A GUIDE TO THE MUSCLES OF THE LOWER LIMB Category

Gluteal Region

Muscle
Gluteus maximus

Function
Hip extensor Lateral rotator (H) Hip abductor Medial rotator (H) Hip abductor Medial rotator (H) Assists glut.max to extend knee Hip extensor Lateral rotator (H) Lateral rotator (H) Lateral rotator (H) Lateral rotator (H) Lateral rotator (H) Lateral rotator (H)

Origin
Suface of ilium, sacrum and coccyx

Insertion

Nerve
Inferior gluteal (L5, S1, S2) Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Inferior gluteal Sacral plexus Sacral plexus Sacral plexus Sacral plexus Obturator

Blood Supply
Inf. & Sup. Gluteal

Gluteus medius Gluteus minimus Tensor Fascia Latae Pelvic Region Gluteus maximus

Iliotibial tract and gluteal tuberosity of the femur Surface of ilium Greater trochanter Surface of ilium Greater trochanter Outer surface of Iliotibial tract ilium Surface of ilium, sacrum and coccyx Sacrum Ischial spine Iliotibial tract and gluteal tuberosity of femur Greater trochanter Greater trochanter Greater trochanter Greater trochanter

Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Inf. & Sup. Gluteal

Piriformis Superior gemellus Inferior gemellus Obturator internus Obturator externus

Inf. & Sup. Gluteal Inf. Gluteal Inf. Gluteal Inf. Gluteal Med. circumflex femoral & Obturator

Ischial tuberosity Inner surface of obturator foramen Outer surface of Greater obturator trochanter foramen

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Category
Anterior Thigh

Muscle
Pectineus Sartorius

Function
Hip Flexor Hip Adductor Hip Flexor Hip Abductor Lateral Rotator (H) Knee extensor Hip Flexor Hip Extensor Lateral rotator (H) Hip Extensor Lateral rotator (H) Hip Extensor Lateral rotator (H) Hip Extensor Lateral rotator (H)

Origin
Pubic ramus Anterior superior iliac spine Upper shaft of femur Upper shaft of femur Upper shaft of femur Upper shaft of femur

Insertion
Upper medial femur Upper medial tibia Patellar ligament Patellar ligament Patellar ligament Patellar ligament

Nerve
Femoral Femoral

Blood Supply
Med. Circumflex femoral & Obturator Femoral

Rectus femoris Vastus medialis Vastus lateralis Vastus intermedius

Femoral Femoral Femoral Femoral

Lateral circumflex femoral Femoral Lateral circumflex femoral Lateral circumflex femoral

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Category
Medial Thigh

Muscle
Gracilis Adductor magnus Adductor brevis Adductor Longus

Function
Knee Flexor Hip Adductor Hip Adductor Lateral rotator (H) Hip Adductor Lateral rotator (H) Hip Adductor Lateral rotator (H) Hip Extensor Knee Flexor Hip Extensor Knee Flexor Hip Extensor Knee Flexor Lateral rotator (H) Knee Flexor Lateral rotator (H) Hip Extensor

Origin
Pubic ramus Pubic ramus Pubic ramus Pubic ramus

Insertion
Upper medial tibia Posterior surface of shaft of femur Posterior surface of shaft of femur Posterior surface of shaft of femur Medial condyle of tibia Medial condyle of tibia Fibular head Fibular head Medial shaft of femur (adductor tubercle)

Nerve
Obturator Obturator Obturator Obturator

Blood Supply
Med circumflex femoral & obturator Med circumflex femoral & obturator Med circumflex femoral & obturator Med circumflex femoral & obturator Perforating br. Of deep femoral Perforating br. Of deep femoral Perforating br. Of deep femoral Perforating br. Of deep femoral Perforating br. Of deep femoral

Posterior Thigh

Semitendinosus Semimembranosus Long head of biceps femoris Short head of biceps femoris Hamstring part of adductor magnus

Ischial tuberosity Ischial tuberosity Ischial tuberosity Lateral shaft of femur Ischial Tuberosity

Tibial Tibial Tibial Fibular Tibial

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Category
Posterior Leg

Muscle
Gastrocnemius Plantaris Soleus Popliteus Flexor digitorum longus Flexor hallucis longus Tibialis posterior

Function
Plantarflexion (A) Knee Flexor Plantarflexion (A) Knee Flexor Plantarflexion (A) Unlocks knee by lateral rotation Plantarflexion (A) Flexes toes 2-5 Plantarflexion (A) Flexes toe 1 Plantarflexion (A) Inversion

Origin
Medial and lateral condyles of femur Lateral femur Shafts of tibia and fibula Lateral femur Shaft of tibia Shaft of fibula Shaft of tibia, fibula (interosseous membrane)

Insertion
Calcaneum (via Achilles tendon) Calcaeneum Calcaeneum Shaft of tibia

Nerve
Tibial Tibial Tibial Tibial

Blood Supply
Sural br. Of popliteus Sural br of popliteus Sural br of popliteus & posterior tibial Posterior tibial Posterior tibial Posterior tibial Posterior tibial

Phalanges of toes Tibial # 2-5 Phalanx of toe #1 Tibial Navicular Tibial

Dorsum of Foot

Extensor digitorum brevis

Extensor of toes

Calcaeneum

Proximal phalanx of toes 1-5

Deep fibular

Dorsalis pedis

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Category
Lateral Leg

Muscle
Fibularis longus Fibularis brevis

Function
Plantarflexion (A) Eversion Plantarflexion (A) Eversion Dorsiflexion (A) Extensor of toes Dorsiflexion (A) Extensor of toes

Origin
Shaft of fibula Shaft of fibula

Insertion
Metatarsal of toe #1 & medial cuneiform Metatarsal of toe #5

Nerve
Superficial fibular Superficial fibular

Blood Supply
Anterior tibial Anterior tibial

Anterior Leg

Tibialis anterior Extensor hallucis longus

Shaft of tibia + interosseous membrane Shaft of fibula

Extensor digitorum Dorsiflexion (A) longus Extensor of toes Fibularis tertius Dorsiflexion (A) Eversion

Medial cuneiform/first metatarsal Distal phalanx of toe #1 (dorsum) Shaft of fibula Extensor expansion of lateral 4 toes Lateral inf. part of Base of ext. dig. Longus metatarsal of (shaft of fibula) toe #5

Deep fibular Anterior tibial Deep fibular Anterior tibial Deep fibular Anterior tibial Deep fibular Anterior tibial

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Category
Plantar Foot Level 1

Muscle
Abductor hallucis Flexor digitorum brevis Abductor digiti minimi Quadratus plantae

Function
Abducts toe #1 Flexes toe #1 Flexes toes Abducts toe # 5

Origin
Medial tubercle of calcaeneum Medial tubercle of calcaeneum Calcaeneum

Insertion
Medial side of phalanx of toe #1 Middle phalanx of toes #2-5 Lateral base of phalanx #5 Tendons of flexor digitarum longus Dorsal extensor expansion of toes #2-5

Nerve
Medial plantar (Tibial) Medial plantar (Tibial) Medial plantar (Tibial) Lateral plantar (Tibial) Lateral plantar

Blood Supply
Medial plantar (post. Tibial) Medial plantar (post. Tibial) Lateral plantar (post. Tibial) Posterior Tibial

Level 2 Lumbricals

Laterally pulls flexor Calcaeneum digitorum longus tendon (helps flex lateral four toes) Extends toes at Tendons of flexor interphalangeal joints digitorum longus Passes in the sustentaculum tali and crosses with the flexor hallucis longus tendon

Lateral plantar (post. Tibial)

Flexor digitorum longus tendon

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Category
Level 3

Muscle
Flexor hallucis brevis Adductor hallucis

Function
Flexes big toe

Origin

Insertion

Nerve
Medial plantar (Tibial) Tibial

Blood Supply
Medial plantar (post. Tibial) Medial plantar (post. Tibial) Lateral plantar (post. Tibial)

Adducts big toe

Flexor digiti minimi Flexor hallucis longus tendon Level 4 Dorsal interossei 4

Flexes pinky toe

Cuboid/cuneiform Base of proximal phalanx of toe #1 Bases of Lateral side of metatarsal bones proximal phalanx of big toe #1 Base of Lateral side of metatarsal bone the proximal #5 phalanx of toe #5

Lateral plantar

Adduct toes with toe #2 as reference

Metatarsal bones

Plantar interossei 3

Adduct toes with toe #2 as reference

Metatarsal bones

Phlanges and dorsal expansion of the corresponding toes Phlanages and dorsal expansion of corresponding toes

Lateral plantar

Lateral plantar (post. Tibial)

Lateral plantar

Lateral plantar (post. Tibial)

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