Master Muscles List - Lower Extremity

pectineus origin

pecten pubis, of superior pubic ramus

pectineus insertion

pectineal line of femur, just inferior to lesser trochanter

pectineus action

adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the hip

pectineus innervation/spinal levels

femoral L2-3 (sometimes obturator)

iliacus origin

iliac crest, superior 2/3 of iliac fossa, ala of sacrum, and anterior sacroilliac ligaments

iliacus insertion

tendon of psoas major muscle to lesser trochanter of femur

iliacus action

flexes and stabilizes the hip

iliacus innervation/spinal levels

femoral L2-3

psoas major origin

Vertebral bodies of T12-L5 and intervertebral discs between them, Transverse processes of L1-5

psoas major insertion

lesser trochanter of femur

psoas major action

flexes and stabilizes the hip

psoas major innervation/spinal levels

ventral rami of L1-3

sartorius origin

anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)

sartorius insertion

superior part of medial tibia

sartorius action

abduction, lateral rotation, and flexes the hip; flexes knee

sartorius innervation/spinal levels

femoral L2-3

rectus femoris origin

anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS)

rectus femoris insertion

tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament

rectus femoris action

flexes hip, extends knee

rectus femoris innervation/spinal levels

femoral L2-4

vastus lateralis origin

greater trochanter and lateral lip of linea aspera

vastus lateralis insertion

tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament, lateral patella via retinacula

vastus lateralis action

extends knee

vastus lateralis innervation/spinal levels

femoral L2-4

vastus medialis origin

intertrochanteric line and medial lip of linea aspera

vastus medialis insertion

tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament, medial patella via retinacula

vastus medialis action

extends knee

vastus medialis innervation/spinal levels

femoral L2-4

vastus intermedius origin

anterior and lateral surfaces of shaft of femur

vastus intermedius insertion

tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament

vastus intermedius action

extends knee

vastus intermedius innervation/spinal levels

femoral L2-4

origin of adductor brevis

body of pubic bone and inferior pubic ramus

insertion of adductor brevis

pectineal line and proximal linea aspera of femur

action of adductor brevis

adducts and flexes hip

innervation/spinal levels of adductor brevis

obturator L2-4

origin of adductor longus

body of pubic bone inferior to pubic crest

insertion of adductor longus

middle 1/3 of linea aspera

action of adductor longus

adducts hip

innervation/spinal levels of adductor longus

obturator L2-4

origin of adductor magnus

adductor part - inferior pubic ramus and ischial ramus

hamstring part - ischial tuberosity

insertion of adductor magnus

adductor part - gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, and medial supracondylar line of femur

hamstring part - adductor tubercle of femur

action of adductor magnus

both - adduct

adductor part - flexes hip

hamstring part - extends hip

innervation/spinal levels of adductor magnus

adductor part - obturator L2-4

hamstring part - tibial division of sciatic n. L4

origin of gracillis

body of pubic bone and inferior pubic ramus

insertion of gracillis

superior part of medial tibia (pes anserine)

action of gracillis

adducts hip, flexes and medially rotates knee

innervation/spinal levels of gracillis

obturator L2-3

origin of obturator externus

margins of obturator foramen and obturator membrane

insertion of obturator externus

trochanteric fossa of femur

action of obturator externus

laterally rotates hip

innervation/spinal levels of obturator externus

obturator L3-4

origin of anterior tibialis

lateral condyle of tibia, superior ½ of lateral tibia, and interosseous membrane

insertion of anterior tibialis

medial and inferior surfaces of the medial cuneiform and base of the 1st metatarsal

action of anterior tibialis

dorsiflexes ankle, inverts foot, and supports medial arch of foot

innervation/spinal levels of anterior tibialis

deep peroneal L4-5

origin of extensor hallucis longus

middle ½ of medial surface of fibula and interosseous membrane

insertion of extensor hallucis longus

dorsal aspect of base of hallux, distal phalanx

action of extensor hallucis longus

extends hallux and dorsiflexes ankle

innervation/spinal levels of extensor hallucis longus

deep peroneal L5-S1

origin of extensor digitorum longus

lateral condyle of the tibia, superior ¾ of anterior surface of fibula, and interosseous membrane

insertion of extensor digitorum longus

middle and distal phalanges of digits 2-5

action of extensor digitorum longus

extends digits 2-5 and dorsiflexes ankle

innervation/spinal levels of extensor digitorum longus

deep peroneal L5-S1

origin of peroneus tertius

inferior 1/3 of anterior surface of fibula and interosseous membrane

insertion of peroneus tertius

dorsum of the base of the 5th metatarsal

action of peroneus tertius

dorsiflexes ankle and aides in eversion of the foot

innervation/spinal levels of peroneus tertius

deep peroneal L5-S1

origin of peroneus longus

head and superior 2/3 of lateral surface of fibula

insertion of peroneus longus

plantar surface of base of 1st metatarsal and medial cuneiform

action of peroneus longus

everts foot, weakly plantarflexes ankle

innervation/spinal levels of peroneus longus

superficial peroneal L5-S2

origin of peroneus brevis

inferior 2/3 of lateral surface of fibula

insertion of peroneus brevis

dorsal surface of 5th metatarsal tuberosity

action of peroneus brevis

everts foot and weakly plantarflexes ankle

innervation/spinal levels of peroneus brevis

superficial peroneal L5-S2

origin of extensor digitorum brevis

dorsal, lateral aspect of the calcaneus

insertion of extensor digitorum brevis

lateral side of the tendons of the EDL muscles for digits 2-4

action of extensor digitorum brevis

aides EDL in extending digits 2-4 at MTP joints

innervation/spinal levels of extensor digitorum brevis

deep peroneal L5-S1

origin of extensor hallucis brevis

dorsal aspect of calcaneus with EDB

insertion of extensor hallucis brevis

dorsal base of the proximal phalanx of the hallux

action of extensor hallucis brevis

aides EHL in extension of the 1st MPT joint

innervation/spinal levels of extensor hallucis brevis

deep peroneal L5-S1

origin of gluteus maximus

external surface of ilium posterior to the posterior gluteal line, dorsal surface of sacrum and coccyx, and sacrotuberous ligament

insertion of gluteus maximus

iliotibial tract to lateral condyle of tibia and gluteal tuberosity of femur

action of gluteus maximus

extends and laterally rotates hip

innervation/spinal level of gluteus maximus

inferior gluteal L5-S2

origin of gluteus medius

external surface of ilium between anterior and posterior gluteal lines

insertion of gluteus medius

lateral surface of greater trochanter of femur

action of gluteus medius

abducts and medially rotates hip

innervation/spinal level of gluteus medius

superior gluteal L4-S1

origin of gluteus minimus

external surface of ilium between anterior and inferior gluteal lines

insertion of gluteus minimus

anterior surface of greater trochanter

action of gluteus minimus

abducts and medially rotates hip

innervation/spinal level of gluteus minimus

superior gluteal L4-S1

origin of tensor fascia lata

anterior superior iliac spine and anterior part of iliac crest

insertion of tensor fascia lata

iliotibial tract to lateral condyle of tibia

action of tensor fascia lata

abducts, medially rotates, and flexes hip, knee extension

innervation/spinal level of tensor fascia lata

superior gluteal L4-S1