Muscles of the Lower Limb - Listed Alphabetically |
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| Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Action | Innervation | Artery | Notes |
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| 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 metatarsophalageal 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 metatarsophalageal joint | medial plantar nerve | medial plantar a. | abductor hallucis forms the medial margin of the sole of the foot |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. | gemellus is a Latin word that means "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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.) | | | | | | 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 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. | sartorius means "tailor"; its actions put the lower limb in the traditional cross-legged seated position of a 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, gastrocnemius, and plantaris mm. are sometimes called the triceps surae muscle |
| superior gemellus | 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" |
| tensor fasciae latae | anterior part of the iliac crest, anterior superior iliac spine | iliotibial tract | flexes, abducts, and medially rotates the thigh | superior gluteal nerve | superior gluteal a. | tensor fascia latae redirects the rotational forces of the gluteus maximus m. |
| tibialis anterior | lateral tibial condyle and the upper lateral surface of the tibia | medial surface of the medial cuneiform and the 1st metatarsal | dorsiflexes and inverts the foot | deep fibular (peroneal) nerve | anterior tibial a. | acts as both an antagonist (dorsiflexion/plantar flexion) and a synergist (inversion) of the tibialis posterior m. |
| tibialis posterior | interosseous membrane, posteromedial surface of the fibula, posterolateral surface of the tibia | tuberosity of the navicular and medial cuneiform, metatarsals 2-4 | plantar flexes the foot; inverts the foot | tibial nerve | fibular (peroneal) a. and tibial a. | acts as both an antagonist (dorsiflexion/plantar flexion) and a synergist (inversion) of the tibialis anterior m. |
| vastus intermedius | anterior and lateral surface of the femur | patella | extends the leg | femoral nerve | lateral femoral circumflex a. | vastus intermedius is part of the quadriceps femoris muscle |
| vastus lateralis | lateral intermuscular septum, lateral lip of the linea aspera and the gluteal tuberosity | patella and medial patellar retinaculum | extends leg | femoral nerve | lateral femoral circumflex a., perforating branches of the deep femoral a. | vastus lateralis is part of the quadriceps femoris muscle |
| vastus medialis | medial intermuscular septum, medial lip of the linea aspera | patella and medial patellar retinaculum | extends leg | femoral nerve | lateral femoral circumflex a. | vastus medialis is part of the quadriceps femoris muscle |
