Anatomy 2300 - Muscles of the Lower Limb

Gluteus Maximus

Region: Gluteal region - superficial

Origin: Posterior surface of ilium, sacrum, and coccyx

Insertion: Iliotibial tract of fascia lata and gluteal tuberosity of femur

Action: Extension of thigh and lateral rotation of thigh

Innervation: Inferior gluteal nerve

Gluteus Medius

Region: Gluteal region - superficial

Origin: External surface of ilium

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Action: Abducts thigh

Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve

Gluteal Minimus

Region: Gluteal region - superficial

Origin: External surface of ilium

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Action: Abducts thigh

Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve

Tensor fasciae latae

Region: Gluteal region - superficial

Origin: Anterior portion of the iliac crest

Insertion: Iliotibial tract of fasciae lata

Action: Flexes thigh and abducts thigh

Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve

Piriformis

Region: Gluteal region - deep

Origin: Anterior surface of sacrum

Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur

Action: Lateral rotation of thigh

Innervation: Nerve to piriformis

Psoas Major

Region: Anterior hip

Origin: All five lumbar vertebrae

Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur

Action: Flexion of thigh or flexes trunk

Innervation: Lumbar spinal nerves

Iliacus

Region: Anterior hip

Origin: Iliac fossa

Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur

Action: Flexion of thigh or flexes trunk

Innervation: Femoral nerve

Sartorius

Region: Anterior thigh

Origin: Anterior superior iliac spine

Insertion: Medial surface of proximal tibia

Action: Flexes leg; flexes thigh

Innervation: Femoral nerve

Rectus femoris

Region: Anterior thigh

Origin: Anterior inferior iliac spine; superior margin of acetabulum

Insertion: Patella (via quadriceps tendon) and tibial tuberosity (via patellar ligament)

Action: Extends leg

Innervation: Femoral nerve

Vastus lateralis

Region: Anterior thigh

Origin: Lateral lip of linea aspera

Insertion: Patella (via quadriceps tendon) and tibial tuberosity (via patellar ligament)

Action: Extends leg

Innervation: Femoral nerve

Vastus medialis

Region: Anterior thigh

Origin: Medial lip of linea aspera

Insertion: Patella (via quadriceps tendon) and tibial tuberosity (via patellar ligament)

Action: Extends leg

Innervation: Femoral nerve

Vastus intermedius

Region: Anterior thigh

Origin: Anterior and lateral surfaces of shaft of femur

Insertion: Patella (via quadriceps tendon) and tibial tuberosity (via patellar ligament)

Action: Extends leg

Innervation: Femoral nerve

Gracilis

Region: Medial thigh

Origin: Pubis

Insertion: Medial surface of proximal tibia

Action: Adducts thigh

Innervation: Obturator nerve

Pectineus

Region: Medial thigh

Origin: Pubis

Insertion: Posterior surface of proximal femur

Action: Adducts thigh, flexes thigh

Innervation: Femoral nerve

Adductor longus

Region: Medial thigh

Origin: Pubis

Insertion: Linea aspera of femur

Action: Adducts thigh

Innervation: Obturator nerve

Adductor brevis

Region: Medial thigh

Origin: Pubis

Insertion: Linea aspera of femur

Action: Adducts thigh

Innervation: Obturator nerve

Adductor magnus

Region: Medial thigh

Origin: Pubis and ischium

Insertion: Linea aspera of femur; adductor tubercle of femur

Action: Adducts thigh

Innervation: Obturator nerve

Biceps femoris - Long head

Region: Posterior thigh

Origin: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Head of fibula (via common tendon with short head)

Action: Flexes leg; extends thigh

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Biceps femoris - Short head

Region: Posterior thigh

Origin: Linea aspera of femur

Insertion: Head of fibula

Action: Flexes leg

Innervation: Common fibular nerve

Semitendinosus

Region: Posterior thigh

Origin: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion: medial surface of proximal tibia

Action: Flexes leg, extends thigh

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Semimembranosus

Region: Posterior thigh

Origin: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Posterior surface of medial condyle of tibia

Action: Flexes leg; extends thigh

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Tibialis anterior

Region: Anterior leg

Action: Dorsiflexes foot; inverts foot

Innervation: Deep fibular nerve

Extensor digitorum longus

Region: Anterior leg

Action: Extends digits 2-5; dorsiflexes foot

Innervation: Deep fibular nerve

Extensor hallucis longus

Region: Anterior leg

Action: Extends digit 1; dorsiflexes foot

Innervation: Deep fibular nerve

Fibularis (peroneus) tertius

Region: Anterior leg

Action: Dorsiflexes foot; everts foot

Innervation: Deep fibular nerve

Fibularis (peroneus) longus

Region: Lateral leg

Action: Plantar flexes foot; everts foot

Innervation: Superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve

Fibularis (peroneus) brevis

Region: Lateral leg

Action: Plantar flexes foot; everts foot

Innervation: Superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve

Gastrocnemius

Region: Posterior leg - superficial

Action: Plantar flexes foot; flexes leg

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Soleus

Region: Posterior leg - superficial

Action: Plantar flexes foot

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Plantaris

Region: Posterior leg - superficial

Action: Plantar flexes foot; flexes leg

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Popliteus

Region: Posterior leg - deep

Action: Flexes leg; medially rotates tibia to unlock extended knee

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Flexor hallucis longus

Region: Posterior leg - deep

Action: Flexes digit 1; plantar flexes foot

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Flexor digitorum longus

Region: Posterior leg - deep

Action: Flexes digits 2-5; plantar flexes foot; inverts foot

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Tibialis posterior

Region: Posterior leg - deep

Action: Plantar flexes foot; inverts foot

Innervation: Tibial nerve

Extensor digitorum brevis

Region: Foot - dorsum

Action: Extends digits 1-4

Innervation: Deep fibular (peroneal) nerve

Abductor hallucis

Region: Foot - plantar

Action: Abducts digit 1

Innervation: Medial plantar nerve

Flexor digitorum brevis

Region: Foot - plantar

Action: Flexes digits 2-5

Innervation: Medial plantar nerve

Abductor digiti minimi

Region: Foot - plantar

Action: Abducts digit 5

Innervation: Lateral plantar nerve