Muscles of the Pelvis, Hip, Thigh, and Leg

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering origins, insertions, and actions of key muscles of the pelvis, hip, thigh, and lower leg.

Iliacus

A pelvic muscle originating at the iliac fossa or ilium and inserting at the lesser trochanter of the femur, functioning in thigh flexion and flexing the trunk (bowing) of the leg.

Psoas Major

A pelvic muscle originating at T12 and the 5th lumbar vertebra and inserting at the lesser trochanter of the femur, acting in thigh flexion and flexing the trunk (bowing) of the leg.

Gluteus Maximus

The major extensor of the thigh that originates on the ilium, sacrum, and coccyx, and inserts into the femur and iliotibial tract of the fascia lata.

Gluteus Medius

Referred to as the 'deltoid of leg,' this muscle originates on the ilium, inserts on the femur, and functions as the primary abductor of the thigh.

Tensor Fasciae Latae

A muscle originating on the ilium whose action is to steady the trunk on the thigh.

Lateral Rotators of the Hip

A group comprising the piriformis, superior gemellus, obturator internus, inferior gemellus, obturator externus, and quadratus femoris, whose collective action is lateral rotation of the thigh; piriformis also plays a role in thigh adduction.

Sartorius

A thigh muscle originating at the anterior superior iliac spine and inserting at the medial aspect of the proximal tibia, functioning in flexion, abduction, and lateral rotation of the thigh to help produce the cross-legged position.

Quadriceps Femoris

A muscle group whose primary action is to extend the knee; it inserts into the patella via the quadriceps tendon and the tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament.

Rectus Femoris

A quadriceps muscle originating at the anterior inferior iliac spine and acetabulum, acting to extend the knee.

Vastus Lateralis

A component of the quadriceps femoris that originates at the greater trochanter and acts to extend the knee.

Vastus Medialis

A quadriceps muscle originating at the linea aspera of the femur that acts to extend the knee.

Vastus Intermedius

A quadriceps muscle situated deep to the rectus femoris, originating on the proximal femur and functioning to extend the knee.

Gracilis

A thigh muscle originating on the inferior ramus and body of the pubis and inserting near the medial condyle, acting to adduct the thigh.

Biceps Femoris

A posterior thigh muscle composed of a long head and short head originating from the ischium and femur, inserting on the tibia and fibula, and acting to extend the thigh and flex the leg/knee.

Semitendinosus

A posterior thigh muscle originating at the ischial tuberosity and inserting into the tibia, functioning to extend the thigh and flex the leg.

Tibialis Anterior

A lower leg muscle originating on the tibia and inserting into the medial cuneiform and metatarsal 1, responsible for dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot.

Gastrocnemius

A posterior leg muscle originating on the femur and inserting on the calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon, responsible for plantar flexion ('jumping') and flexing the leg.

Fibularis Longus and Brevis

Muscles of the leg whose primary shared action is plantar flexion of the foot.