ANTERIOR MUSCLES

Muscle
Muscles of the Hip
Psoas major
Iliopsoas

Iliacus

Attachments

Action

O: transverse processes of
lumbar vertebrae
I: lesser trochanter of femur

flexes and rotates

thigh laterally

O: iliac fossa
I: lesser trochanter of femur

flexes and rotates

thigh laterally

Note: use coxal model and/or skeletons to see the obturator foramen

Quadriceps femoris

Muscles of the Thigh (femur)

Rectus femoris
O: anterior inferior iliac spine
I: patella via quadriceps tendon, then
tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament

extends leg and

flexes thigh

Vastus lateralis

O: linea aspera
I: [same as rectus femoris]

extends leg

Vastus intermedius

O: anterior femur
I: [same as rectus femoris]

extends leg

Vastus medialis

O: linea aspera
I: [same as rectus femoris]

extends leg

Tensor fascia latae

O: iliac crest
I: tibia by way of the iliotibial tract*
(a/k/a iliotibial band or fascia lata)

flexes and abducts

thigh

* Iliotibial tract was likely removed during dissection. The tensor fascia latae is the superior
muscular part; the iliotibial tract is the inferior part of fascia lata
Note the quadriceps tendon / patellar ligament
Note the femoral triangle--bounded by inguinal ligament, sartorius, adductor longus
Lateral to medial,it contains the Femoral N, Femoral A, Femoral V

Pectineus

Adductors

Adductor brevis
(deep to pectineus)
Adductor longus
Adductor magnus
Gracilis
Sartorius

O: Pectineal line of pubis

I: Posterior surface of femur between
lesser trochanter and linea aspera
O: body and inferior ramus of pubis
I: Linea aspera
O: pubic symphysis
I: linea aspera
O: rami of pubis and ischium
I: linea aspera

Adducts, flexes,
medially rotates
thigh
Adducts, medially
rotates thigh
adducts and rotates
thigh medially
adducts and rotates
thigh medially

O: pubic symphysis
I: proximal, medial tibia
O: anterior superior iliac spine
I: proximal, medial tibia

adducts thigh

Muscles of the Anatomical Leg (tibia / fibula)

Tibialis anterior
O: lateral condyle and body of tibia
I: 1st metatarsal and a tarsal bone
Extensor digitorum
O: Lateral condyle of tibia
longus
I: middle and distal phalanges of all
toes except big toe
Extensor hallucis
O: anterior surface of fibula
longus (mostly
I: distal phalanx of big toe
seeing ligament)
Peroneus longus
O: head of fibula &lateral condyle of
(= Fibularis longus)
tibia
I: 1st metatarsal
Peroneus brevis
O: body of fibula
(= Fibularis brevis)
I: 5th metatarsal

flexes leg, flexes

thigh and rotates it
laterally, thus
crossing the leg

dorsiflexes and
inverts foot
dorsiflexes and
everts foot and
extends toes
dorsiflexes and
inverts foot and
extends toes
plantar flexes and
everts foot
plantar flexes and
everts foot

POSTERIOR MUSCLES
Muscle

Attachments

Muscles of the Hip

Gluteus maximus
O: iliac crest, sacrum and coccyx
I: linea aspera & gluteal tuberosity
Gluteus medius
O: ilium
(on model, deep to I: greater trochanter
gluteus maximus)

Action

extends and rotates

thigh
abducts and rotates
thigh medially

Gluteus minimus

O: ilium
I: greater trochanter
O: antero-lateral surface of sacrum
I: greater trochanter of femur

abducts and rotates

thigh medially
Lateral rotation,
abduction of thigh

Superior gemellus

O: ischial spine
I: greater trochanter of femur

Lateral rotation,
abduction of thigh

Obturator internus

O: Obturator membrane, margins of

obturator foramen, sciatic notch
I: Greater trochanter of femur
O: Ischial tuberosity
I: Greater trochanter of femur
O: Ischial tuberosity
I: Intertrochanteric crest of femur

Lateral rotation,
abduction of thigh

Piriformis

Lateral Rotators

Inferior gemellus
Quadratus femoris

Hamstrings

Muscles of the Thigh

Biceps femoris
O (long head): ischial tuberosity
O (short head): linea aspera
(long-superficial,
short-deep; sciatic I: head of fibula & lateral condyle of
N btwn proximally) tibia
Semitendinosus
O: ischial tuberosity
I: proximal medial body tibia
Semimembranosus O: ischial tuberosity
I: medial condyle of tibia
Muscles of the Leg
Gastrocnemius
O: lateral & medial condyles of femur
I: calcaneus via Achilles tendon
Soleus
O: head of fibula and medial border of
tibia
I: calcaneus by way of Achilles tendon

Lateral rotation,
abduction of thigh
Lateral rotation of thigh

flexes leg and extends

thigh

flexes leg and extends

thigh
flexes leg and extends
thigh

plantar flexes foot

plantar flexes foot

Note the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon

Tibialis posterior
Flexor digitorum
longus
Flexor hallucis
longus

O: superior tibia and fibula,

interosseous membrane
I: tarsals, metatarsals 2-4
O: Posterior tibia
I: Distal phalanges 2-5
O: Posterior surface of fibula
I: inferior surface of distal phalanx of
big toe

Inversion, plantar
flexion of foot
Plantar flexion and
inversion of foot, flexes
toes 2-5
flexes big toe