Lower limb muscles

Psoas major & iliacus (=iliopsoas)

• Insert: merge to lesser trochanter of femur

• Moves joint: acetabulofemoral joint

• Action: flexion

• Nerve: lumbar spinal nerves + femoral nerve

Adductor longus

• Insert: femur

• Moves joint: acetabulofemoral joint

• Action: adduction + helps flexion

• Nerve: obturator nerve

Adductor brevis

• Inserts: femur

• Moves joint: acetabulofemoral joint

• Action: adduction + help flexion

• Nerve: obturator nerve

Adductor magnus

Inserts: femur

Moves joint: acetabulofemoral joint

Action: adduction + helps flexion

Nerve: obturator nerve

Tensor fascia latae

• Inserts: iliotibial tract (=IT band, which inserts to tibia)

• Moves: acetabulofemoral joint + stabilizes knee

• Action: helps stabilize the hip + stabilizes knee via IT band

• Nerve: superior gluteal nerve

Sartorius

• Inserts: tibia

• Moves: acetabulofemoral joint + knee

• Action: helps flex hip + helps flex knee

• Nerve: femoral nerve

Gracilis

• Inserts: tibia

• Moves: acetabulofemoral joint + knee

• Action: helps adduct hip + help flex knee

• Nerve: obturator nerve

Rectus femoris (part of quadriceps femoris)

• Inserts: patella, then to tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament

• Moves: knee (tibiofemoral joint + patellofemoral joint) + hip

• Action: knee extension + helps flex hip

• Nerve: femoral nerve

Vastus lateralis (part of quadriceps femoris)

Inserts: patella, then to tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament

Moves joint: tibiofemoral joint + patellofemoral joint

Action: knee extension

Nerve: femoral nerve

Vastus medialis (part of quadriceps femoris)

Inserts: patella, then to tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament

Moves joints: tibiofemoral joint + patellofemoral joint

Action: knee extension

Nerve: femoral nerve

Vastus intermedius (part of quadriceps femoris)

Inserts: patella, then to tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament

Moves joints: tibiofemoral joint + patellofemoral joint

Action: knee extension

Nerve: femoral nerve

Tibialis anterior

• Inserts: tarsal + metatarsal

• Moves joint: talocrural joint

• Action: ankle dorsiflexion

• Nerve: common fibular nerve

Extensor hallucis longus

Inserts: distal phalanx 1

Moves joints: big toe MTP and IP joints + helps talocrural joint

Action: big toe extension + helps ankle dorsiflexion

Nerve: common fibular nerve

Extensor digitorum longus

Insert: 2-5 toes (middle + distal phalanges)

Moves joints: MTP + IP; helps talocrural joint

Action: toes 2-5 extension +helps ankle dorsiflexion

Nerve: common fibular nerve

Fibularis long (=peroneus longus)

Inserts: tarsal + metatarsals

Moves: ankle

Action: foot eversion (=foot pronation)

Nerve: common fibular nerve

Fibularis brevis (=peroneus brevis)

Inserts: metatarsals

Moves: ankle

Action: foot eversion (=foot pronation)

Nerve: common fibular nerve

Gluteus maximus

Inserts: femur + iliotibial tract (=IT band)

Moves joint:acetabulofemoral joint

Action : extension + helps lateral rotation

Nerve: inferior gluteal nerve

Gluteus medius

Inserts: greater trochanter

Moves joint:acetabulofemoral joint

Action : abduction (maintain pelvis balance)

Nerve: superior gluteal nerve

Gluteus minimus

Inserts: greater trochanter

Moves joint: acetabulofemoral joint

Action : abduction (matintain pelvic balance)

Nerve: superior gluteal nerve

Biceps femoris (“hamstring muscles”)

Inserts: pelvis + femur

Moves: hip+ knee

Action: flex knee + helps extend hip

Nerve: sciatic nerve

Semitendinosus (“hamstring muscles”)

Inserts: tibia on medial side

Moves: hip + knee

Action: flex knee + helps extend hip

Nerve: sciatic nerve

Semimembranosus (“hamstring muscles”)

Inserts: tibia on medial side

Moves: hip + knee

Action: flex knee + helps extend hip

Nerve: sciatic nerve

Gastrocnemius (“triceps surae”)

Inserts: calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon

Moves: ankle

Action: ankle plantar flexion

Nerve: tibial nerve

Soleus (“triceps surae”)

Inserts: calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon

Moves: ankle

Action: ankle plantar flexion

Nerve: tibial nerve

Tibialis posterior

Inserts: tarsals + metatarsals

Moves: ankle

Action: foot plantar flexion + foot inversion (supination)

Nerve: tibial nerve

Flexor digitorum longus

Inserts: phalanges

Moves: ankle + toes (talocrural joint)

Action: flex toes + helps plantar flex ankle

Nerve: tibial nerve

Flexor hallucis longus

Inserts: hallux phalanges

Moves: hallux

Action: flex hallux

Nerve: tibial nerve

Flexor digitorum brevis

Inserts: middle phalanges of toes 2-5

Moves: toes 2-5

Action: flex toes 2-5

Nerve: forms tibial nerve

Abductor hallucis and abductor digiti minimi

Inserts: hallux and little toe

Action: abduct hallux and abduct little toe

Nerve: from tibial nerve

Muscles part of quadriceps femoris

rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius

Muscles part of the “hamstring muscles”

biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus

Muscles part of the “triceps surae”

gastrocnemius, soleus

Has lumbar spinal nerves + femoral nerve

psoas major & iliacus

Has obturator nerve

adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis

Has superior gluteal nerve

tensor fascia latae, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus

Has femoral nerve

psoas major & iliacus, sartorius, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedialis

Has common fibular nerve

tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, fibularis longus, fibularis brevis

Has inferior gluteal nerve

gluteus maximus

Has sciatic nerve

biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus

Has tibial nerve

gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor hallucis and abductor digiti minimi

Moves acetabulofemoral joint

psoas major & iliacus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, tensor fascia latae, sartorius, gracilis, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus,

Inserts middle phalanges of toes 2-5

flexor digitorum brevis, extensor digitorum longus