Table of Lower Limb Muscles

Muscles of Gluteal Region

Muscle Origin outer surface of ilium, sacrum, coccyx, sacrotuberous ligament Insertion iliotibial tract and gluteal tuberosity of femur Nerve inferior gluteal nerve Action extends & laterally rotates thigh; through iliotibial tract, it extends knee joint

gluteus maximus

gluteus medius

greater outer surface of trochanter of ilium femur greater outer surface of trochanter of ilium femur iliotibial tract

superior gluteal abducts thigh. Tilts nerve pelvis when walking abduct thigh; anterior superior gluteal fibers medially rotate nerve thigh assists gluteus major in superior gluteal locking the knee into nerve full extension 1st & 2nd sacral lateral rotator of thigh nerves sacral plexus lateral rotator of thigh

gluteus minimus

tensor fasciae latae iliac crest

piriformis

greater anterior surface trochanteric of sacrum fossa

greater superior gemellus spine of ischium trochanteric fossa inner surface of greater obturator internus obturator trochanteric membrane fossa inferior gemellus ischial tuberosity greater trochanteric fossa

sacral plexus

lateral rotator of thigh

sacral plexus

lateral rotator of thigh

outer surface of greater obturator externus obturator trochanteric membrane fossa of femur

obturator nerve lateral rotator of thigh

Anterior Compartment of Thigh

sartorius anterior superior upper medial iliac spine surface of tibia iliac fossa with psoas into the lesser femoral nerve flexes, abducts, laterally rotates thigh; flexes & medially rotates leg flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh is fixed, it flexes

iliacus

femoral nerve

trochanter of femur 12th thoracic body; transverse process, bodies lesser trochanter & intervertebral of femur along lumbar plexus discs of the 5 with iliacus lumbar vertebrae superior ramus of pubis straight head from anterior inferior iliac spine; reflected head from ilium above acetabulum upper end shaft of femur femoral nerve

the trunk onto the thigh as in sitting up flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh fixed, it flexes trunk onto thigh as in sitting up flexes and adducts thigh

psoas

pectineus

quadriceps femoris, rectus femoris

quadriceps tendon into patella; into femoral nerve tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon quadriceps tendon into patella; into femoral nerve tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon quadriceps tendon into patella; into femoral nerve tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon quadriceps tendon into patella; into femoral nerve tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon

extension of leg

quadriceps femoris, vastus lateralis

upper end and shaft of femur

extension of leg

quadriceps femoris, vastus medialis

upper end and shaft of femur

extension of leg

quadriceps femoris, vastus intermedius

shaft of femur

extension of leg

Muscles of Medial Compartment of Thigh gracilis adductor longus adductor brevis inferior ramus upper part of adducts thigh and of pubis; ramus shaft of tibia on obturator nerve flexes leg of ischium medial surface body of pubis inferior ramus posterior surface adducts thigh; assists in obturator nerve of shaft of femur lateral rotation posterior surface obturator nerve adducts thigh; assists in

of pubis inferior ramus of pubis; ramus of ischium, ischial tuberosity

of shaft of femur posterior surface of shaft of femur obturator nerve; near linea tibial nerve to aspera; adductor hamstring part tubercle of femur

lateral rotation adducts thigh and assists in lateral rotation; hamstring part extends thigh

adductor magnus

Muscles of Posterior Compartment of Thigh

long head from ischial tuberosity; short head of fibula head from shaft of femur ischial tuberosity ischial tuberosity ischial tuberosity upper part medial surface of shaft of tibia long head:tibial; flexes and laterally short rotates leg; long head head:common extends thigh peroneal tibial nerve flexes and medially rotates leg; extends thigh flexes and medially rotates leg; extends thigh extends thigh

biceps femoris

semitendinosus

semimembranosus

medial condyle of tibia; forms tibial nerve oblique popliteal ligament adductor tubercle of femur tibial nerve

adductor magnus (hamstring part)

Muscles of Anterior Compartment of the Leg

medial shaft of tibia cuneiform & and interosseous base of first membrane metatarsal deep peroneal nerve extends the foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints; supports medial longitudinal arch extends toes; dorsiflexes (extends) foot dorsiflexes (extends) foot; everts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints extends big toe; dorsiflexes (extends) foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints

tibialis anterior

shaft of fibula extensor deep peroneal extensor digitorum and interosseous expansion of nerve membrane lateral four toes peroneus tertius shaft of fibula & base of 5th deep peroneal interosseous metatarsal bone nerve membrane shaft of fibula & base of distal interosseous phalanx of big membrane toe

extensor hallucis longus

deep peroneal nerve

Muscles of Lateral Compartment of Leg

peroneus longus

shaft of fibula

base of 1st metatarsal & medial cuneiform

superficial peroneal nerve

plantar flexes foot; everts foot at subtalar & transverse tarsal joints; supports lateral longitudinal and transverse arches of foot plantar flexes foot; everts foot at subtalar & transverse tarsal joints; supports lateral longitudinal arch

peroneus brevis

shaft of fibula

base of 5th superficial metatarsal bone peroneal nerve

Muscles of Posterior Compartment of the Leg

gastrocnemius medial and by way of lateral condyles Achilles tendon tibial nerve of femur to calcaneum lateral supracondylar ridge of femur calcaneum tibial nerve plantar flexes foot; flexes leg plantar flexes foot; flexes leg with gastrocnemius & plantaris is powerful plantar flexor of foot; provides main propulsive force in walking & running flexes leg; unlocks full extension of knee by laterally rotating femur on tibia flexes distal phalanges of lateral four toes; plantar flexes foot; supports medial and lateral longitudinal arches of foot flexes distal phalanx of big toe; plantar flexes foot; supports medial longitudinal arch plantar flexes foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints; supports medial

plantaris

soleus

shafts of tibia and fibula

by way of achilles tendon into calcaneum

tibial nerve

popliteus

lateral condyle of femur

shaft of tibia

tibial nerve

flexor digitorum longus

shaft of tibia

distal phalanges of lateral four tibial nerve toes

flexor hallucis longus

shaft of fibula shafts of tibia and fibula & interosseous membrane

base of distal phalanx of big toe tuberosity of navicular bone

tibial nerve

tibialis posterior

tibial nerve

longitudinal arch of foot

Muscles on the Dorsum of Foot

by four tendons into the proximal phalanx of big deep peroneal toe and long nerve extensor tendons to 2nd, 3rd and 4th toes medial side, base of proximal medial plantar phalanx of big nerve toe medial plantar nerve

extensor digitorum calcaneum brevis

extends toes

Muscles of the Sole of the Foot (First Layer)

abductor hallucis medial tubercle of calcaneum; flexor retinaculum flexes, abducts big toe; supports medial arch flexes lateral four toes; supports medial & lateral longitudinal arches flexes, abducts 5th toe; supports lateral longitudinal arch

flexor digitorum brevis abductor digiti minimi

middle phalanx medial tubercle of four lateral of calcaneum toes

medial & lateral lateral side base lateral plantar tubercles of of proximal nerve calcaneum phalanx 5th toe tendons flexor digitorum longus

muscles of Sole of Foot (Second Layer)

medial and flexor accessorius lateral sides of (quadratus plantae) calcaneum flexor digitorum longus tendon lateral plantar nerve aids long flexor tendon to flex lateral four toes flexes distal phalanges of lateral four toes; plantar flexes foot; supports longitudinal arch

shaft of tibia

base of distal phalanx of tibial nerve lateral four toes

lumbricals

1st lumbrical from medial plantar; tendons of dorsal extensor remainder extends toes at flexor digitorum expansion of lumbricals from interphalangeal joints longus lateral four toes deep branch of lateral plantar nerve shaft of fibula base of distal phalanx of big tibial nerve flexes distal phalanx of big toe; plantar flexes

flexor hallucis longus

toe

foot; supports medial longitudinal arch flexes metatarsophalangeal joint of big toe; supports medial longitudinal arch flexes big toe, supports transverse arch flexes big toe; supports transverse arch

Muscles of Sole of Foot (Third Layer)

flexor hallucis brevis cuboid, lateral cuneiform bones; tibialis posterior insertion bases of 2nd, 3rd & 4th metatarsal bones plantar ligaments medial & lateral sides of base of medial plantar proximal nerve phalanx of big toe lateral side base deep branch of of proximal lateral plantar phalanx big toe lateral side of deep branch of base of proximal lateral plantar phalanx big toe nerve

adductor hallucis (oblique head) adductor hallucis (transverse head) flexor digiti minimi brevis

lateral side of superior branch base of 5th base of proximal of lateral plantar flexes little toe metatarsal bone phalanx of big nerve toe abduct toes with 2nd toe as the reference; flex metatarsophalangeal joints; extend interphalangeal joint adduct toes with 2nd toe as reference; flex metatarsophalangeal joints; extend interphalangeal joints

Muscles of Sole of Foot (Fourth Layer)

bases of adjacent sides of phalanges and lateral plantar metatarsal dorsal expansion nerve bones of corresponding toes bases of 3rd, 4th, and 5th phalanges & lateral plantar metatarsal dorsal expansion nerve bones of corresponding toes

dorsal interossei (4)

plantar interossei (3)