Muscles - Lower Body

Muscle

Origin (Proximal)

Insertion (Distal)

Actions

Pelvis & Thigh

Quadriceps Femoris
Group:
Rectus Femoris
Vastus Medialis
Vastus Lateralis
Vastus Intermedius

Biceps Femoris
(Hamstrings)

Semitendinosus
(Hamstrings)

Semimembranosus
(Hamstrings)

Gluteus Maximus
(Gluteals)

Gluteus Medius
(Gluteals)

Gluteus Minimus
(Gluteals)

Rectus Femoris : Anterior inferior iliac

spine (AIIS)
Vastus Medialis : Medial lip of linea
aspera
Vastus Lateralis : Lateral lip of linea
aspera, gluteal tuberosity & greater
trochanter
Vastus Intermedius : Anterior & lateral
shaft of the femur
Long Head : Ischial tuberosity
Short Head : Lateral lip of linea aspera

All : Extend knee (tibiofemoral joint)

Tibial tuberosity (via the patella and
patellar ligament)

Head of fibula

Ischial tuberosity

Proximal, medial shaft of the tibia at pes

anserinus tendon

Ischial tuberosity

Posterior aspect of medial condyle of tibia

Coccyx, edge of sacrum, posterior iliac

Iliotibial tract (upper fibers) & gluteal
crest, sacrotuberous & sacroiliac ligaments tuberosity (lower fibers)

Gluteal surface of ilium, between the

posterior and anterior gluteal lines, just
below the iliac crest

Lateral aspect of greater trochanter

Gluteal surface of ilium between the

posterior and anterior gluteal lines

Anterior aspect of greater trochanter

Page 1 of 5

Rectus Femoris : Flex hip (coxal joint)

Only quadriceps muscle that crosses 2 joints hip & knee

Long & Short Head : Flex knee (T/F joint)

Laterally rotate flexed knee (T/F joint)
Long Head : Extend hip (coxal joint)
Flex knee (tibiofemoral joint)
Medially rotate the flexed knee (T/F joint)
Extend hip (coxal joint)
Assist to medially rotate hip (coxal joint)
Tilt pelvis posteriorly
Flex knee (T/F joint)
Medially rotate the flexed knee (T/F joint)
Extend the hip (coxal joint)
Assist to medially rotate the hip (coxal joint)
Tilt the pelvis posteriorly
All Fibers : Extend hip (coxal joint)
Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)
Abduct hip (coxal joint)
Lower Fibers : Adduct hip (coxal joint)
All Fibers : Abduct hip (coxal joint)
Anterior Fibers : Flex hip (coxal joint)
Medially rotate hip (coxal joint)
Posterior Fibers : Extend hip (Coxal joint)
Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)
Abduct hip (coxal joint)
Medially rotate hip (coxal joint)
Flex hip (coxal joint)

Muscles - Lower Body

Muscle

Adductor Group:
Adductor Magnus
Adductor Longus
Adductor Brevis
Pectineus
Gracilis

Tensor Fasciae Latae

(TFL)

Origin (Proximal)
Adductor Magnus : Inferior ramus of the
pubis, ramus of ischium and iscial
tuberosity
Adductor Longus : Pubic Tubercle
Adductor Brevis : Inferior ramus of pubis
Pectineus : Superior ramus of pubis
Gracilis : Inferior ramus of pubis

Adductor Magnus : Medial lip of linea

Pelvis
& Thigh
aspera & adductor tubercle

Piriformis
(Lateral rotator of hip)

Quadratus Femoris
(Lateral rotator of hip)

Obturator Internus
(Lateral rotator of hip)

Obturator Externus
(Lateral rotator of hip)

Gemellus Superior
(Lateral rotator of hip)

Gemellus Inferior
(Lateral rotator of hip)

Adductor Longus : Medial lip of linea

aspera
Adductor Brevis :Pectineal line and
medial lip of linea aspera
Pectineus : Pectineal line of femur
Gracilis : Proximal, medial shaft of tibia at
pes anserinus tendon

Actions
All : Adduct hip (coxal joint)
Medially rotate hip (coxal joint)
All except Gracilis : Assist to flex hip (coxal
joint)
Gracilis : Flex knee (Tibiofemoral joint)
Medially rotate flexed knee (T/F joint)
Posterior fibers of Adductor Magnus :
Extend hip (coxal joint)

Iliotibial tract

Flex hip (coxal joint)

Medially rotate hip (coxal joint)
Abduct hip (coxal joint)

Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)

Proximal, medial shaft of tibia at pes

anserinus tendon

Flex hip (coxal joint)

Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)
Abduct hip (coxal joint)
Flex knee (T/F joint)
Medially rotate flexed knee (T/F joint)

Anterior surface of sacrum

Superior aspect of greater trochanter

Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)

Abduct hip when hip is flexed

Lateral border of ischial tuberosity

Intertrochanteric crest, between greater

and lesser trochanters

Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)

Iliac crest posterior to the ASIS

Sartorius
(Longest muscle in the
body)

Insertion (Distal)

Obturator membrane and interior surface of

Medial surface of greater trochanter
obturator foramen

Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)

Rami of pubis and ischium, obturator

membrane

Trochanteric fossa of femur

Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)

Ischial spine

Medial surface of greater trochanter

Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)

Ischial tuberosity

Medial surface of greater trochanter

Laterally rotate hip (coxal joint)

Page 2 of 5

Muscles - Lower Body

Muscle

Origin (Proximal)

Insertion (Distal)

Bodies and transverse processes of lumbar

Lesser trochanter
vertebrae

With the origin fixed : Flex hip (coxal joint)

May laterally rotate the hip (coxal joint)
With the insertion fixed : Flex trunk toward the
thigh
Tilt pelvis anteriorly
Unilaterally : Assist to laterally flex lumbar
spine

Iliac fossa

Lesser trochanter

With the origin fixed : Flex hip (coxal joint)

May laterally rotate the hip (coxal joint)
With the insertion fixed : Flex the trunk toward
the thigh
Tilt pelvis anteriorly

Superior ramus of pubis

Assist to create lordotic curvature in lumbar

spine
Tilt pelvis posteriorly

Pelvis & Thigh

Psoas Major
(Iliopsoas)

Iliacus
(Illiopsoas)

Actions

Psoas Minor
(Iliopsoas)
Body and transverse process of first
(Only 40% of population has lumbar vertebrae
psoas minor)

Leg & Foot

Gastrocnemius

Posterior surfaces of condyles of the femur Calcaneous via calcaneal tendon

Flex knee (T/F Joint)

Plantar flex the ankle ( talocrural joint)

Soleus

Soleal line; proximal posterior surface of

tibia & posterior aspect of head of fibula

Calcaneous via calcaneal tendon

Plantar flex the ankle ( talocrural joint)

Plantaris

lateral supracondylar line of femur

Calcaneous via calcaneal tendon

Weak plantar flexion of ankle (talocrural joint)

Weak flexion of knee (T/F joint)

Popliteus

lateral condyle of femur

Proximal, posterior aspect of tibia

Medially rotate flexed knee (T/F joint)

Flex knee (T/F joint)

Peroneus Longus

Head of fibula & proximal two-thirds of

lateral fubula

Base of the first metatarsal & medial

cuneiform

Evert foot
Assist to plantar flex the ankle (talocrural joint)

Peroneus Brevis

Distal two-thirds of lateral fubula

Tuberosity of fifth metatarsal

Evert foot
Assist to plantar flex the ankle (talocrural joint)

Tibialis Anterior

Lateral condyle of tibia; proximal, lateral

surface of tibia & interosseous membrane

Tuberosity of fifth metatarsal

Invert foot
Dorsiflex ankle (talocrural joint)

Page 3 of 5

Muscles - Lower Body

Muscle

Origin (Proximal)

Insertion (Distal)

Pelvis
& Thigh
Middle and distal phalanges of second

Actions
Extend second through fifth toes
(metatarsophalangeal & interphalangeal joints)
Dorsiflex ankle
Evert foot

Extensor Digitorum
Longus

Lateral condyle of tibia; proximal, anterior

shaft of fibula & interosseous membrane

Extensor Hallucis
Longus

Middle, anterior surface of fibula &

interosseous membrane

Distal phalanx of first toe

Extend first toe (metatarsophalangeal &

interphalangeal joints)
Dorsiflex ankle
Invert foot

Tibialis Posterior

Proximal posterior shafts of tibia & fibula,

and interosseous membrane

All five tarsal bones and bases of second

through fourth Metatarsals

Invert foot
Plantar flex ankle (talocrural joint)

Middle posterior surface of tibia

Distal phalanges of second through fifth

toes

Flex second through fifth toes

(metatarsophalangeal & interphalangeal joints)
Invert foot

Flexor Digitorum
Longus

through fifth toes

Flexor Hallucis Longus

Middle half of posterior fibula

Distal phalanx of first toe

Extensor Digitorum
Brevis

Dorsal surface of calcaneous

Second through fourth toes via extensor

digitorum longus tendons

Flex first toe (metatarsophalangeal &

interphalangeal joints)
Weak plantar flexion of ankle (talocrural joint)
Invert foot
Extend the second through fourth toes
(metatarsophalangeal & interphalangeal joints)
Flex middle phalanges of second through fifth
toes (proximal & interphalangeal joints)

Medial process of calcaneous & plantar

Middle phalanges of second through fifth

toes

Abductor Hallucis

Medial process of calcaneous & plantar

aponeurosis

Proximal phalanx of first toe (medial

surface) & medial sesamoid bone

Abduct first toe (metatarsophalangeal joint)

Assist to flex the first toe (metatarsophalangeal
joint)

Abductor Digiti Minimi

Lateral process of calcaneus & plantar

aponeurosis

Proximal phalanx of fifth toe (lateral

surface)

Flex fifth toe

Assist to abduct the fifth toe
(metatarsophalangeal joint)

Proximal phalanx of first toe

Extend first toe (metatarsophalangeal joint)

Medial & lateral surfaces of base of

proximal phalanx of first toe

Flex first toe (metatarsophalangeal joint)

Flexor Digitorum Brevis aponeurosis

Extensor Hallucis Brevis Dorsal surface of calcaneus

Flexor HallucisBrevis

Plantar surfaces of cuboid & lateral

cuneiform

Page 4 of 5

Muscles - Lower Body

Muscle

Origin (Proximal)

Insertion (Distal)

Actions

Adduct first toe

Pelvis
&
Thigh
Lateral surface of base of proximal phalanx Assist to maintain transverse arch of foot

Adductor Hallucis

Oblique head : Bases of 2nd - 4th

metatarsals
Transverse head : Plantar ligament of
3rd - 5th metaphalangeal joints

Flexor Digiti Minimi

Brevis

Base of fifth metatarsal

Base of proximal phalanx of fifth toe

Quadratus Plantae

Medial and lateral sides of plantar surface

of calcaneous

Assist flexor digitorum longus to flex 2nd - 5th

Posterior, lateral aspect of flexor digitorum
toes
longus tendon

Plantar Interossei

Medial surfaces of 3rd - 5th metatarsals

Medial surfaces of proximal phalanges of

3rd - 5th toes

Adjacent surfaces of all metatarsals

First : Medial surface of proximal phalanx Abduct 2nd - 4th toes (metatarsophalangeal
joint)
of 2nd toe
Second through fourth : Lateral surfaces Flex 2nd - 4th toes (metatarsophalangeal joint)
of proximal phalanges of 2nd - 4th toes

Tendons of flexor digitorum longus

Bases of proximal phalanges of 2nd - 5th

toes & extensor digitorum longus tendons
(on dorsal surface of toes)

Dorsal Interossei

Lumbricals of the Foot

of first toe

Page 5 of 5

Assist to flex first toe

Flex fifth toe (metatarsophalangeal joint)

Adduct 3rd - 5th toes (metatarsophalangeal

joint)

Flex the proximal phalanges of 2nd - 5th toes at

the metatarsophalangeal joints
Extend the middle & distal phalanges of the
2nd - 5th toes at the interphalangeal joints