Muscles of the Lower Limb

This muscle originates from the posterior ilium, sacrum, and coccyx and inserts into the gluteal tuberosity of the femur and the iliotibial tract. It is mainly responsible for extending the hip and rotating it outward.

It originates from the outer surface of the ilium and inserts into the greater trochanter of the femur. It is crucial for hip abduction (lifting the leg sideways) and external rotation, and plays a role in maintaining pelvic stability during walking.

Originating from the outer surface of the ilium, inferior to the Gluteus Medius, it inserts into the greater trochanter of the femur. It's mainly involved in hip abduction, and contributes to medial rotation of the hip.

This muscle originates from the anterior superior iliac spine and inserts into the iliotibial tract. It's mainly responsible for hip abduction and flexion, but also assists in knee stabilization.

Originating from the anterior inferior iliac spine and upper acetabulum, it inserts into the tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon. It acts on both hip and knee joints, extending the knee and assisting hip flexion.

This muscle originates from the greater trochanter and intertrochanteric line of the femur and inserts into the tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon. It is a major knee extensor.

It originates from the intertrochanteric line and the medial surface of the femur, and inserts into the tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon. It is a significant knee extensor.

Originating from the anterior and lateral surfaces of the femur's shaft, it inserts into the tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon. It is a deep muscle primarily responsible for knee extension.

A muscle that originates from the ischial tuberosity and inserts onto the medial condyle of the tibia, responsible for knee flexion and hip extension.

Originates from the pubis and inserts onto the linea aspera of the femur, primarily responsible for hip adduction and flexion.

A major hip adductor originating from the pubic ramus and ischial tuberosity, and inserts onto the linea aspera of the femur. It also contributes to hip flexion and extension.

Originates from the pubis and inserts on the medial surface of the proximal tibia. Important for hip adduction and flexion, and also contributes to knee flexion.

The main artery supplying blood to the thigh, continuing from the external iliac artery in the groin and branching into the popliteal artery.

The artery that travels behind the knee, branching into the anterior tibial and posterior tibial arteries.

Arises from the lumbar plexus and innervates the quadriceps femoris group and provides sensory function to the anterior part of the thigh.

Emerges from the lumbar plexus and innervates the adductor muscles of the thigh.

The largest nerve in the body, originating from the sacral plexus, and branching into the tibial and common fibular nerves.

Branches off the sciatic nerve and innervates the posterior compartment muscles of the leg and foot, including the plantar flexors.

A ball and socket joint in which the femur sits within the acetabulum of the pelvis. It allows for a wide range of motion, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial rotation, and lateral rotation.

A hinge joint located at the knee, similar to the elbow. It primarily allows for flexion and extension.

A hinge joint that connects the leg and the foot, allowing for plantar flexion (pointing toes down), dorsiflexion (lifting toes up), inversion (turning sole of foot inward), and eversion (turning sole of foot outward).

A ligament that connects the pubis and femur, helping to stabilize the hip joint.

A strong ligament that connects the iliac bone of the pelvis and the femur. It functions as a key stabilizer for the hip joint, preventing excessive extension and rotation.

A ligament that attaches to the ischium of the pelvis and the femur. It plays a role in limiting hip rotation.

A muscle that originates from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and inserts onto the proximal medial tibia. It is responsible for flexing the hip, abducting (moving away from the midline) the thigh, and rotating the thigh laterally.

A group of muscles that extends the hip (brings thigh backwards) and flexes the knee.

The muscle that helps you lift your toes up, it's located in the front of your lower leg.

The muscle that extends your toes, it's located on the top of your foot.

It helps point your toes towards the ground, it's found in the back of your calf.

The big muscle on the back of your calf responsible for pointing your toes down.

Muscles that cross a joint have an effect on that joint.

A muscle located in the deep gluteal region, attaching to the lateral border of the ischial tuberosity and inserting onto the quadrate tubercle and intertrochanteric crest of the femur; it primarily helps in lateral rotation of the hip.

A group of muscles found in the posterior thigh, responsible for knee flexion and hip extension. They consist of three muscles: biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.

One of the hamstring muscles, originating from the ischial tuberosity and inserting onto the medial surface of the tibia above the semimembranosus; it plays a role in knee flexion and hip extension, and also helps rotate the leg medially.

A hamstring muscle, starting from the ischial tuberosity and inserting onto the head of the fibula; it helps with knee flexion and hip extension, and also laterally rotates the flexed leg.

A deep muscle found in the gluteal region, aiding in lateral rotation of the hip. It has two parts: the superior and inferior gemelli.

This muscle is part of the deep gluteal group, responsible for lateral rotation of the hip. It originates from the internal surface of the obturator membrane and the bony margin of the obturator foramen. It inserts into the medial surface of the greater trochanter of the femur.

A nerve that innervates the quadratus femoris muscle. It branches off the sacral plexus.

A nerve that innervates the obturator internus muscle. It is a branch of the sacral plexus.

The Semimembranosus muscle originates from the Ischial tuberosity and inserts onto the medial condyle of the tibia. Its primary action is to flex the knee joint and extend the hip joint, while also contributing to medial rotation of the leg at the knee joint.

The Adductor Magnus is a large, powerful muscle that originates from the ischial tuberosity and pubic ramus and inserts onto the linea aspera of the femur. Its main role is adduction of the hip joint (bringing the thigh towards the midline). It also contributes to extension and flexion of the hip joint.

The Sartorius muscle is a long, thin muscle that originates from the anterior superior iliac spine and inserts on the medial surface of the tibia. It is responsible for flexion and lateral rotation of the hip joint. Additionally, it assists with flexion of the knee joint and abduction (moving the leg away from the midline) of the hip joint.

The quadriceps femoris is a group of four muscles: the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and vastus intermedius. They originate from various points on the pelvis and femur and insert onto the tibial tuberosity through the patellar tendon. Their primary action is extension of the knee joint. The rectus femoris also assists with flexion of the hip joint.

The Iliacus muscle originates from the iliac fossa and the Psoas major muscle originates from the T12 and lumbar vertebrae. They both insert onto the lesser trochanter of the femur and work together to perform flexion of the hip joint. They are both innervated by the femoral nerve.

The Tibial portion of the sciatic nerve innervates the Semimembranosus muscle. It is involved in flexion and medial rotation of the leg at the knee joint.

The femoral nerve innervates the quadriceps femoris group, which is responsible for extension of the knee joint. This nerve also provides sensory function to the anterior part of the thigh.

The obturator nerve emerges from the lumbar plexus and innervates the adductor muscles of the thigh, which are responsible for adduction of the hip joint (bringing the leg toward the midline).

Originates from the body of the pubis and the inferior ramus of the pubis. It inserts onto the linea aspera of the femur, essentially pulling your leg towards your other leg.

This muscle originates from the shaft of the tibia and fibula and inserts into the calcaneus via the Achilles tendon. It assists in plantar flexing the foot (pointing toes down).

This small, weak muscle, starts from the lateral ridge of the femur and inserts into the calcaneus via a long tendon. It helps plantarflex the foot and flex the knee.

This muscle lies deep within the posterior compartment of the leg, originating from the posterior surface of the fibula and tibia and inserting into the calcaneus via the Achilles tendon. It's a major plantar flexor.

A muscle located in the posterior compartment of the leg, responsible for flexing the leg at the knee and unlocking the joint by laterally rotating the femur on the tibia. It originates from the lateral condyle of the femur (intracapsular) and inserts onto the posterior surface of the tibial shaft.

A muscle that originates from the posterior surface of the tibial shaft, plantar flexes the foot at the ankle, and flexes the distal phalanges of the lateral four toes. It also supports the medial and lateral longitudinal arches of the foot. Its insertion is on to the base of the distal phalanx of the lateral four toes.

A muscle that originates from the posterior surface of the fibular shaft, plantar flexes the foot at the ankle, and flexes the big toe. It supports the medial longitudinal arch of the foot and inserts onto the base of the distal phalanx of the big toe.

A muscle that originates from the posterior surface of the tibia and fibula, plantar flexes the foot at the ankle, inverts the foot at the subtalar joint, and supports the medial longitudinal arch. It inserts onto the navicular tuberosity and the three cuneiform bones.

The nerve that innervates the popliteus muscle.

The action of the popliteus muscle in unlocking the knee joint.

The function of the Flexor Digitorum Longus muscle in supporting the medial and lateral longitudinal arches of the foot.

The function of the Flexor Hallucis Longus muscle in supporting the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.

A muscle located on the front of the lower leg that helps lift your toes upwards - a key player in dorsiflexion.

The muscle that extends your toes, located on the top of your foot.

A muscle that helps evert the foot (turn the sole outward).

A muscle that extends the big toe and helps with dorsiflexion - located on the top of the foot.

This muscle originates from the anterior surface of the fibula and inserts into the base of the 5th metatarsal. It helps in dorsiflexion (lifting foot upwards), everting the foot (turning sole outward), and controlling the ankle joint.

The muscle that extends your toes, located on the top of your foot.

This long muscle runs along the lateral side of the leg, originating from the fibula and attaching to the base of the 5th metatarsal. It is responsible for everting the foot, supporting the lateral longitudinal arch, and assisting in plantar flexion.

The abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, and abductor digiti minimi are part of the first layer of muscles in the foot's posterior compartment. They support the arch, flex the toes, and help with foot abduction.

The quadratus plantae, lumbricals, flexor digitorum longus tendon, and flexor hallucis longus tendon make up the second layer muscles in the foot's posterior compartment. These muscles are located deeper in the foot and help with toe flexion and arch stability.

The flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, and flexor digiti minimi brevis muscles form the third layer of muscles in the foot's posterior compartment. They are responsible for toe flexion and fine movements.

The interossei (plantar and dorsal) muscles are located in the fourth layer of the foot's posterior compartment. They contribute to toe movements, specifically abduction (spreading the toes apart) and adduction (drawing the toes together).

The Peroneus longus tendon runs along the lateral side of the foot and plays a crucial role in supporting the arch, everting the foot, and assisting in plantar flexion.