Pelvic Limb OIA

Tensor fascia lata m.: Origin

tuber coxae

Tensor fascia lata m.: Insertion

fascia lata

Tensor fascia lata m.: Action

tense the fascia lata, flex the coxal joint and extend the genual

Superficial gluteus m.: Origin

sacrum and 1st caudal vertebra

Superficial gluteus m.: Insertion

third trochanter

Superficial gluteus m.: Action

extend the coxal joint; abduct the pelvic limb

Middle gluteus m.: Origin

gluteal surface of the ilium

Middle gluteus m.: Insertion

greater trochanter

Middle gluteus m.: Action

extend the coxal joint; abduct and rotate the pelvic limb medially

Piriformis m.: Origin

sacrum and 1st caudal vertebra

Piriformis m.: Insertion

greater trochanter

Piriformis m.: Action

extend the coxal joint

Deep gluteus m.: Origin

body of ilium and ischiatic spine

Deep gluteus m.: Insertion

greater trochanter

Deep gluteus m.: Action

extend the coxal joint; abduct and rotate the pelvic limb medially

Articularis coxae m.: Origin

ilium

Articularis coxae m.: Insertion

neck of femur

Articularis coxae m.: Action

adjusts/protects coxal joint capsule

Gluteofemoralis m. (only in cat): Origin

2nd through 4th caudal vertebrae

Gluteofemoralis m. (only in cat): Insertion

fascia lata/lateral aspect of patella

Gluteofemoralis m. (only in cat): Action

extend the coxal joint; pull the tail laterally

External obturator m.: Origin

ventral aspect of os coxae around obturator foramen

External obturator m.: Insertion

trochanteric fossa

External obturator m.: Action

rotate the limb laterally at the coxal joint

Internal obturator m.: Origin

dorsal aspect of os coxae around obturator foramen

Internal obturator m.: Insertion

trochanteric fossa

Internal obturator m.: Action

rotate the limb laterally at the coxal joint

Gemelli mm.: Origin

lateral aspect of ischium

Gemelli mm.: Insertion

trochanteric fossa

Gemelli mm.: Action

rotate the limb laterally at the coxal joint

Quadratus femoris m.: Origin

ventral aspect of ischium

Quadratus femoris m.: Insertion

near the trochanteric fossa

Quadratus femoris m.: Action

Extend the coxal joint; rotate the limb laterally at the coxal joint

Biceps femoris m.: Origin

ischiatic tuberosity and sacrotuberous ligament

Biceps femoris m.: Insertion

lateral aspect of genual region (via fascia lata); tuber calcanei (via crural fascia)

Biceps femoris m.: Action

extend the coxal joint; variable action on the genual joint; extend the tarsocrural joint 

Semitendinosus m.: Origin

ischiatic tuberosity

Semitendinosus m.: Insertion

medial aspect of tibia; tuber calcanei (via crural fascia) 

Semitendinosus m.: Action

extend the coxal joint; variable action on the genual joint; extend the tarsocrural joint 

Semimembranosus m.: Origin

ischiatic tuberosity

Semimembranosus m.: Insertion

medial aspect of distal femur and proximal tibia 

Semimembranosus m.: Action

extend coxal joint; variable action on the genual joint 

Sartorius m. (has cranial and caudal bellies in the dog): Origin

iliac crest

Sartorius m. (cranial belly): Insertion

vastus medialis & rectus femoralis 

Sartorius m. (caudal belly): Insertion

medial aspect of the genual region 

Sartorius m. (both cranial and caudal bellies): Action

flex the coxal joint

Sartorius m. (cranial belly only): Action

extend the genual joint (and still flexes the coxal joint)

Sartorius m. (caudal belly only): Action

flex the genual joint (and still flexes the coxal joint)

Gracilis m.: Origin

pelvic symphysis

Gracilis m.: Insertion

medial aspect of the genual region; tuber calcanei (via crural fascia) 

Gracilis m.: Action

adduct the pelvic limb; extend the tarsocrural joint 

Pectineus m.: Origin

iliopubic eminence 

Pectineus m.: Insertion

distal body of femur

Pectineus m.: Action

adduct the pelvic limb

Adductor m.: Origin

ventral surface of os coxae 

Adductor m.: Insertion

most of the caudal surface of femur

Adductor m.: Action

adduct the pelvic limb; extend the coxal joint

Quadriceps femoris m. (rectus femoris head): Origin

body of ilium

Quadriceps femoris m. (vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and vastus medialis heads): Origin

proximal femur

Quadriceps femoris m. (all four heads): Insertion

patella and tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament 

Quadriceps femoris m. (all four heads): Action

extend the genual joint 

Quadriceps femoris m. (rectus femoris head only): Action

flex the coxal joint (and still extend the genual joint)

Iliopsoas m. (iliacus m.): Origin

ilium

Iliopsoas m. (psoas major m.): Origin

lumbar vertebrae

Iliopsoas m. (iliacus m. + psoas major m.): Insertion

lesser trochanter

Iliopsoas m. (iliacus m. + psoas major m.): Action

flex the coxal joint, rotate the hip joint laterally

Cranial tibial m.: Origin

lateral aspect of proximal tibia 

Cranial tibial m.: Insertion

plantar base of 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones 

Cranial tibial m.: Action

flex the tarsocrural joint; rotate pes laterally 

Long digital extensor m.: Origin

extensor fossa of femur

Long digital extensor m.: Insertion

extensor processes of the distal phalanges

Long digital extensor m.: Action

flex the tarsocrural joint; extend the digital joints 

Lateral digital extensor m.: Origin

fibula

Lateral digital extensor m.: Insertion

extensor process of the distal phalange of fifth digit 

Lateral digital extensor m.: Action

extend the digital joints of fifth digit 

Fibularis longus m.: Origin

on or near lateral collateral ligament of the genual joint 

Fibularis longus m.: Insertion

4th tarsal bone and plantar base of metatarsal bones 

Fibularis longus m.: Action

flex the tarsocrural joint; rotate the pes medially 

Fibularis brevis m.: Origin

distal and lateral surfaces of tibial and fibula 

Fibularis brevis m.: Insertion

Base of metatarsal bone V 

Fibularis brevis m.: Action

flex the tarsocrural joint

Gastrocnemius m. (medial and lateral heads): Origin

medial and lateral supracondylar tuberosities of femur [there is a sesamoid bone (“fabella”) per each origin of the gastrocnemius heads]

Gastrocnemius m. (medial and lateral heads): Insertion

tuber calcanei

Gastrocnemius m. (medial and lateral heads): Action

flex the genual joint; extend the tarsocrural joint

Popliteus m.: Origin

Lateral condyle of the femur, the tendon runs in an oblique direction deep to the lateral collateral lig. of the genual joint. 

Popliteus m.: Insertion

proximocaudal surface of the tibia 

Popliteus m.: Action

medial rotation of the genual joint; probably give important proprioception of the genual joint position to the central nerve system 

Soleus m. (present in cat, absent in the dog): Origin

head of fibula

Soleus m. (present in cat, absent in the dog): Insertion

joins lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle

Soleus m. (present in cat, absent in the dog): Action

extend the tarsocrural joint

Superficial digital flexor m.: Origin

lateral supracondylar tuberosity of femur 

Superficial digital flexor m.: Insertion

tuber calcanei; plantar bases of middle phalanges 

Superficial digital flexor m.: Action

flex the genual joint; extend the tarsocrural joint; flex the metatarsophalangeal joints; flex the proximal interphalangeal joints 

Deep digital flexor m.: Origin

proximal caudal aspect of the tibia and fibula

Lateral head: Flexor digital lateral

Medial head: Flexor digital medial 

Deep digital flexor m.: Insertion

flexor tubercles of distal phalanges as a common tendon of both heads 

Deep digital flexor m.: Action

extend the tarsocrural joint; flex the metatarsophalangeal joints; flex the proximal interphalangeal joints; flex the distal interphalangeal joints

Tibial caudalis m.: Origin

proximal caudal aspect of the fibula 

Tibial caudalis m.: Insertion

caudal aspect of tarsus 

Tibial caudalis m.: Action

extend the tarsocrural joint (considered part of the deep digital flexor m. in large animals, may be absent in carnivores)

Interossei mm.: Origin

plantar base of respective metatarsal bone