Muscles of lower limb
Done by Abedalelah Nasrallah
•Origin: External surface of ilium behind
posterior gluteal line, fascia of erector
spinae, dorsal surface of lower sacrum,
lateral margin of coccyx, external surface of
sacrotuberous ligament.
•Insertion:Posterior aspect of iliotibial tract of
fascia lata and gluteal tuberosity of femur.
•Innervation:Inferior gluteal nerve (L5,S1,S2).
•Function: Powerful extensor of flexed femur
at hip joint; lateral stabilizer of hip joint and
knee joint
Gluteus maximus
Gluteal region :
•Origin:External surface of ilium between
anterior and posterior gluteal lines.
•Insertion:Lateral surface of the greater
trochanter.
•Innervation: Sup. gluteal nerve (L4,L5,S1)
•Function: Abducts femur at hip joint; holds
pelvis secure over stance leg and prevents
pelvic drop on the opposite swing side
during walking
Gluteus medius
•Origin: External surface of ilium
between inferior and anterior
gluteal lines.
•Insertion: Antero-lateral aspect
of the greater trochanter.
•Innervation: Sup. gluteal nerve
(L4,L5,S1).
•Function:Abducts femur at hip
joint; holds pelvis secure over
stance leg and prevents pelvic
drop on the opposite swing side
during walking.
Gluteus minimus
•Origin: Lateral aspect of crest of ilium
between anterior superior iliac spine and
tubercle of the crest.
•Insertion: Iliotibial tract of fascia lata.
•Innervation: Sup. gluteal nerve
(L4,L5,S1).
•Function: Stabilizes the knee in
extension.
Tensor fasciae latae
•Origin: Anterior surface of sacrum
between anterior sacral
foramina(S2,S3,S4).
•Insertion: superior border (apex) of greater
trochanter of femur.
•Innervation: Branches from,S1,S2.
•Function; Laterally rotates the extended
femur at hip joint.
Piriformis
•Origin: Anterolateral wall of true pelvis;
deep surface of obturator membrane and
surrounding bone.
•Insertion: Medial side of greater trochanter
of femur.
•Innervation: Nerve to obturator internus
(L5,S1).
•Function:Laterally rotates the extended
femur at hip joint.
Obturator internus
•Origin:Posterior surface of ischial spine.
•Insertion: Along length of superior surface of
the obturator internus tendon and into the
medial side of greater trochanter of femur.
•Innervation:Nerve to obturator internus.
(L5,S1).
•Function:Laterally rotates the extended femur
at hip joint; abduction of flexed femur at hip
joint.
Gemellus superior
•Origin:Upper part of ischial tuberosity.
•Insertion:Along length of inferior surface of
the obturator internus tendon and into the
medial side of greater trochanter of femur.
•Innervation:Nerve to quad.femoris (L5,S1).
•Function:Laterally rotates the extended femur
at hip joint.
Gemellus inferior
•Origin:Lateral aspect of the ischium just
anterior to the ischial tuberosity.
•Insertion:Quadrate tubercle on the
intertrochanteric crest of the femur.
•Innervation:Nerve to quad.femoris(L5,S1).
•Function:Laterally rotates femur at hip joint.
Quadratus femoris
Muscles of the anterior
compartment of thigh:
•Origin: Posterior abdominal wall (lumbar
transverse processes, intervertebral discs,
and adjacent bodies from T12 toL5).
•Insertion:Lesser trochanter of femur.
•Innervation:Anterior rami L1,L2,L3.
•Function:Flexes the thigh at the hip joint.
Psoas major
•Origin:Posterior abdominal wall (iliac fossa).
•Insertion:Lesser trochanter of femur.
•Innervation:Femoral nerve[L2,L3].
•Function:Flexes the thigh at the hip joint.
Iliacus
•Origin: Anterior superior iliac spine .
•Insertion:Anterior surface of tibia just
inferolateral to tibial tuberosity.
•Innervation:Femoral nerve [L2,L3].
•Function:Flex, Abd, & Lat.rotation the thigh at
the hip joint and flexes the leg at the knee
joint.
Sartorius
•Origin:Straight head originates from the
anterior inferior iliac spine; reflected head
originates from the ilium just superior to the
acetabulum.
•Insertion:Quadriceps femoris tendon.
•Innervation:Femoral nerve [L2,L3,L4].
•Function:Flexes the thigh at the hip joint and
Extends the leg at the knee joint.
Rectus femoris
•Origin:Medial part of intertrochanteric line,
Spiral line, medial lip of the linea aspera,
medial supracondylar line of femur.
•Insertion:Quadriceps femoris tendon and
medial border of patella.
•Innervation:Femoral nerve [L2,L3,L4].
•Function:Extends the leg at the knee joint.
Vastus medialis
•Origin:Upper two-thirds of anterior and lateral
surfaces of femur.
•Insertion:Quadriceps femoris tendon and
base of patella.
•Innervation:Femoral nerve [L2,L3,L4].
•Function:Extends the leg at the knee joint.
Vastus intermedius
•Origin:Lateral part of intertrochanteric line,
margin of greater trochanter, lateral margin of
gluteal tuberosity, lateral lip of the linea aspera.
•Insertion:Quadriceps femoris tendon and
lateral margin of patella.
•Innervation:Femoral nerve [L2,L3,L4].
•Function:Extends the leg at the knee joint.
Vastus lateralis
Muscles of the posterior
compartment of thigh:
•Origin:Long head-inferomedial part of the
upper area of the ischial tuberosity; short
head-lateral lip of linea aspera.
•Insertion:Head of fibula.
•Innervation:Sciatic nerve [L5 to S2].
•Function:Flexes leg at knee joint; extends and
laterally rotates thigh at hip joint and laterally
rotates leg at knee joint.
Biceps femoris
•Origin:Inferomedial part of the upper area of
the ischial tuberosity.
•Insertion:Medial surface of proximal tibia.
•Innervation:Sciatic nerve [L5 to S2].
•Function:Flexes leg at knee joint and extends
thigh at hip joint; medially rotates the thigh at
the hip joint and leg at the knee joint.j
Semitendinosus
•Origin:Superolateral impression on the ischial
tuberosity.
•Insertion:Groove and adjacent bone on medial
and posterior surface of medial condyle of
tibia.
•Innervation:Sciatic nerve [L5,S1,S2].
•Function:Flexes leg at knee joint and extends
thigh at hip joint; medially rotates thigh at the
hip joint and leg at the knee joint.
Semimembranosus
Muscles of the medial
compartment of thigh:
•Origin: External surfaces of the body of the
pubis and Ischiopubic rami.
•Insertion:Medial surface of proximal shaft of
the tibia.
•Innervation:Obturator nerve [L2,L3].
•Function:Adducts thigh at hip joint and flexes
leg at knee joint.
Gracilis
•Origin: Pectineal line and Pectineal surface of
superior ramus.
•Insertion:Pectineal line in posterior surface of
proximal femur.
•Innervation:Femoral nerve [L2,L3].
•Function:Adducts and flexes thigh at hip joint.
Pectineus
•Origin:External surface of body of pubis
(triangular depression inferior to pubic crest
and lateral to pubic symphysis).
•Insertion:Linea aspera on middle one-third of
shaft of femur.
•Innervation:Obturator nerve [L2,L3,L4].
•Function: Adducts and medially rotates thigh
at hip joint.
Adductor longus
•Origin:External surface of body of pubis and
inferior pubic ramus.
•Insertion:Posterior surface of proximal femur
and upper one-third of linea aspera.
•Innervation:Obturator nerve[L2,L3].
•Function:Adducts thigh at hip joint.
Adductor brevis
•Origin:Adductor part-Ischiopubic rami
Hamstring part-ischial tuberosity.
•Insertion:Posterior surface of proximal femur,
linea aspera, medial supracondylar line
Adductor Tubercle.
•Innervation:Obturator nerve [L2,L3,L4] Sciatic
nerve (tibial division) [L2,L3,L4].
•Function:Adducts and medially rotates thigh
at hip joint.
Adductor magnus
Muscles of the anterior
compartment of leg:
•Origin:Lateral surface of tibia and adjacent
interosseous membrane.
•Insertion:Medial and inferior surfaces of
medial cuneiform and base of 1st metatarsal.
•Innervation:Deep peroneal nerve [L5,S1].
•Function:Dorsiflexion of foot at ankle joint;
inversion of foot; dynamic support of medial
arch of foot.
Tibialis anterior
•Origin:Middle one-half of medial surface of
fibula and adjacent surface of interosseous
membrane.
•Insertion:Dorsal surface of base of distal
phalanx of great toe.
•Innervation:Deep peroneal nerve [L5,S1].
•Function:Extension of great toe and
dorsiflexion of foot.
Extensor hallucis longus
•Origin:Proximal one-half of medial surface of
fibula and related surface of lateral tibial
condyle.
•Insertion:Via dorsal digital expansions into
bases of distal and middle phalanges of
lateral four toes.
•Innervation:Deep peroneal nerve [L5,S1].
•Function:Extension of lateral four toes and
dorsiflexion of foot.
Extensor digitorum longus
•Origin:Distal part of medial surface of fibula.
•Insertion:Dorsomedial surface of base of
metatarsal V.
•Innervation:Deep peroneal nerve [L5,S1].
•Function:Dorsiflexion and eversion of foot.
Peroneus tertius
Muscles of the lateral
compartment of leg
•Origin:Upper lateral surface of fibula, head of
fibula and lateral tibial condyle.
•Insertion:Undersurface of lateral sides of
distal end of medial cuneiform and base of 1st
metatarsal.
•Innervation:Superficial peroneal nerve
[L5,S1,S2].
•Function:Eversion and plantarflexion of foot;
supports arches of foot.
Peroneus longus
•Origin:Lower two-thirds of lateral surface of
shaft of fibula.
•Insertion:Lateral tubercle at base of
metatarsal V.
•Innervation:Superficial peroneal nerve
[L5,S1,S2].
•Function: Eversion of foot.
Peroneus brevis
muscles in the posterior
compartment of leg:
•Origin:Medial head-posterior surface of distal
tibia just superior to medial condyle; lateral
head- upper posterolateral surface of lateral
femoral condyle.
•Insertion:Via calcaneal tendon(Achillus), to
posterior surface of calcaneus.
•Innervation:Tibial nerve [S1,S2].
•Function:Plantarflexes foot and flexes knee.
Gastrocnemius
•Origin: Inferior part of lateral supracondylar
line of femur and oblique popliteal ligament of
knee.
•Insertion:Via calcaneal tendon(Achillus), to
posterior surface of calcaneus.
•Innervation: Tibial nerve [S1,S2]
•Function:Plantarflexes foot and flexes knee.
Plantaris
•Origin: Soleal line and medial border of tibia;
posterior aspect of fibular head and adjacent
surfaces of neck and proximal shaft;
tendinous arch between tibial and fibular
attachments.
•Insertion:Via calcaneal tendon(Achillus), to
posterior surface of calcaneus.
•Innervation:Tibial nerve[S1,S2].
•Function:Plantarflexes the foot.
Soleus
•Origin: Posterior surface of proximal tibia.
•Insertion:Lateral femoral condyle
•Innervation: Tibial nerve [L4 to S1].
•Function:Unlocks knee joint (laterally rotates
femur on fixed tibia).
Popliteus
•Origin:Posterior surface of fibula and adjacent
interosseous membrane.
•Insertion:Plantar surface of distal phalanx of
great toe.
•Innervation:Tibial nerve [S2,S3].
•Function:Flexes great toe.
Flexor hallucis longus
•Origin:Medial side of posterior surface
of the tibia.
•Insertion:Plantar surfaces of bases of
distal phalanges of the lateral four toes.
•Innervation:Tibial nerve[S2,S3].
•Function:Flexes lateral four toes.
Flexor digitorum longus
•Origin:Posterior surfaces of interosseous
membrane and adjacent regions of tibia and
fibula.
•Insertion:Mainly to tuberosity of navicular
and adjacent region of medial cuneiform.
•Innervation:Tibial nerve[L4,L5].
•Function:Inversion and plantarflexion of
foot; support of medial arch of foot during
walking.
Tibialis posterior