1. Anatomy and Physiology I
Muscles that Move the Thigh, Lower Leg, Foot, and Toes
Instructor: Mary Holman

2. Muscles that Move the Thigh
2 Anterior
Psoas major
Iliacus
5 Posterior/Lateral
Gluteus maximus *
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus
Tensor fasciae latae
Piriformis *
5 Medial
Pectineus
Adductor brevis
Adductor longus
Adductor magnus
Gracilis

3. Muscles that Move the Thigh (the Femur)
2 Flexors (Anterior)
Psoas major
Iliacus
1 Extensor (Posterior)
Gluteus maximus *
4 Abductors (Post or Lat)
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus **
Tensor fasciae latae
Piriformis *
5 Adductors (Medial)
Pectineus **
Adductor brevis **
Adductor longus
Adductor magnus **
Gracilis
* = know O & I ** = not on your muscle list !

4. Psoas major Origin: T12 - L5 Insertion: Lesser Action: Flexes thigh
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.37f
Psoas major
Psoas minor
Origin: T12 - L5
Insertion: Lesser
trochanter of femur
Action: Flexes thigh
Anterior

5. Iliacus Origin: Iliac fossa of Insertion: Lesser Action: Flexes thigh
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.37g
Iliacus
Origin: Iliac fossa of
ilium
Insertion: Lesser
trochanter of femur
Action: Flexes thigh
Anterior

6. Iliopsoas Insertion: Lesser Psoas major Iliacus trochanter of femur
Fig. 9.37a
Iliopsoas
Psoas major
Iliacus
Insertion: Lesser
trochanter of femur
Fig. 9.37f
Fig. 9.37g
All Anterior

7. Gluteus maximus * Origin: Ilium, Insertion: Gluteal
Fig. 9.38a
Lateral
Gluteus maximus *
Fig. 9.38c
Origin: Ilium,
sacrum, & coccyx
Insertion: Gluteal
tuberosity of
femur
Action: Extends hip,
abducts and
laterally rotates thigh
Posterior
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8. Gluteus medius Origin: Lateral Insertion: Greater Action: Abducts
Fig. 9.38a
Gluteus medius
Fig. 9.38b
Origin: Lateral
surface of ilium
Insertion: Greater
trochanter of femur
Action: Abducts
and rotates thigh
medially
Lateral
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9. Gluteus minimus Origin: Lateral Insertion: Greater Action: Abducts
Fig. 9.38d
Gluteus minimus
Origin: Lateral
surface of ilium
Insertion: Greater
trochanter of femur
Action: Abducts
and rotates thigh
medially
Lateral

10. Tensor fasciae latae Origin: Anterior superior Insertion: Through
Fig. 9.37a
Anterior
Fig. 9.38a
Tensor fasciae latae
Origin: Anterior superior
Iliac spine ASIS
Insertion: Through
Iliotibial tract to lateral
condyle of the tibia
Action: Abducts, flexes,
and rotates thigh medially,
tenses lateral fascia
Lateral

11. Piriformis Origin: Anterior surface Insertion: Greater
Fig. 9.38d
Piriformis
Origin: Anterior surface
of sacrum
Insertion: Greater
trochanter of femur
Action: Abducts and
laterally rotates thigh
Lateral

12. Pectineus Origin: Spine of pubis Insertion: Femur - distal to
Fig. 9.37a
Pectineus
Origin: Spine of pubis
Insertion: Femur - distal to
lesser trochanter
Action: Adducts thigh and
flexes hip
Anterior

13. Adductor brevis Origin: Pubic bone Insertion: Posterior surface
Fig. 9.37c
Adductor brevis
Origin: Pubic bone
Insertion: Posterior surface
of femur
Action: Flexes hip,
adducts and laterally rotates
the thigh
Anterior

14. Adductor longus Origin: Pubic bone near Insertion: Posterior surface
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.37d
Adductor longus
Origin: Pubic bone near
symphysis pubis
Insertion: Posterior surface
of femur
Action: Adducts and
laterally rotates
the thigh and flexes hip
Anterior

15. Adductor magnus Origin: Ischial tuberosity Insertion: Posterior femur
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.37e
Adductor magnus
Origin: Ischial tuberosity
Insertion: Posterior femur
Action: Adducts thigh and
posterior extends hip,
anterior flexes hip, medially
rotates the femur
Anterior
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16. Gracilis Origin: Lower edge of Insertion: Medial surface
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.37c
Gracilis
Origin: Lower edge of
symphysis pubis
Insertion: Medial surface
of tibia
Action: Adducts thigh, and
flexes knee
Anterior

17. Muscles that Move the Lower Leg
4 Extensors
Quadriceps Femoris Group
Rectus femoris *
Vastus lateralis
Vastus medialis
Vastus intermedius
4 Flexors
Hamstring Group
Biceps femoris *
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Sartorius
* = know O and I

18. Biceps femoris* Origin: Insertion: Head of Action: Flexes knee,
Fig. 9.39b
Fig. 9.39c
Fig. 9.39a
Biceps femoris*
Short head
Long head
Origin:
Short head - femur
Long head - ischial
tuberosity
Insertion: Head of
fibula and lateral
condyle of tibia
Action: Flexes knee,
rotates leg laterally,
and extends hip
All Posterior

19. Fig. 9.39a
Posterior
Fig. 9.38a
Biceps femoris*
Long head
Lateral

20. Semitendinosus Origin: Ischial tuberosity Insertion: Medial surface
Fig. 9.39a
Fig. 9.39c
Semitendinosus
Origin: Ischial tuberosity
Insertion: Medial surface
of tibia
Action: Flexes knee,
rotates leg medially, and
extends hip
Posterior

21. Semimembranosus Origin: Ischial tuberosity Insertion: Medial condyle
Fig. 9.39a
Fig. 9.39b
Semimembranosus
Origin: Ischial tuberosity
Insertion: Medial condyle
of tibia and collateral ligament
Action: Flexes knee,
rotates leg medially, and
extends hip
Posterior

22. Sartorius Origin: Anterior, Insertion: Medial Action: Flexes the knee
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.37b
Anterior
Sartorius
Origin: Anterior,
superior iliac spine ASIS
Insertion: Medial
surface of the tibia
Action: Flexes the knee
and hip, abducts and
rotates thigh laterally
and lower leg medially

23. Rectus femoris * Origin: Spine of ilium and Insertion: By common
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.38a
Anterior
Rectus femoris *
Origin: Spine of ilium and
edge of the acetabulum
Insertion: By common
tendon to patella and onto
tibial tuberosity through the
patellar ligament
Quadriceps
femoris
tendon
(patellar
tendon)
Action: Extends knee
Patella
Patellar
ligament
Lateral

24. Vastus lateralis Origin: Greater trochanter Insertion: By common
Fig. 9.37a
Fig. 9.38a
Anterior
Vastus lateralis
Origin: Greater trochanter
and posterior surface of
femur
Insertion: By common
tendon to patella and onto
tibial tuberosity through the
patellar ligament
Action: Extends knee
Lateral

25. Vastus medialis Origin: Medial surface Insertion: By common
Fig. 9.37a
Vastus medialis
Origin: Medial surface
of femur
Insertion: By common
tendon to patella and onto
tibial tuberosity through the
patellar ligament
Action: Extends knee
Anterior

26. Vastus intermedius Origin: Anterior and lateral Insertion: By common
Fig. 9.37b
Vastus intermedius
Origin: Anterior and lateral
surfaces of femur
Insertion: By common
tendon to patella and onto
tibial tuberosity through the
patellar ligament
Action: Extends knee
Anterior

27. Cross section of the Right Thigh
Fig. 9.40b
Cross section of the Right Thigh
Lateral
Medial
Long head of
biceps femoris
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Gracilis
Short head of
biceps femoris
Adductor magnus
Adductor longus
Sciatic n.
Great saphenous v.
Shaft of femur
Femoral v. and a.
Sartorius
Vastus lateralis
Vastus intermedius
Vastus medialis
Adipose tissue
Rectus femoris
Skin
Anterior

28. Muscles that Move the Foot
Dorsiflexion
2 Dorsiflexors
Tibialis anterior
Fibularis tertius **
6 Plantar Flexors
Gastrocnemius *
Soleus
Plantaris **
Tibialis posterior**
Fibularis longus
Fibularis brevis**
Plantar
Flexion
* = know O and I ** = not on your muscle list !

29. Tibialis anterior Origin: Lateral condyle Insertion: Medial
Fig. 9.41a
Fig. 9.41b
Tibialis anterior
Origin: Lateral condyle
and lateral surface of tibia
Insertion: Medial
cuneiform and first
metatarsal
Action: Dorsiflexes and
inverts foot
Anterior

30. Fibularis tertius Origin: Anterior surface of
Fig. 9.41c
Fibularis tertius
(Peroneus tertius)
Origin: Anterior surface of
fibula
Insertion: Dorsal surface
5th metatarsal
Action: Dorsiflexes and
everts the foot
Anterior

31. Gastrocnemius * Origin: Lateral and medial Insertion: Posterior
Fig. 9.43a
Fig. 9.42a
Gastrocnemius *
Medial head
Lateral head
Origin: Lateral and medial
condyles of the femur
Insertion: Posterior
surface of the calcaneus
via Achilles or calcaneal
tendon
Action: Plantar flexes
foot, flexes knee
Lateral
Posterior

32. Soleus Origin: Head and shaft Insertion: Posterior
Fig. 9.42a
Fig. 9.43c
Soleus
Origin: Head and shaft
of fibula and posterior
surface of tibia
Insertion: Posterior
surface of calcaneus
Action: Plantar flexes
foot
Lateral
Posterior

33. Plantaris Origin: Posterior lateral Insertion: Calcaneus
Fig. 9.43c
Plantaris
Origin: Posterior lateral
condyle of femur
Insertion: Calcaneus
Action: Plantar flexes foot,
flexes knee
Posterior

34. Tibialis posterior Origin: Lateral condyle and Insertion: Tarsal and
Fig. 9.43d
Tibialis posterior
Posterior
View of
Lower leg
Origin: Lateral condyle and
posterior surface of tibia and
posterior surface of fibula
Insertion: Tarsal and
metatarsal bones
Action: Plantar flexes and
inverts foot

35. Fibularis longus (Peroneus longus) Origin: Head and Insertion: Medial
Fig. 9.42a
Fibularis longus
(Peroneus longus)
Fig. 9.42b
Origin: Head and
shaft of fibula and
lateral condyle of
tibia
Insertion: Medial
cuneiform & 1st
metatarsal bones
Action: Plantar
flexes and everts
foot, supports
arch
Lateral

36. Fibularis brevis Origin: Fibula Insertion: Base of the
Fig. 9.42c
Fibularis brevis
(Peroneus brevis)
Origin: Fibula
Insertion: Base of the
fifth metatarsal
Action: Plantar flexes and everts foot
Lateral

37. Muscles that Move the Toes
Flexor digitorum longus
Extensor digitorum longus

38. Flexor digitorum longus
Fig. 9.43e
Flexor digitorum longus
Posterior
View of
Lower leg
Origin: Posterior surface of
tibia
Insertion: Distal phalanges
of four lateral toes
Action: Flexes four lateral
toes, plantar flexes and
inverts foot

39. Extensor digitorum longus
Fig. 9.41a
Fig. 9.41d
Extensor digitorum longus
Origin: Lateral condyle of
tibia and anterior surface
of fibula
Insertion: Dorsal surfaces
of 2nd and 3rd phalanges
of four lateral toes
Action: Extends toes and
dorsiflexes and everts foot
Anterior

40. Cross section of the Right Lower Leg
Fig. 9.44b
Cross section of the Right Lower Leg
Lateral
Medial
Gastrocnemius
Small saphenous v.
Flexor hallucis longus m.
Soleus
Tibial n.
Fibula H
Posterior tibial a.
Superficial fibular n.
Great saphenous v.
Fibularis longus
Flexor digitorum longus
Deep fibular n. H
Anterior tibial a.
Tibialis posterior m.
Extensor digitorum
longus
Tibialis anterior m.
Extensor hallucis longus
Tibia
Anterior
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41. Extensor Retinacula Continuous on its superior side with the
Anterior
Extensor Retinacula
Continuous on its
superior side with the
fascia of the lower
leg and on the
inferior side with the
plantar aponeurosis
Lateral