Anatomy & Physiology

Muscles of the Lower Limbs

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Muscles of the Lower Limbs

Among the strongest muscles in the body.

Because pelvic girdle is composed of heavy,

fused bone that allow little movement, no special

group of muscles is necessary to stabilize it.

Muscle that move leg form the flesh of the thigh.

Muscles originating on the leg move the ankle

and foot.

Muscles of the Lower Limbs

Divided into 3 groups

Muscles for Movement of the hip

Muscles for Movement of the knee

Muscles for Movement of the foot

Muscles of the Hip

Iliacus

Psoas Major

Gluteus minimus

Gluteus medius

Gluteus maximus

Iliacus

Origin – Iliac

Insertion – tendon of

Psoas

Action – Hip flexion,

(with Psoas major)

Psoas Major

Origin – T12 and

Lumbar vertebrae

Insertion – lesser

trochanter, femur

Action - hip flexion

Gluteus Minimus

Gluteus Medius

Origin – Iliac, lateral

surface

Insertion – greater

trochanter

Action - abduction

Gluteus Maximus

Origin – iliac, sacrum,

coccyx

Insertion – gluteal

tuberosity, IT band

Action – extension of

thigh

Glute Muscles

Anterior Muscles of the ThighMuscles that Extend the Knee

Vastus lateralis

Vastus medialis

Vastus intermedius

Rectus Femoris

Sartorius

Muscles of the Thigh - Quadriceps

Vastus Lateralis

Vastus Intermidius

Vastus Medilais

Origin – Greater Trochanter

Insertion – tibia via patella

Action – leg extension

Rectus Femoris

Origin – Ilium, acetabulum

Insertion – tibia via patella

Action – leg extension

PLUS some hip flexion

Sartorius

Origin – iliac spine

Insertion – tibia, medial

shaft

Action – lateral rotation

of thigh

Posterior Muscles of the ThighMuscles that Flex the Knee

Semimembranosus

Semitendinosus

Biceps femoris

Semimembranosus

Semitendinosus

Origin – ischial tuberosity

Insertion –

tibia medial condyle

Action – leg flexion

Biceps Femoris

Origin –

ischial tuberosity (long)

linea aspera of femur (short)

Insertion – head of fibula

Action – leg flexion

Adductor Muscles of the Thigh

Adductor magnus

Adductor brevis

Adductor longus

Gracilis

Adductor Brevis

Adductor brevis

Adductor longus

Adductor magnus

Origin – Pubis

Insertion - Femur

Action – adduction

Gracilis

Origin – ischiopubic

ramus

Insertion - Upper medial

shaft of tibia below

sartorius

Action – Adducts hip.

Flexes knee and

medially rotates flexed

knee

Adductor

Brevis

Tibialis Anterior

Extensor halluces longus

Extensor digitorum

longus

Fibularis Tertius

Fibularis Longus

Fibularis brevis

Muscles of the Anterior Compartment

of the Lower LegPrimarily Flexes the Foot

Tibialis Anterior

Origin – Tibia, lateral condyle

Insertion – medial tarsal

Action – dorsiflexion of the

ankle

Extensor hallucis longus

Origin – Anterior fibula

Insertion – Distal phalanx of

hallux

Action – dorsiflexion of the

ankle

**Hallux means big toe**

Extensor digitorum

longusOrigin – Lateral condyle of

tibia

Insertion – middle and distal

phalanges of 2nd & 5th

digits

Action – Extends 2nd & 5th

distal Interphalangeal joints

The tendon splits at the

ankle into 5 branches

4 to the lesser toes

1 to the lateral foot

Extensor digitorum longus

Fibularis (peroneus)

tertiusOrigin – Anterior fibula

Insertion – 5th metatarsal

Action – Dorsiflexes the foot

at the ankle. Everts the

foot.

Fibularis (peroneus)

longusOrigin – Head of fibula

Insertion – Medial cuneiform

and 1st metatarsal

Action – Plantar flexes the

foot at the ankle. Everts the

foot.

Fibularis (peroneus)

brevisOrigin – Distal fibula

Insertion – 5th metatarsal

Action – Plantar flexes the

foot at the ankle.

Everts the foot.

Muscles of the Posterior Compartment

of the Lower LegPrimarily Extends the Foot

Gastrocnemius

Soleus

Flexor digitorum longus

Flexor halluces longus

Tibialis Posterior

Gastrocnemius

Origin – Lateral and medial

condyles of the femur

Insertion - Calcaneus

Action – Plantar flexion

Soleus

Origin – Posterior Head of

the Fibula

Insertion - Calcaneus

Action – Plantar flexion

Flexor digitorum

longusOrigin – Posterior tibia

Insertion – Distal phalanges

of 2nd & 5th digits

Action – Plantar flexion,

Inverts the foot, flexes

Interphalangeal joints

Flexor hallucis

longusOrigin – Middle shaft of fibula

Insertion – Distal phalanx of

hallux

Action – Plantar flexion,

Inverts the foot, flexes

all joints of hallux

Tibialis posterior

Origin – Proximal ends of the

tibia and fibula

Insertion – Navicular bone,

2nd – 4th metatarsals.

Action – Plantar flexion,

Inverts the foot.

Overview of Muscles that Extend and

Flex the Foot

Overview of Muscles that Extend and

Flex the Foot