A GUIDE TO THE MUSCLES OF THE LOWER LIMB

Category Muscle Function Origin Insertion Nerve Blood Supply

Gluteal Region Gluteus maximus Hip extensor Suface of ilium, Iliotibial tract Inferior Inf. & Sup. Gluteal
Lateral rotator (H) sacrum and and gluteal gluteal
coccyx tuberosity of the (L5, S1, S2)
femur
Gluteus medius Hip abductor Surface of ilium Greater Superior Superior gluteal
Medial rotator (H) trochanter gluteal
Gluteus minimus Hip abductor Surface of ilium Greater Superior Superior gluteal
Medial rotator (H) trochanter gluteal
Tensor Fascia Assists [Link] to Outer surface of Iliotibial tract Superior Superior gluteal
Latae extend knee ilium gluteal

Pelvic Region Gluteus maximus Hip extensor Surface of Iliotibial tract Inferior Inf. & Sup. Gluteal
Lateral rotator (H) ilium, sacrum and gluteal gluteal
and coccyx tuberosity of
femur
Piriformis Lateral rotator (H) Sacrum Greater Sacral Inf. & Sup. Gluteal
trochanter plexus
Superior gemellus Lateral rotator (H) Ischial spine Greater Sacral Inf. Gluteal
trochanter plexus
Inferior gemellus Lateral rotator (H) Ischial Greater Sacral Inf. Gluteal
tuberosity trochanter plexus
Obturator internus Lateral rotator (H) Inner surface of Greater Sacral Inf. Gluteal
obturator trochanter plexus
foramen
Obturator externus Lateral rotator (H) Outer surface of Greater Obturator Med. circumflex
obturator trochanter femoral & Obturator

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Category Muscle Function Origin Insertion Nerve Blood Supply
Anterior Thigh Pectineus Hip Flexor Pubic ramus Upper medial Femoral Med. Circumflex
Hip Adductor femur femoral & Obturator

Sartorius Hip Flexor Anterior Upper medial Femoral Femoral

Hip Abductor superior iliac tibia
Lateral Rotator (H) spine
Knee extensor
Rectus femoris Hip Flexor Upper shaft of Patellar ligament Femoral Lateral circumflex
Hip Extensor femur femoral
Lateral rotator (H)
Vastus medialis Hip Extensor Upper shaft of Patellar ligament Femoral Femoral
Lateral rotator (H) femur
Vastus lateralis Hip Extensor Upper shaft of Patellar ligament Femoral Lateral circumflex
Lateral rotator (H) femur femoral
Vastus intermedius Hip Extensor Upper shaft of Patellar ligament Femoral Lateral circumflex
Lateral rotator (H) femur femoral

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Category Muscle Function Origin Insertion Nerve Blood Supply
Medial Thigh Gracilis Knee Flexor Pubic ramus Upper medial Obturator Med circumflex
Hip Adductor tibia femoral & obturator
Adductor magnus Hip Adductor Pubic ramus Posterior surface Obturator Med circumflex
Lateral rotator (H) of shaft of femur femoral & obturator
Adductor brevis Hip Adductor Pubic ramus Posterior surface Obturator Med circumflex
Lateral rotator (H) of shaft of femur femoral & obturator
Adductor Longus Hip Adductor Pubic ramus Posterior surface Obturator Med circumflex
Lateral rotator (H) of shaft of femur femoral & obturator

Posterior Thigh Semitendinosus Hip Extensor Ischial Medial condyle Tibial Perforating br. Of
Knee Flexor tuberosity of tibia deep femoral
Semimembranosus Hip Extensor Ischial Medial condyle Tibial Perforating br. Of
Knee Flexor tuberosity of tibia deep femoral
Long head of Hip Extensor Ischial Fibular head Tibial Perforating br. Of
biceps femoris Knee Flexor tuberosity deep femoral
Lateral rotator (H)
Short head of Knee Flexor Lateral shaft of Fibular head Fibular Perforating br. Of
biceps femoris Lateral rotator (H) femur deep femoral
Hamstring part of Hip Extensor Ischial Medial shaft of Tibial Perforating br. Of
adductor magnus Tuberosity femur (adductor deep femoral
tubercle)

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Category Muscle Function Origin Insertion Nerve Blood Supply
Posterior Leg Gastrocnemius Plantarflexion (A) Medial and Calcaneum Tibial Sural br. Of
Knee Flexor lateral condyles (via Achilles popliteus
of femur tendon)
Plantaris Plantarflexion (A) Lateral femur Calcaeneum Tibial Sural br of popliteus
Knee Flexor
Soleus Plantarflexion (A) Shafts of tibia Calcaeneum Tibial Sural br of popliteus
and fibula & posterior tibial

Popliteus Unlocks knee by Lateral femur Shaft of tibia Tibial Posterior tibial
lateral rotation

Flexor digitorum Plantarflexion (A) Shaft of tibia Phalanges of toes Tibial Posterior tibial
longus Flexes toes 2-5 # 2-5
Flexor hallucis Plantarflexion (A) Shaft of fibula Phalanx of toe #1 Tibial Posterior tibial
longus Flexes toe 1
Tibialis posterior Plantarflexion (A) Shaft of tibia, Navicular Tibial Posterior tibial
Inversion fibula
(interosseous
membrane)

Dorsum of Foot Extensor digitorum Extensor of toes Calcaeneum Proximal Deep fibular Dorsalis pedis
brevis phalanx of toes
1-5

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Category Muscle Function Origin Insertion Nerve Blood Supply
Lateral Leg Fibularis longus Plantarflexion (A) Shaft of fibula Metatarsal of toe Superficial Anterior tibial
Eversion #1 & medial fibular
cuneiform
Fibularis brevis Plantarflexion (A) Shaft of fibula Metatarsal of toe Superficial Anterior tibial
Eversion #5 fibular

Anterior Leg Tibialis anterior Dorsiflexion (A) Shaft of tibia + Medial Deep fibular Anterior tibial
Extensor of toes interosseous cuneiform/first
membrane metatarsal
Extensor hallucis Dorsiflexion (A) Shaft of fibula Distal phalanx Deep fibular Anterior tibial
longus Extensor of toes of toe #1
(dorsum)
Extensor digitorum Dorsiflexion (A) Shaft of fibula Extensor Deep fibular Anterior tibial
longus Extensor of toes expansion of
lateral 4 toes
Fibularis tertius Dorsiflexion (A) Lateral inf. part of Base of Deep fibular Anterior tibial
Eversion ext. dig. Longus metatarsal of
(shaft of fibula) toe #5

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Category Muscle Function Origin Insertion Nerve Blood Supply
Plantar Foot
Level 1 Abductor hallucis Abducts toe #1 Medial tubercle Medial side of Medial Medial plantar
Flexes toe #1 of calcaeneum phalanx of toe plantar (post. Tibial)
#1 (Tibial)
Flexor digitorum Flexes toes Medial tubercle Middle Medial Medial plantar
brevis of calcaeneum phalanx of plantar (post. Tibial)
toes #2-5 (Tibial)
Abductor digiti Abducts toe # 5 Calcaeneum Lateral base of Medial Lateral plantar
minimi phalanx #5 plantar (post. Tibial)
(Tibial)

Quadratus plantae Laterally pulls flexor Calcaeneum Tendons of Lateral Posterior Tibial
Level 2 digitorum longus flexor plantar
tendon (helps flex digitarum (Tibial)
lateral four toes) longus
Lumbricals Extends toes at Tendons of flexor Dorsal Lateral Lateral plantar
interphalangeal joints digitorum longus extensor plantar (post. Tibial)
expansion of
toes #2-5
Flexor digitorum Passes in the
longus tendon sustentaculum tali
and crosses with the
flexor hallucis longus
tendon

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Category Muscle Function Origin Insertion Nerve Blood Supply
Level 3 Flexor hallucis Flexes big toe Cuboid/cuneiform Base of Medial Medial plantar
brevis proximal plantar (post. Tibial)
phalanx of toe (Tibial)
#1
Adductor hallucis Adducts big toe Bases of Lateral side of Tibial Medial plantar
metatarsal bones proximal (post. Tibial)
phalanx of big
toe #1
Flexor digiti Flexes pinky toe Base of Lateral side of Lateral Lateral plantar
minimi metatarsal bone the proximal plantar (post. Tibial)
#5 phalanx of toe
#5
Flexor hallucis
longus tendon

Level 4 Dorsal interossei 4 Adduct toes with toe Metatarsal bones Phlanges and Lateral Lateral plantar
#2 as reference dorsal plantar (post. Tibial)
expansion of
the
corresponding
toes
Plantar interossei 3 Adduct toes with toe Metatarsal bones Phlanages and Lateral Lateral plantar
#2 as reference dorsal plantar (post. Tibial)
expansion of
corresponding
toes

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