Lower limb muscles

Primary Action iliopsoas

Flex and laterally rotate thigh; flex torso

Attachment 1 (Origin) iliopsoas

(Psoas major) Lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5); thoracic vertebra (T12) (liacus) Iliac fossa; iliac crest; lateral sacrum

Attachment 2 (Insertion) iliopsoas

Lesser trochanter

Innervation iliopsoas

Femoral nerve

Primary Action Gluteus maximus

Extend thigh

Attachment 1 (Origin) Gluteus maximus

Dorsal ilium; sacrum; coccyx

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Gluteus maximus

Gluteal tuberosity of femur; iliotibial tract

Innervation Gluteus maximus

Inferior gluteal nerve

Primary Action Gluteus medius

Abduct thigh

Attachment 1 (Origin) Gluteus medius

Superior lateral surface of ilium

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Gluteus medius

Greater trochanter of femur

Innervation Gluteus medius

Superior gluteal nerve

Primary Action Gluteus minimus

Abduct thigh

Attachment 1 (Origin) Gluteus minimus

Inferior lateral surface of ilium

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Gluteus minimus

Greater trochanter of femur

Innervation Gluteus minimus

Superior gluteal nerve

Primary Action Tensor fascia latae

Flex and abduct thigh

Attachment 1 (Origin) Tensor fascia latae

Anterior aspect of iliac crest anterior superior iliac spine

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Tensor fascia latae

Iliotibial tract

Innervation Tensor fascia latae

Superior gluteal nerve

Primary Action Adductor longus

Adduct and medially rotate thigh; flex thigh at hip

Attachment 1 (Origin) Adductor longus

Pubis near pubic symphysis

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Adductor longus

Linea aspera

Innervation Adductor longus

Obturator nerve

Primary Action Adductor brevis

Adduct and flex thigh

Attachment 1 (Origin) Adductor brevis

Body of pubis; inferior ramus of pubis

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Adductor brevis

Linea aspera

Innervation Adductor brevis

Obturator nerve

Primary Action Adductor magnus

Adduct and medially rotate thigh; extend thigh at hip

Attachment 1 (Origin) Adductor magnus

Ischial rami; pubic rami; ischial tuberosity

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Adductor magnus

Linea aspera; adductor tubercle

Innervation Adductor magnus

Obturator nerve

Primary Action Pectineus

Adduct, flex and medially rotate thigh

Attachment 1 (Origin) Pectineus

Pectineal line of pubis

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Pectineus

Lesser trochanter and linea aspera

Innervation Pectineus

Femoral nerve

Primary Action Gracilis

Adduct thigh and flex knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Gracilis

Inferior ramus; body of pubis; ischial ramus

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Gracilis

Medial surface of tibia

Innervation Gracilis

Obturator nerve

Primary Action Sartorius

Flex, abduct and laterally rotate thigh; flex knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Sartorius

Anterior superior iliac spine

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Sartorius

Medial aspect of proximal tibia

Innervation Sartorius

Femoral nerve

Primary Action Rectus femoris

Extend knee; flex thigh

Attachment 1 (Origin) Rectus femoris

Anterior inferior iliac spine; superior margin of acetabulum

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Rectus femoris

Patella; tibial tuberosity

Innervation Rectus femoris

Femoral nerve

Primary Action Vastus lateralis

Extend knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Vastus lateralis

Greater trochanter; linea aspera

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Vastus lateralis

Patella; tibial tuberosity

Innervation Vastus lateralis

Femoral nerve

Primary Action Vastus medialis

Extend knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Vastus medialis

Linea aspera

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Vastus medialis

Patella; tibial tuberosity

Innervation Vastus medialis

Femoral nerve

Primary Action Vastus intermedius

Extend knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Vastus intermedius

Proximal femur shaft

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Vastus intermedius

Patella; tibial tuberosity

Innervation Vastus intermedius

Femoral nerve

Primary Action Biceps femoris

Extend and laterally rotate thigh; flex knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Biceps femoris

Ischial tuberosity; linea aspera; distal femur

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Biceps femoris

Fibular head; lateral condyle of tibia

Innervation Biceps femoris

Sciatic nerve

Primary Action Semitendinosus

Extend and medially rotate thigh; flex knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Semitendinosus

Ischial tuberosity

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Semitendinosus

Medial, upper tibial shaft

Innervation Semitendinosus

Sciatic nerve

Primary Action Semimembranosus

Extend and medially rotate thigh; flex knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Semimembranosus

Ischial tuberosity

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Semimembranosus

Medial condyle of tibia

Innervation Semimembranosus

Sciatic nerve

Primary Action Gastrocnemius

Plantar flex foot; flex knee

Attachment 1 (Origin) Gastrocnemius

Medial and lateral condyles of femur

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Gastrocnemius

Posterior calcaneus

Innervation Gastrocnemius

Tibial nerve

Primary Action Soleus

Plantar flex foot

Attachment 1 (Origin) Soleus

Superior tibia; fibula; interosseous membrane

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Soleus

Posterior calcaneus

Innervation Soleus

Tibial nerve

Primary Action Plantaris

Flex knee; plantar flex foot

Attachment 1 (Origin) Plantaris

Posterior femur above lateral condyle

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Plantaris

Calcaneus or calcaneus tendon

Innervation Plantaris

Tibial nerve

Primary Action Tibialis anterior

Dorsiflex and invert foot

Attachment 1 (Origin) Tibialis anterior

Lateral condyle and upper tibial shaft; interosseus membrane

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Tibialis anterior

Interior surface of medial cuneiform; first metatarsal bone

Innervation Tibialis anterior

Deep fibular nerve

Primary Action Tibialis posterior

Plantar flex foot

Attachment 1 (Origin) Tibialis posterior

Superior tibia and fibula; interosseous membrane

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Tibialis posterior

Tarsal bones; metatarsals 2-4

Innervation Tibialis posterior

Tibial nerve

Primary Action Flexor digitorum longus

Plantar flex and invert foot; flex toes

Attachment 1 (Origin) Flexor digitorum longus

Posterior tibia

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Flexor digitorum longus

Distal phalanges of toes 2-5

Innervation Flexor digitorum longus

Tibial nerve

Primary Action Flexor hallucis longus

Plantar flex foot flex big toe

Attachment 1 (Origin) Flexor hallucis longus

Midshaft of fibula; interosseous membrane

Attachment 2 (Insertion) Flexor hallucis longus

Distal phalanx of big toe

Innervation Flexor hallucis longus

Tibial nerve