Muscles of the Lower Limb - Listed Alphabetically
|
Muscle |
Origin |
Insertion |
Action |
Innervation |
Artery |
Notes |
abductor digiti minimi (foot) |
medial and lateral sides of the tuberosity of the calcaneus |
lateral side of the base of the proximal phalanx of the 5th digit |
abducts the 5th toe; flexes the metatarsophalangeal joint |
lateral plantar nerve |
lateral plantar a. |
abductor digiti minimi forms the lateral margin of the sole of the foot |
abductor hallucis |
medial side of the tuberosity of calcaneus |
medial side of the base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe (hallux) |
abducts the great toe; flexes the metatarsophalangeal joint |
medial plantar nerve |
medial plantar a. |
abductor hallucis forms the medial margin of the sole of the foot (Latin, hallex = great toe) |
adductor brevis |
inferior pubic ramus |
pectineal line and linea aspera (deep to the pectineus and adductor longus
mm.) |
adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the femur |
anterior division of the obturator nerve |
obturator a., deep femoral a. |
anterior and posterior divisions of the obturator nerve lie on the anterior
and posterior surfaces of adductor brevis |
adductor hallucis |
oblique head: bases of metatarsals 2-4; transverse head: heads of metatarsals
3-5 |
lateral side of base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe |
adducts the great toe (moves it toward midline of the foot; i.e.toward the
2nd digit) |
deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve |
plantar arterial arch |
the plantar arterial arch passes superior to the oblique head of adductor hallucis (Latin, hallex = great toe) |
adductor longus |
medial portion of the superior pubic ramus |
linea aspera of the femur |
adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the femur |
anterior division of the obturator nerve |
obturator a., deep femoral a. |
the most anterior of the adductor group of muscles |
adductor magnus |
ischiopubic ramus and ischial tuberosity |
linea aspera of the femur; the ischiocondylar part inserts on the adductor
tubercle of the femur |
adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the femur; extends the femur (ischiocondylar
part) |
posterior division of the obturator nerve; tibial nerve (ischiocondylar
part) |
obturator a., deep femoral a., medial femoral circumflex a. |
the ischiocondylar part of adductor magnus is a hamstring muscle by embryonic
origin and action, so it is innervated by the tibial nerve |
adductor minimus |
lower portion of the inferior pubic ramus |
gluteal ridge and upper part of the linea aspera of the femur |
adducts and laterally rotates the femur |
posterior division of the obturator nerve |
obturator a., medial femoral circumflex a., deep femoral a. |
adductor minimus m. is the uppermost fibers of the adductor magnus m. |
articularis genu |
anterior surface of the femur above the patellar surface |
articular capsule of the knee |
elevates the articular capsule of the knee joint |
femoral nerve |
descending genicular a. |
articularis genu is formed by muscle fascicles deep to the vastus intermedius
m. |
biceps femoris |
long head: ischial tuberosity; short head: lateral lip of the linea aspera |
head of fibula and lateral condyle of the tibia |
extends the thigh, flexes the leg |
long head: tibial nerve; short head: common fibular (peroneal) nerve |
perforating branches of the deep femoral a. |
one of the "hamstring" muscles |
dorsal interosseous (foot) |
shafts of adjacent metatarsal bones |
bases of the proximal phalanges for digit 2 (both sides) & digits 3,4 (lateral
side) |
abduct digits 2-4 (move these digits away from midline as defined by a plane
passing through the 2nd digit); flex the metatarsophalangeal joints and extend
the interphalangeal joints of those digits |
deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve |
dorsal metatarsal aa. |
four in number; remember DAB (Dorsal interossei ABduct) and PAD (Plantar interossei ADduct), then logic can tell you where these muscles insert (Latin, inter = between + os = bone) |
extensor digitorum brevis |
superolateral surface of the calcaneus |
extensor expansion of toes 1-4 |
extends toes 1-4 |
deep fibular (peroneal) nerve |
dorsalis pedis a. |
the part of the extensor digitorum brevis that goes to the great toe is
called the extensor hallucis brevis m. |
extensor digitorum longus |
lateral condyle of the tibia, anterior surface of the fibula, lateral portion
of the interosseous membrane |
dorsum of the lateral 4 toes via extensor expansions (central slip inserts
on base of middle phalanx, lateral slips on base of distal phalanx) |
extends the metatarsophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal
joints of the lateral 4 toes |
deep fibular (peroneal) nerve |
anterior tibial a. |
one of the muscles involved in anterior compartment syndrome |
extensor hallucis brevis |
superolateral surface of the calcaneus |
dorsum of base of proximal phalanx of the great toe |
extends the great toe |
deep fibular (peroneal) nerve |
dorsalis pedis a. |
usually considered to be the medial-most part of the extensor digitorum brevis m. (Latin, hallex = great toe) |
extensor hallucis longus |
middle half of the anterior surface of the fibula and the interosseous membrane |
base of the distal phalanx of the great toe |
extends the metatarsophalangeal interphalangeal joints of the great toe |
deep fibular (peroneal) nerve |
anterior tibial a. |
one of the muscles involved in anterior compartment syndrome (Latin, hallex = great toe) |
fibularis (peroneus) brevis |
lower one third of the lateral surface of the fibula |
tuberosity of the base of the 5th metatarsal |
extends (plantar flexes) and everts the foot |
superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve |
fibular (peroneal) a. |
stress fracture of the base of the 5th metatarsal bone is a common runner's
injury |
fibularis (peroneus) longus |
upper two/thirds of the lateral surface of the fibula |
after crossing the plantar surface of the foot deep to the intrinsic muscles,
it inserts on the medial cuneiform and the base of the 1st metatarsal bone
|
extends (plantar flexes) and everts the foot |
superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve |
fibular (peroneal) a. |
fibularis longus lies superficial to the fibularis brevis m. in the lateral
compartment of the leg |
fibularis (peroneus) tertius |
distal part of the anterior surface of the fibula |
dorsum of the shaft of the 5th metatarsal bone |
everts the foot |
deep fibular (peroneal) nerve |
anterior tibial a. |
fibularis tertius is in the anterior compartment of the leg, not the lateral
compartment (which contains fibularis longus and brevis) |
flexor digiti minimi brevis (foot) |
base of 5th metatarsal bone |
lateral side of base of proximal phalanx of 5th digit |
flexes the metatarsophalangeal joint of the 5th digit |
lateral plantar nerve |
lateral plantar a. |
none |
flexor digitorum brevis |
tuberosity of the calcaneus, plantar aponeurosis, intermuscular septae |
base of the middle phalanx of digits 2-5 after splitting to allow passage
of the flexor digitorum longus tendons |
flexes the metatarsophalangeal & proximal interphalangeal joints of digits
2-5 |
medial plantar nerve |
medial and lateral plantar aa. |
flexor digitorum brevis in the foot is equivalent to the flexor digitorum
superficialis m. of the arm |
flexor digitorum longus |
middle half of the posterior surface of the tibia |
bases of the distal phalanges of digits 2-5 |
flexes the metatarsophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal
joints of digits 2-5; plantar flexes the foot |
tibial nerve |
tibial a. |
flexor digitorum longus in the leg is equivalent to the flexor digitorum
profundus m. of the arm |
flexor hallucis brevis |
cuboid, lateral cuneiform, medial side of the first metatarsal |
medial belly: medial side of proximal phalanx of the great toe; lateral
belly: lateral side of the proximal phalanx of the great toe |
flexes the metatarsophalangeal joint of the great toe |
medial plantar nerve (lateral belly occasionally receives innervation from
the lateral plantar nerve) |
medial plantar a. |
each tendon of insertion contains a sesamoid bone (Latin, hallex = great toe) |
flexor hallucis longus |
lower 2/3 of the posterior surface of the fibula |
base of the distal phalanx of the great toe |
flexes the metatarsophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the
great toe; plantar flexes the foot |
tibial nerve |
fibular (peroneal) a. and tibial a. |
flexor hallucis longus is very important in the "push off" part of the normal gait (Latin, hallex = great toe) |
gastrocnemius |
femur; medial head: above the medial femoral condyle; lateral head: above
the lateral femoral condyle |
dorsum of the calcaneus via the calcaneal (Achilles') tendon |
flexes leg; plantar flexes foot |
tibial nerve |
sural aa. (from the popliteal a.), posterior tibial a. |
the calcaneal tendon of the gastrocnemius and soleus is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body |
gemellus, inferior |
ischial tuberosity |
obturator internus tendon |
laterally rotates the femur |
nerve to the quadratus femoris m. |
inferior gluteal a. |
gemellus is a Latin word that means "little twin" |
gemellus, superior |
ischial spine |
obturator internus tendon |
laterally rotates the femur |
nerve to the obturator internus m. |
inferior gluteal a. |
gemellus is a Latin word that means "little twin" |
gluteus maximus |
posterior gluteal line, posterior surface of sacrum and coccyx, sacrotuberous
ligament |
upper fibers: iliotibial tract; lowermost fibers: gluteal tuberosity of
the femur |
extends the thigh; laterally rotates the femur |
inferior gluteal nerve |
superior and inferior gluteal aa. |
gluteus maximus is a site of intramuscular injection |
gluteus medius |
external surface of the ilium between the posterior and anterior gluteal
lines |
greater trochanter of the femur |
abducts the femur; medially rotates the thigh |
superior gluteal nerve |
superior gluteal a. |
the angle at which the gluteus medius tendon approaches the greater trochanter
of the femur is anterior to the axis of rotation of the thigh, resulting in
medial rotation |
gluteus minimus |
external surface of the ilium between the anterior and inferior gluteal
lines |
greater trochanter of the femur |
abducts the femur; medially rotates the thigh |
superior gluteal nerve |
superior gluteal a. |
the angle at which the gluteus minimus tendon approaches the greater trochanter
of the femur is anterior to the axis of rotation of the thigh, resulting in
medial rotation |
gracilis |
pubic symphysis and the inferior pubic ramus |
medial surface of the tibia (via pes anserinus) |
adducts the thigh, flexes and medially rotates the thigh, flexes the leg |
anterior division of the obturator nerve |
obturator a. |
the pes anserinus is the common insertion of the gracilis, sartorius, and semitendinosus mm. (Latin, pes anserinus = goose's foot; gracilis = slender) |
iliacus |
iliac fossa and iliac crest; ala of sacrum |
lesser trochanter of the femur |
flexes the thigh; if the thigh is fixed it flexes the pelvis on the thigh |
femoral nerve |
iliolumbar a. |
inserts in company with the psoas major m. via the iliopsoas tendon |
iliopsoas |
iliac fossa; bodies and transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae |
lesser trochanter of the femur |
flexes the thigh; flexes and laterally bends the lumbar vertebral column
|
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4; branches of
the femoral nerve |
iliolumbar a. |
a combination of the iliacus and psoas major mm. |
inferior gemellus |
ischial tuberosity |
obturator internus tendon |
laterally rotates the femur |
nerve to the quadratus femoris m. |
inferior gluteal a. |
Latin, gemellus = little twin |
interosseous, dorsal (foot) |
shafts of adjacent metatarsal bones |
bases of the proximal phalanges for digit 2 (both sides) & digits 3,4 (lateral
side) |
abduct digits 2-4 (move these digits away from midline as defined by a plane
passing through the 2nd digit); flex the metatarsophalangeal joints and extend
the interphalangeal joints of those digits |
deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve |
dorsal metatarsal aa. |
four in number; remember DAB (Dorsal interossei ABduct) and PAD (Plantar interossei ADduct), then logic can tell you where these muscles insert (Latin, inter = between + os = bone) |
interosseous, plantar |
base and medial side of metatarsals 3-5 |
bases of proximal phalanges and extensor expansions of digits 3-5 |
adduct digits 3-5 (move these digits toward the midline of the foot as defined
by a plane through the second digit); flex the metacarpophalangeal and extend
interphalangeal joints of digits 3-5 |
deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve |
plantar metatarsal aa. |
remember PAD (Plantar interossei ADduct) and DAB (Dorsal interossei ABduct), and logic will tell you where these muscles must insert (Latin, inter = between + os = bone) |
lumbricals (foot) |
tendons of the flexor digitorum longus |
medial side of the extensor expansion of digits 2-5 |
flex the metatarsophalangeal joint, extend the proximal interphalangeal
& distal interphalangeal joints of digits 2-5 |
medial (1st) lumbrical: medial plantar nerve; lateral three lumbricals:
lateral plantar nerve |
medial and lateral plantar aa. |
the lumbricals of the foot have the same action on the toes that the lumbricals in the hand have on the fingers (Latin, lumbricus = earthworm) |
obturator externus |
the external surface of the obturator membrane and the superior and inferior
pubic rami |
trochanteric fossa of the femur |
laterally rotates the thigh |
obturator nerve |
obturator a. |
the tendon of the obturator externus m. passes inferior to the neck of the
femur to reach its insertion site |
obturator internus |
the internal surface of the obturator membrane and margin of the obturator
foramen |
greater trochanter on its medial surface above the trochanteric fossa |
laterally rotates and abducts the thigh |
nerve to the obturator internus m. |
obturator a. |
the obturator internus m. leaves the pelvis by passing through the lesser
sciatic foramen; the superior and inferior gemellus mm. insert on the obturator
internus tendon |
pectineus |
pecten of the pubis |
pectineal line of the femur |
adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the thigh |
femoral nerve and possibly the anterior division of the obturator nerve |
medial femoral circumflex a. |
pectineus often has a dual innervation |
peroneus mm. (SEE fibularis mm.) |
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peroneus is the old terminology used for the fibularis mm. |
piriformis |
anterior surface of sacrum |
upper border of greater trochanter of femur |
laterally rotates and abducts thigh |
ventral rami of S1-S2 |
|
piriformis leaves the pelvis by passing through the greater sciatic foramen |
plantar interosseous |
base and medial side of metatarsals 3-5 |
bases of proximal phalanges and extensor expansions of digits 3-5 |
adduct digits 3-5 (move these digits toward the midline of the foot as defined by the second digit),flex metatarsophalangeal and extend interphalangeal joints of digits 3-5 |
deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve |
plantar metatarsal aa. |
remember PAD (Plantar interossei ADduct) and DAB (Dorsal interossei ABduct), and logic will tell you where these muscles must insert (Latin, inter = between + os = bone) |
plantaris |
above the lateral femoral condyle (above the lateral head of gastrocnemius) |
dorsum of the calcaneus medial to the calcaneal tendon |
flexes the leg; plantar flexes the foot |
tibial nerve |
popliteal a. |
plantaris has a long slender tendon that is equivalent to the tendon of
the palmaris longus m. of the arm; its tendon is often called the "freshman
nerve" because it is often misidentified by the freshman medical student |
popliteus |
lateral condyle of the femur |
posterior surface of the tibia above soleal line |
flexes and rotates the leg medially (with the foot planted, it rotates the
thigh laterally) |
tibial nerve |
popliteal a. |
has a round tendon of origin; popliteus unlocks the knee joint to initiate
flexion of the leg |
psoas major |
bodies and transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae |
lesser trochanter of femur (with iliacus) via iliopsoas tendon |
flexes the thigh; flexes & laterally bends the lumbar vertebral column |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4 |
subcostal a., lumbar aa. |
the genitofemoral nerve pierces the anterior surface of the psoas major m. (Latin, psoas = the muscles of the loins) |
psoas minor |
bodies of the T12 & L1 vertebrae |
iliopubic eminence at the line of junction of the ilium and the superior
pubic ramus |
flexes & laterally bends the lumbar vertebral column |
branches of the ventral primary rams of spinal nerves L1-L2 |
lumbar aa. |
absent in 40% of cases (Latin, psoas = the muscles of the loins) |
quadratus femoris |
lateral border of the ischial tuberosity |
quadrate line of the femur below the intertrochanteric crest |
laterally rotates the thigh |
nerve to the quadratus femoris m. |
inferior gluteal a. |
the nerve to the quadratus femoris m. also innervates the inferior gemellus
m. |
quadratus plantae |
anterior portion of the calcaneus and the long plantar ligament |
tendons of the flexor digitorum longus m. |
assists the flexor digitorum longus in flexing the toes |
lateral plantar nerve |
lateral plantar a. |
the quadratus plantae m. changes the line of force of the flexor digitorum longus m. to bring it in line with the long axis of the foot (Latin, quadratus = square) |
quadriceps femoris |
anterior surface of the femur and the anterior side of the medial and lateral
intermuscular septa |
tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament |
extends the knee; rectus femoris flexes the thigh |
femoral nerve |
lateral circumflex femoral a., deep femoral a. |
composed of 4 muscles: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius
and vastus medialis |
rectus femoris |
straight head: anterior inferior iliac spine; reflected head: above the
superior rim of the acetabulum |
patella and tibial tuberosity (via the patellar ligament) |
extends the leg, flexes the thigh |
femoral nerve |
lateral circumflex femoral a. |
rectus femoris is part of the quadriceps femoris muscle |
sartorius |
anterior superior iliac spine |
medial surface of the tibia (pes anserinus) |
flexes, abducts and laterally rotates the thigh; flexes leg |
femoral nerve |
lateral femoral circumflex a., saphenous a. |
its actions put the lower limb in the traditional cross-legged seated position of a tailor (Latin, sartorius = tailor) |
semimembranosus |
upper, outer surface of the ischial tuberosity |
medial condyle of the tibia |
extends the thigh, flexes the leg |
tibial nerve |
perforating branches of the deep femoral a. |
one of the "hamstring" muscles |
semitendinosus |
lower, medial surface of ischial tuberosity (common tendon with biceps femoris
m.) |
medial surface of tibia (via pes anserinus) |
extends the thigh, flexes the leg |
tibial nerve |
perforating branches of the deep femoral a. |
pes anserinus is the common insertion for the gracilis, sartorius, and semitendinosus
mm. |
soleus |
posterior surface of head and upper shaft of the fibula, soleal line of
the tibia |
dorsum of the calcaneus via the calcaneal (Achilles') tendon |
plantar flexes the foot |
tibial nerve |
posterior tibial a. |
soleus and the 2 heads of gastrocnemius are sometimes called the triceps surae muscle |