip and knee joints are flexed (sitting) these muscles can extend trunk at hip joint (to rise)

Semitendinosus blood supply

perforating branch of profunda femoris and medial circumflex femoral arteries

Semimembranosus proximal

ischial tuberosity

Semimembranosus distal

posterior part of medial condyle of tibia. reflected attachment forms oblique popliteal ligament (to lateral femoral condyle)

Semimembranosus innervation

tibial division of sciatic nerve part of tibia (L5, S1, S2)

Semimembranosus action

extend hip joint; flex knee joint and medially rotate it when flexed. when hip and knee joints are flexed (sitting) these muscles can extend trunk at hip joint (to rise)

Semimembranosus blood supply

perforating branch of profunda femoris and medial circumflex femoral arteries

Gastrocnemius proximal

lateral head: lateral aspect of lateral condyle of femur

medial head: popliteal surface of femur, superior to medial condyle

Gastrocnemius distal

posterior surface of calcaneus via calcaneal tendon

Gastrocnemius innervation

tibial nerve (S1, S2)

Gastrocnemius action

plantarflexes ankle joint when knee joint is extended; raises heel during walking; flexes knee joint

Gastrocnemius blood supply

popliteal and posterior tibial arteries

Adductor magnus proximal

adductor part: inferior ramus of pubis, ramus of ischium

hamstring part: ischial tuberosity

Adductor magnus distal

adductor part: gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, medial supracondylar line

hamstring part: adductor tubercle of femur

Adductor magnus innervation

adductor part: obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4) and branches of posterior division

hamstring part: tibial part of sciatic nerve (L4)

Adductor magnus action

adducts hip joint

adductor part: flexes hip joint

hamstring part: extends hip joint

Adductor magnus blood supply

femoral, profunda femoris, and obturator arteries

Tibialis Anterior proximal

lateral condyle and superior half of lateral surface of tibia and interosseous membrane

Tibialis Anterior distal

medial and inferior surfaces of medial cuneiform and base of 1st metatarsal

Tibialis Anterior innervation

deep fibular nerve (L4, L5)

Tibialis Anterior action

dorsiflexes ankle joint and inverts subtalar joint

Tibialis Anterior blood supply

anterior tibial artery