muscles of the lower limb

innervation

nerve that stimulates

fascia lata

deep fascia that invests the thigh

iliotibial tract (IT band)

thickened lateral portion of the fascia lata in the thigh

gluteus maximus m.

used for extension and lateral rotation of the hip; helps us to stand from sitting and go up stairs; innervated by inferior gluteal n.

gluteus medius m.

used for abduction of hip and stabilization of pelvis; innervated by the superior gluteal n.

gluteus minimus m.

used for abduction of hip and stabilization of pelvis; innervated by the superior gluteal n.

tensor fasciae latae m.

used for flexion and abduction of hip; innervated by the superior gluteal n.

piriformis m.

used for lateral rotation of hip; where nerves extend from

psoas major m.

used for flexion of hip and trunk; innervated by lumbar spinal nn.

iliacus m.

used for flexion of hip and trunk; innervated by femoral n.

iliopsoas m.

where iliacus and psoas major muscles come together; used for flexion of hip and trunk

anterior thigh muscles

quad area; knee extensors; innervated by the femoral n.

medial thigh muscles

groin area; adductors; innervated by obturator n.

sartorius m.

longest muscle in the body; seatbelt-shaped; helps to cross legs and flex hip and knee at the same time

rectus femoris m.

only quad muscle that crosses hip joint; helps with flexion of hip

vastus lateralis m.

lateral side quad muscle

vastus intermedius m.

deep to rectus femoris; between vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles

vastus medialis m.

closest of quad muscles to midline

quad muscles

cross the knee to help it extend

gracilis m.

helps adduct the hip; innervated by obturator n.

pectineus m.

helps adduct and flex the hip; innervated by femoral n. and obturator n.

adductor longus m.

long; helps adduct the hip; innervated by obturator n.

adductor brevis m.

shorter, smaller; helps adduct the hip; innervated by obturator n.

adductor magnus m.

deep to the adductor longus m. and contains the adductor hiatus; helps adduct the hip; innervated by obturator n.

adductor hiatus

pathway for vessels to get from anterior to posterior side

posterior thigh muscles

make up the “hamstring” muscles; majority innervated by the tibial n.

long head of biceps femoris m.

crosses knee joint; used to extend hip and flex knee; innervated by tibial n.

short head of biceps femoris m.

doesn’t cross hip joint; used to flex knee; innervated by common fibular n.

semitendinosus m.

ends in a long, thin tendon; used to extend hip and flex knee; innervated by tibial n.

semimembranosus m.

used to extend hip and flex knee; innervated by tibial n.

pes anserine

conjoined tendon of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles; “goose foot”

inversion of the foot

souls of the feet turn medially

eversion of the foot

souls of feet turn laterally

crural fascia

deep fascia that invests the leg; wraps muscles together to keep their actions continuous; helps with blood return

dorsiflexion

foot points up

plantarflexion

foot points down

anterior leg muscles

shin muscles; dorsiflexors of the ankle and extensors of the toes; innervated by deep fibular n.

tibialis anterior m.

used to dorsiflex and invert foot; innervated by deep fibular n.

extensor hallucis longus m.

used to dorsiflex foot and extend hallux (big toe); innervated by deep fibular n.

extensor digitorum longus m.

used to dorsiflex foot and extend digits 2-5; innervated by deep fibular n.

fibularis tertius m.

not present in everyone; used to dorsiflex and evert foot, innervated by deep fibular n.

lateral leg muscles

plantar flexors of the ankle and help evert the foot; innervated by the superficial fibular n.

fibularis longus m.

longer; used to plantar flex and evert foot; innervated by superficial fibular n.

fibularis brevis m.

shorter; used to plantar flex and evert foot; innervated by superficial fibular n.

posterior leg muscles (superficial)

plantar flexors of the foot; innervated by the tibial n.

gastrocnemius m.

calf muscle; has two heads and crosses the knee; used to flex knee and plantar flex foot; innervated by tibial n.

soleus m.

used to plantar flex foot; innervated by tibial n.

plantaris m.

crosses knee; used to flex knee and plantar flex foot; innervated by tibial n.

posterior leg muscles (deep)

plantar flexors of the ankle and flexors of the toes; all innervated by tibial n.

popliteus m.

crosses knee joint; used to flex knee, medially rotate tibia, turns femur so that knee can “unlock”; innervated by tibial n.

tibialis posterior m.

used to plantar flex and invert foot; innervated by tibial n.

flexor hallucis longus m.

used to plantar flex foot and flex the hallux; innervated by tibial n.

flexor digitorum longus m.

used to plantar flex foot and flex digits 2-5; innervated by tibial n.

tarsal tunnel

consists of the tendon of the tibialis posterior, tendon of the flexor digitorum longus, posterior tibial artery, tibial nerve, and tendon of flexor hallucis longus

muscles of the dorsum (top) of the foot

extensors of toes 1-4; innervated by the deep fibular n.

extensor hallucis brevis m.

extends the big toe; innervated by deep fibular n.

extensor digitorum brevis m.

extends digits 2-4; innervated by deep fibular n.

muscles of the plantar surface (bottom) of the foot

flexors

abductor hallucis m.

abducts the big toe; innervated by the medial plantar n.

flexor digitorum brevis m.

flexes digits 2-5; innervated by medial plantar n.

abductor digiti minimi m.

abducts digit 5 (little toe); innervated by the lateral plantar n.