Table of Lower Limb Muscles

Muscles of Gluteal Region

Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Nerve

gluteus maximus

outer surface
of ilium,
sacrum,
coccyx,
sacrotuberous
ligament

iliotibial tract
and gluteal
tuberosity of
femur

extends & laterally

inferior gluteal rotates thigh; through
nerve
iliotibial tract, it
extends knee joint

gluteus medius

outer surface
of ilium

greater
trochanter of
femur

superior
gluteal nerve

abducts thigh. Tilts

pelvis when walking

gluteus minimus

outer surface
of ilium

greater
trochanter of
femur

superior
gluteal nerve

abduct thigh; anterior

fibers medially rotate
thigh

iliotibial tract

superior
gluteal nerve

assists gluteus major

in locking the knee
into full extension

piriformis

anterior
surface of
sacrum

greater
trochanteric
fossa

1st & 2nd

sacral nerves

lateral rotator of
thigh

superior gemellus

spine of
ischium

greater
trochanteric
fossa

sacral plexus

lateral rotator of
thigh

greater
trochanteric
fossa

sacral plexus

lateral rotator of
thigh

greater
trochanteric
fossa

sacral plexus

lateral rotator of
thigh

tensor fasciae latae iliac crest

inner surface
obturator internus of obturator
membrane
inferior gemellus

ischial
tuberosity

outer surface
obturator externus of obturator
membrane

greater
obturator
trochanteric
nerve
fossa of femur

Action

lateral rotator of
thigh

Anterior Compartment of Thigh

sartorius

anterior
superior iliac
spine

iliacus

iliac fossa

flexes, abducts,
upper medial
laterally rotates thigh;
femoral nerve
surface of tibia
flexes & medially
rotates leg
with psoas into femoral nerve
the lesser
trochanter of
femur

flexes thigh on trunk;

if thigh is fixed, it
flexes the trunk onto
the thigh as in sitting

up

psoas

12th thoracic
body;
transverse
process,
bodies &
intervertebral
discs of the 5
lumbar
vertebrae

pectineus

superior ramus upper end shaft

flexes and adducts
femoral nerve
of pubis
of femur
thigh

quadriceps
femoris, rectus
femoris

straight head
from anterior
inferior iliac
spine;
reflected head
from ilium
above
acetabulum

quadriceps
femoris, vastus
lateralis

quadriceps
tendon into
upper end and patella; into
femoral nerve extension of leg
shaft of femur tibial
tuberosity by
patellar tendon

quadriceps
femoris, vastus
medialis

quadriceps
tendon into
upper end and patella; into
femoral nerve extension of leg
shaft of femur tibial
tuberosity by
patellar tendon

quadriceps
femoris, vastus
intermedius

quadriceps
tendon into
patella; into
shaft of femur
femoral nerve extension of leg
tibial
tuberosity by
patellar tendon

lesser
trochanter of
femur along
with iliacus

flexes thigh on trunk;

if thigh fixed, it
lumbar plexus
flexes trunk onto
thigh as in sitting up

quadriceps
tendon into
patella; into
femoral nerve extension of leg
tibial
tuberosity by
patellar tendon

Muscles of Medial Compartment of Thigh

gracilis

inferior ramus
of pubis;
ramus of
ischium

upper part of
shaft of tibia
on medial
surface

obturator
nerve

adducts thigh and

flexes leg

adductor longus

posterior
obturator
body of pubis surface of shaft
nerve
of femur

adducts thigh; assists

in lateral rotation

adductor brevis

posterior
inferior ramus
obturator
surface of shaft
of pubis
nerve
of femur

adducts thigh; assists

in lateral rotation

adductor magnus

inferior ramus
of pubis;
ramus of
ischium,
ischial
tuberosity

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

adducts thigh and

assists in lateral
rotation; hamstring
part extends thigh

Muscles of Posterior Compartment of Thigh

biceps femoris

long head
from ischial
tuberosity;
short head
from shaft of
femur

long
head:tibial;
flexes and laterally
head of fibula short
rotates leg; long head
head:common extends thigh
peroneal

semitendinosus

ischial
tuberosity

upper part
medial surface tibial nerve
of shaft of tibia

flexes and medially

rotates leg; extends
thigh

semimembranosus

ischial
tuberosity

medial condyle
of tibia; forms
oblique
tibial nerve
popliteal
ligament

flexes and medially

rotates leg; extends
thigh

adductor magnus
(hamstring part)

ischial
tuberosity

adductor
tubercle of
femur

extends thigh

tibial nerve

Muscles of Anterior Compartment of the Leg

tibialis anterior

shaft of tibia
and
interosseous
membrane

shaft of fibula
and
extensor digitorum
interosseous
membrane

medial
cuneiform &
base of first
metatarsal

extends the foot;

inverts foot at
subtalar and
deep peroneal
transverse tarsal
nerve
joints; supports
medial longitudinal
arch

extensor
expansion of
lateral four
toes

extends toes;
deep peroneal
dorsiflexes (extends)
nerve
foot

dorsiflexes (extends)
foot; everts foot at
deep peroneal
subtalar and
nerve
transverse tarsal
joints

peroneus tertius

shaft of fibula base of 5th

& interosseous metatarsal
membrane
bone

extensor hallucis
longus

extends big toe;

dorsiflexes (extends)
shaft of fibula base of distal
deep peroneal foot; inverts foot at
& interosseous phalanx of big
nerve
subtalar and
membrane
toe
transverse tarsal
joints

Muscles of Lateral Compartment of Leg

peroneus longus

peroneus brevis

base of 1st
metatarsal &
shaft of fibula
medial
cuneiform

plantar flexes foot;

everts foot at subtalar
& transverse tarsal
superficial
joints; supports
peroneal nerve
lateral longitudinal
and transverse arches
of foot

base of 5th
shaft of fibula metatarsal
bone

plantar flexes foot;

everts foot at subtalar
superficial
& transverse tarsal
peroneal nerve joints; supports
lateral longitudinal
arch

Muscles of Posterior Compartment of the Leg

gastrocnemius

medial and
lateral
condyles of
femur

by way of
Achilles
tendon to
calcaneum

tibial nerve

plantar flexes foot;

flexes leg

plantaris

lateral
supracondylar calcaneum
ridge of femur

tibial nerve

plantar flexes foot;

flexes leg

by way of
shafts of tibia
achilles tendon tibial nerve
and fibula
into calcaneum

with gastrocnemius
& plantaris is
powerful plantar
flexor of foot;
provides main
propulsive force in
walking & running

soleus

popliteus

lateral condyle shaft of tibia

of femur

tibial nerve

flexes leg; unlocks

full extension of knee
by laterally rotating

femur on tibia

flexor digitorum
longus

flexor hallucis
longus

tibialis posterior

shaft of tibia

distal
phalanges of
lateral four
toes

tibial nerve

flexes distal
phalanges of lateral
four toes; plantar
flexes foot; supports
medial and lateral
longitudinal arches of
foot

base of distal
shaft of fibula phalanx of big tibial nerve
toe

flexes distal phalanx

of big toe; plantar
flexes foot; supports
medial longitudinal
arch

shafts of tibia
and fibula & tuberosity of
tibial nerve
interosseous navicular bone
membrane

plantar flexes foot;

inverts foot at
subtalar and
transverse tarsal
joints; supports
medial longitudinal
arch of foot

Muscles on the Dorsum of Foot

extensor digitorum
calcaneum
brevis

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

Muscles of the Sole of the Foot (First Layer)

abductor hallucis

medial
tubercle of
calcaneum;
flexor
retinaculum

medial side,
base of
flexes, abducts big
medial plantar
proximal
toe; supports medial
nerve
phalanx of big
arch
toe

flexor digitorum
brevis

medial
tubercle of
calcaneum

flexes lateral four

middle
medial plantar toes; supports medial
phalanx of four
nerve
& lateral longitudinal
lateral toes
arches

medial &
lateral
tubercles of

lateral side
base of
proximal

abductor digiti
minimi

lateral plantar flexes, abducts 5th

nerve
toe; supports lateral
longitudinal arch

calcaneum

phalanx 5th toe

muscles of Sole of Foot (Second Layer)

flexor accessorius medial and
tendons flexor
aids long flexor
lateral plantar
(quadratus
lateral sides of digitorum
tendon to flex lateral
nerve
plantae)
calcaneum
longus
four toes
flexor digitorum
longus tendon

lumbricals

flexor hallucis
longus

flexes distal
phalanges of lateral
four toes; plantar
flexes foot; supports
longitudinal arch

shaft of tibia

base of distal
phalanx of
lateral four
toes

tendons of
flexor
digitorum
longus

1st lumbrical
from medial
plantar;
dorsal extensor
remainder
expansion of
extends toes at
lumbricals
lateral four
interphalangeal joints
from deep
toes
branch of
lateral plantar
nerve

tibial nerve

base of distal
shaft of fibula phalanx of big tibial nerve
toe

flexes distal phalanx

of big toe; plantar
flexes foot; supports
medial longitudinal
arch

Muscles of Sole of Foot (Third Layer)

flexor hallucis
brevis

cuboid, lateral
cuneiform
bones; tibialis
posterior
insertion

medial &
lateral sides of
base of
medial plantar
proximal
nerve
phalanx of big
toe

adductor hallucis
(oblique head)

bases of 2nd,
3rd & 4th
metatarsal
bones

lateral side
flexes big toe,
base of
deep branch of
supports transverse
proximal
lateral plantar
arch
phalanx big toe

adductor hallucis
(transverse head)

plantar
ligaments

lateral side of
deep branch of flexes big toe;
base of
lateral plantar supports transverse
proximal
nerve
arch
phalanx big toe

flexor digiti
minimi brevis

base of 5th
metatarsal
bone

lateral side of
base of
proximal
phalanx of big

flexes
metatarsophalangeal
joint of big toe;
supports medial
longitudinal arch

superior
flexes little toe
branch of
lateral plantar
nerve

toe
Muscles of Sole of Foot (Fourth Layer)

dorsal interossei
(4)

bases of
phalanges and
adjacent sides
dorsal
lateral plantar
of metatarsal
expansion of nerve
bones
corresponding
toes

abduct toes with 2nd

toe as the reference;
flex
metatarsophalangeal
joints; extend
interphalangeal joint

plantar interossei
(3)

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

adduct toes with 2nd

toe as reference; flex
metatarsophalangeal
joints; extend
interphalangeal joints

tendon of
peroneus longus

see above

see above

see above

see above

tendon of tibialis
posterior

see above

see above

see above

see above

Radiographs

Practice
Examination
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of the Lower Limb | Table of Muscles | Practice Examination

This is copyrighted1999 by Wesley Norman, PhD