Muscles of the Lower Extremity

Note: Actions of muscles are typically described as if they are acting on the body in anatomical position.
Realize that if the body is not in anatomical position, a particular muscle may have a slightly different
action.

Muscles of the Anterior Thigh

MUSCLE

Sartorius

Iliopsoas

ORIGIN

INSERTION

INNERVATION

ACTION

ASIS

Medial aspect of tibia

inferior to condyle (part of
pes anserinus)

Femoral nerve

Flexes, abducts and

laterally rotates thigh;
flexes leg

Lesser trochanter of femur

Femoral nerve
(also some direct branches
from lumbar plexus)

Flexes thigh

Pectineal line of femur

Femoral nerve

Adducts and flexes

thigh

psoas: T12-L5 vertebral

bodies and tr. processes
iliacus: Iliac fossa

Pectineus

Pectineal line of pubis

Quadriceps femoris:

Rectus femoris

AIIS

Vastus lateralis

Linea aspera (lateral lip)

Flexes thigh, extends

leg

Tibial tuberosity via the

patellar ligament
Vastus medialis

Vastus
intermedius

Linea aspera (medial lip)

Anterior/lateral surfaces of
femur

Femoral nerve
Extends leg

Muscles of the Medial Thigh

MUSCLE

ORIGIN

INSERTION

INNERVATION

ACTION

Adductor longus

Body of pubis

Linea aspera

Obturator nerve

Adducts thigh

Adductor brevis

Body and inferior ramus of pubis

Linea aspera

Obturator nerve

Adducts thigh

adductor part: Ischiopubic

ramus

Linea aspera

Obturator nerve

Adducts and weakly

flexes thigh

hamstring part: Ischial tuberosity

Adductor tubercle

Sciatic nerve (tibial portion)

Adducts and weakly

extends thigh

Body of pubis, ischiopubic

ramus

Medial aspect of tibia

inferior to condyle (part of
pes anserinus)

Obturator nerve

Adducts thigh, flexes

leg

INNERVATION

ACTION

Superior gluteal nerve

Abducts, medially
rotates and flexes
thigh; helps to keep
the knee extended by
tensing the IT tract

Inferior gluteal nerve

Laterally rotates thigh;

extends thigh,
especially when
flexed or working
against resistance

Superior gluteal nerve

Abducts and medially

rotates thigh; steadies
pelvis on leg when
opposite leg is raised

Adductor magnus

Gracilis

Muscles of the Gluteal Region

MUSCLE

Tensor fasciae
latae

Gluteus maximus

ORIGIN

ASIS

Sacrum, ilium (medial to

posterior gluteal line),
sacrotuberous ligament

Gluteus medius

Ilium between anterior and

posterior gluteal lines

Gluteus minimus

Ilium between anterior and

inferior gluteal lines

INSERTION

Iliotibial tract (aka IT band)

Iliotibial tract, gluteal

tuberosity

Greater trochanter of femur

Piriformis

Anterior part of sacrum

Greater trochanter of femur

Sacral plexus

Laterally rotates thigh

Gemelli (superior
and inferior)

Lesser sciatic notch

Greater trochanter of femur

Sacral plexus

Laterally rotates thigh

Obturator internus

Internal surface of obturator

membrane

Greater trochanter of femur

Sacral plexus

Laterally rotates thigh

Quadratus femoris

Ischial tuberosity

Quadrate tubercle of femur

Sacral plexus

Laterally rotates thigh

Muscles of the Posterior Thigh

MUSCLE

ORIGIN

INSERTION

INNERVATION

ACTION

Semimembranosus

Ischial tuberosity

Proximal part of tibia

Sciatic nerve (tibial portion)

Extends thigh, flexes

knee

Semitendinosus

Ischial tuberosity

Medial aspect of tibia

inferior to condyle (part of
pes anserinus)

Sciatic nerve (tibial portion)

Extends thigh, flexes

knee

Sciatic nerve (tibial portion)

long head: Ischial tuberosity
Biceps femoris

Head of the fibula

short head: Linea aspera

Extends thigh, flexes

knee

Sciatic nerve (common

fibular portion)

Flexes knee

INNERVATION

ACTION

Muscles of the Posterior Leg

MUSCLE

ORIGIN

Gastrocnemius

Lateral and medial femoral

condyles

Soleus

Fibula, soleal line on tibia

Plantaris

INSERTION

Plantarflexes foot,
flexes leg

Calcaneus via calcaneal

tendon

Tibial nerve

Lateral supracondylar area of

femur

Plantarflexes foot

Plantarflexes foot,
flexes leg

Deep Group:
Flexor digitorum
longus

Posterior surface of tibia

Base of distal phalanx of

the lateral four toes

Flexes lateral four

toes

Tibialis posterior

Interosseous membrane,
posterior surface of tibia and
fibula

Medial tarsal bones

Plantarflexes and
inverts foot
Tibial nerve

Flexor hallucis
longus

Popliteus

Posterior surface of fibula,

interosseous membrane

Base of distal phalanx of

the great toe

Flexes great toe

Posterior surface of tibia

Lateral femoral condyle

Unlocks knee joint

Muscles of the Anterior Leg

MUSCLE

ORIGIN

INSERTION

Lateral side of tibia

Medial cuneiform, base of

1st metatarsal

Extensor hallucis
longus

Fibula and interosseous

membrane

Base of distal phalanx of

great toe

Extensor digitorum
longus

Fibula and interosseous

membrane

Middle and distal

phalanges of lateral four
toes

Tibialis anterior

INNERVATION

ACTION
Dorsiflexes and
inverts foot

Deep fibular nerve

Extends great toe,

dorsiflexes foot

Extends lateral four

toes, dorsiflexes foot

Muscles of the Lateral Leg

MUSCLE

Fibularis longus

Fibularis brevis

ORIGIN

INSERTION

INNERVATION

ACTION

Fibula

Medial cuneiform, base of

1st metatarsal (tendon
passes across the plantar
surface of the foot)

Superficial fibular nerve

Everts foot

Fibula

Base of 5th metatarsal