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