Muscle of lower limb

Table of Lower Limb Muscles

Muscles of Gluteal Region
Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Nerve	Action
gluteus maximus	outer surface of ilium, sacrum, coccyx, sacrotuberous ligament	iliotibial tract and gluteal tuberosity of femur	inferior gluteal nerve	extends & laterally rotates thigh; through iliotibial tract, it extends knee joint
gluteus medius	outer surface of ilium	greater trochanter of femur	superior gluteal nerve	abducts thigh. Tilts pelvis when walking
gluteus minimus	outer surface of ilium	greater trochanter of femur	superior gluteal nerve	abduct thigh; anterior fibers medially rotate thigh
tensor fasciae latae	iliac crest	iliotibial tract	superior gluteal nerve	assists gluteus major in locking the knee into full extension
piriformis	anterior surface of sacrum	greater trochanteric fossa	1st & 2nd sacral nerves	lateral rotator of thigh
superior gemellus	spine of ischium	greater trochanteric fossa	sacral plexus	lateral rotator of thigh
obturator internus	inner surface of obturator membrane	greater trochanteric fossa	sacral plexus	lateral rotator of thigh
inferior gemellus	ischial tuberosity	greater trochanteric fossa	sacral plexus	lateral rotator of thigh
obturator externus	outer surface of obturator membrane	greater trochanteric fossa of femur	obturator nerve	lateral rotator of thigh
Anterior Compartment of Thigh
sartorius	anterior superior iliac spine	upper medial surface of tibia	femoral nerve	flexes, abducts, laterally rotates thigh; flexes & medially rotates leg
iliacus	iliac fossa	with psoas into the lesser trochanter of femur	femoral nerve	flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh is fixed, it flexes the trunk onto the thigh as in sitting up
psoas	12th thoracic body; transverse process, bodies & intervertebral discs of the 5 lumbar vertebrae	lesser trochanter of femur along with iliacus	lumbar plexus	flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh fixed, it flexes trunk onto thigh as in sitting up
pectineus	superior ramus of pubis	upper end shaft of femur	femoral nerve	flexes and adducts thigh
quadriceps femoris, rectus femoris	straight head from anterior inferior iliac spine; reflected head from ilium above acetabulum	quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon	femoral nerve	extension of leg
quadriceps femoris, vastus lateralis	upper end and shaft of femur	quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon	femoral nerve	extension of leg
quadriceps femoris, vastus medialis	upper end and shaft of femur	quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon	femoral nerve	extension of leg
quadriceps femoris, vastus intermedius	shaft of femur	quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon	femoral nerve	extension of leg
Muscles of Medial Compartment of Thigh
gracilis	inferior ramus of pubis; ramus of ischium	upper part of shaft of tibia on medial surface	obturator nerve	adducts thigh and flexes leg
adductor longus	body of pubis	posterior surface of shaft of femur	obturator nerve	adducts thigh; assists in lateral rotation
adductor brevis	inferior ramus of pubis	posterior surface of shaft of femur	obturator nerve	adducts thigh; assists in lateral rotation
adductor magnus	inferior ramus of pubis; ramus of ischium, ischial tuberosity	posterior surface of shaft of femur near linea aspera; adductor tubercle of femur	obturator nerve; tibial nerve to hamstring part	adducts thigh and assists in lateral rotation; hamstring part extends thigh
Muscles of Posterior Compartment of Thigh
biceps femoris	long head from ischial tuberosity; short head from shaft of femur	head of fibula	long head:tibial; short head:common peroneal	flexes and laterally rotates leg; long head extends thigh
semitendinosus	ischial tuberosity	upper part medial surface of shaft of tibia	tibial nerve	flexes and medially rotates leg; extends thigh
semimembranosus	ischial tuberosity	medial condyle of tibia; forms oblique popliteal ligament	tibial nerve	flexes and medially rotates leg; extends thigh
adductor magnus (hamstring part)	ischial tuberosity	adductor tubercle of femur	tibial nerve	extends thigh
Muscles of Anterior Compartment of the Leg
tibialis anterior	shaft of tibia and interosseous membrane	medial cuneiform & base of first metatarsal	deep peroneal nerve	extends the foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints; supports medial longitudinal arch
extensor digitorum	shaft of fibula and interosseous membrane	extensor expansion of lateral four toes	deep peroneal nerve	extends toes; dorsiflexes (extends) foot
peroneus tertius	shaft of fibula & interosseous membrane	base of 5th metatarsal bone	deep peroneal nerve	dorsiflexes (extends) foot; everts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints
extensor hallucis longus	shaft of fibula & interosseous membrane	base of distal phalanx of big toe	deep peroneal nerve	extends big toe; dorsiflexes (extends) foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints
Muscles of Lateral Compartment of Leg
peroneus longus	shaft of fibula	base of 1st metatarsal & medial cuneiform	superficial peroneal nerve	plantar flexes foot; everts foot at subtalar & transverse tarsal joints; supports lateral longitudinal and transverse arches of foot
peroneus brevis	shaft of fibula	base of 5th metatarsal bone	superficial peroneal nerve	plantar flexes foot; everts foot at subtalar & transverse tarsal joints; supports lateral longitudinal arch
Muscles of Posterior Compartment of the Leg
gastrocnemius	medial and lateral condyles of femur	by way of Achilles tendon to calcaneum	tibial nerve	plantar flexes foot; flexes leg
plantaris	lateral supracondylar ridge of femur	calcaneum	tibial nerve	plantar flexes foot; flexes leg
soleus	shafts of tibia and fibula	by way of achilles tendon into calcaneum	tibial nerve	with gastrocnemius & plantaris is powerful plantar flexor of foot; provides main propulsive force in walking & running
popliteus	lateral condyle of femur	shaft of tibia	tibial nerve	flexes leg; unlocks full extension of knee by laterally rotating femur on tibia
flexor digitorum longus	shaft of tibia	distal phalanges of lateral four toes	tibial nerve	flexes distal phalanges of lateral four toes; plantar flexes foot; supports medial and lateral longitudinal arches of foot
flexor hallucis longus	shaft of fibula	base of distal phalanx of big toe	tibial nerve	flexes distal phalanx of big toe; plantar flexes foot; supports medial longitudinal arch
tibialis posterior	shafts of tibia and fibula & interosseous membrane	tuberosity of navicular bone	tibial nerve	plantar flexes foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints; supports medial longitudinal arch of foot
Muscles on the Dorsum of Foot
extensor digitorum brevis	Calcaneum	by four tendons into the proximal phalanx of big toe and long extensor tendons to 2nd, 3rd and 4th toes	deep peroneal nerve	extends toes
Muscles of the Sole of the Foot (First Layer)
abductor hallucis	medial tubercle of calcaneum; flexor retinaculum	medial side, base of proximal phalanx of big toe	medial plantar nerve	flexes, abducts big toe; supports medial arch
flexor digitorum brevis	medial tubercle of calcaneum	middle phalanx of four lateral toes	medial plantar nerve	flexes lateral four toes; supports medial & lateral longitudinal arches
abductor digiti minimi	medial & lateral tubercles of calcaneum	lateral side base of proximal phalanx 5th toe	lateral plantar nerve	flexes, abducts 5th toe; supports lateral longitudinal arch
muscles of Sole of Foot (Second Layer)
flexor accessorius (quadratus plantae)	medial and lateral sides of calcaneum	tendons flexor digitorum longus	lateral plantar nerve	aids long flexor tendon to flex lateral four toes
flexor digitorum longus tendon	shaft of tibia	base of distal phalanx of lateral four toes	tibial nerve	flexes distal phalanges of lateral four toes; plantar flexes foot; supports longitudinal arch
lumbricals	tendons of flexor digitorum longus	dorsal extensor expansion of lateral four toes	1st lumbrical from medial plantar; remainder lumbricals from deep branch of lateral plantar nerve	extends toes at interphalangeal joints
flexor hallucis longus	shaft of fibula	base of distal phalanx of big toe	tibial nerve	flexes distal phalanx of big toe; plantar flexes foot; supports medial longitudinal arch
Muscles of Sole of Foot (Third Layer)
flexor hallucis brevis	cuboid, lateral cuneiform bones; tibialis posterior insertion	medial & lateral sides of base of proximal phalanx of big toe	medial plantar nerve	flexes metatarsophalangeal joint of big toe; supports medial longitudinal arch
adductor hallucis (oblique head)	bases of 2nd, 3rd & 4th metatarsal bones	lateral side base of proximal phalanx big toe	deep branch of lateral plantar	flexes big toe, supports transverse arch
adductor hallucis (transverse head)	plantar ligaments	lateral side of base of proximal phalanx big toe	deep branch of lateral plantar nerve	flexes big toe; supports transverse arch
flexor digiti minimi brevis	base of 5th metatarsal bone	lateral side of base of proximal phalanx of big toe	superior branch of lateral plantar nerve	flexes little toe
Muscles of Sole of Foot (Fourth Layer)
dorsal interossei (4)	adjacent sides of metatarsal bones	bases of phalanges and dorsal expansion of corresponding toes	lateral plantar nerve	abduct toes with 2nd toe as the reference; flex metatarsophalangeal joints; extend interphalangeal joint
plantar interossei (3)	3rd, 4th, and 5th metatarsal bones	bases of phalanges & dorsal expansion of corresponding toes	lateral plantar nerve	adduct toes with 2nd toe as reference; flex metatarsophalangeal joints; extend interphalangeal joints
tendon of peroneus longus	see above	see above	see above	see above
tendon of tibialis posterior	see above	see above	see above	see above