back leg muscles

Question 1

Popliteus

Answer 1

Origin: the lateral epicondyle of the femur

Insertion: the proximal third of the caudal surface of the tibia

Action: to rotate the leg medially

Innervation: tibial nerve

(wraps around back)

Question 2

Deep Digital Flexor

Lateral and Medial Head

Answer 2

Origin: the caudal aspect of the proximal two thirds of the tibia, the proximal half of the fibula and the adjacent interosseous membrane

Insertion: the flexor tubercle on the plantar surface of the base of each of the distal phalanges

Action: to flex the digits and extend the tarsal joints

Innervation: tibial nerve

Question 3

Superficial digital flexor

Answer 3

Origin: the lateral supracondylar tuberosities of the femur

Insertion: the tuber calcanei and the bases of the middle phalanges of digits II, III, IV and V

Action: to flex the first two digital joints of the four principal digits; flex the stifle joint; extend the tarsal joints

Innervation: tibial nerve

Question 4

Gastrocnemius

Answer 4

Origin: medial and lateral supracondylar tuberosities of the femur

Insertion: the proximal dorsal surface of the tuber calcanei

Action: to extend the tarsal joints and flex the stifle joint

Innervation: tibial nerve

Question 5

Fibularis Longus

Answer 5

Origin: the lateral condyle of the tibia the proximal end of the fibula and the lateral epicondyle of the femur by means of the lateral collateral ligament of the stifle

Insertion: the fourth tarsal bone; the plantar aspect of the base of the metatarsals

Action: to flex the tarsal joints and rotate the paw medially so that the plantar surface faces laterally (pronator)

Innervation: common fibular nerve

Question 6

Long Digital Extensor

Answer 6

Origin: the extensor fossa of the femur

Insertion: the extensor processes of the distal phalanges of digits II, III, IV and V

Action: to extend the digital joints and flex the tarsal joints

Innervation: deep fibular nerve

Question 7

Cranial Tibial

Answer 7

Origin: the extensor groove and the adjacent articular margin of the tibia; the lateral edge of the cranial tibial border

Insertion: the plantar surface of the base of metatarsals 1 and 2

Action: to flex the tarsocrural joint and to rotate the paw laterally so that the plantar surface faces medially (supinator)

Innervation: fibular nerve

Question 8

Iliopsoas

Iliacus

Answer 8

Origin: cranioventral ilium

Insertion: lesser trochanter

Action: to flex the hip joint

Innervation: ventral branches of lumbar spinal nerves; femoral nerve

Question 9

Iliopsoas

Psoas major

Answer 9

Origin: lumbar vertebrae

Insertion: lesser trochanter

Action: to flex the hip joint

Innervation: ventral branches of lumbar spinal nerves; femoral nerve

Question 10

Quadriceps femoris

vastus medialis

Answer 10

Origin: proximal femur

Insertion: tibial tuberosity

Action: to extend the stifle joint

Innervation: femoral nerve

Question 11

Quadriceps femoris

vastus lateralis

Answer 11

Origin: proximal femur

Insertion: tibial tuberosity

Action: to extend the stifle joint

Innervation: femoral nerve

Question 12

Quadriceps femoris

vastus intermedius

Answer 12

Origin: proximal femur

Insertion: tibial tuberosity

Action: to extend the stifle joint

Innervation: femoral nerve

Question 13

Rectus Femoris

Quadriceps Femoris

Answer 13

Origin: ilium cranial to the acetabulum

Insertion: tibial tuberosity

Action: to extend the stifle joint and flex the hip joint

Innervation: femoral nerve

Question 14

External Obturator

Answer 14

Origin: ventral surface of the pubis and ischium

Insertion: the trochanteric fossa

Action: to rotate the pelvic limb laterally at the hip joint

Innervation: obturator nerve

Question 15

Quadratus Femoris

Answer 15

Origin: the ventral surface of the caudal part of the ischium

Insertion: intertrochanteric crest

Action: to extend the hip joint and rotate the pelvic limb laterally

Innervation: sciatic nerve

Question 16

Gemelli

Answer 16

Origin: the lateral surface of the ischium, caudal to the acetabulum and ventral to the lesser ischiatic notch

Insertion: the trochanteric fossa

Action: to rotate the pelvic limb laterally at the hip joint

Innervation: sciatic nerve

Question 17

Internal Obturator

Answer 17

Origin: the symphysis pelvis and the dorsal surface of the ischium and pubis

Insertion: the trochanteric fossa of the femur

Action: to rotate the pelvic limb laterally at the hip joint

Innervation: sciatic nerve

Question 18

Deep Gluteal

Answer 18

Origin: the body of the ilium; the ischiatic spine

Insertion: the cranial aspect of the greater trochanter

Action: to extend and abduct the hip joint and to rotate the pelvic limb medially

Innervation: cranial gluteal nerve

Question 19

Middle Gluteal

Answer 19

Origin: the crest and gluteal surface of the ilium

Insertion: the greater trochanter

Action: to extend and abduct the hip joint and to rotate the pelvic limb medially

Innervation: cranial gluteal nerve

Question 20

Superficial Gluteal

Answer 20

Origin: the lateral border of the sacrum and the first caudal vertebra, partly by means of the sacrotuberous ligament; the cranial dorsal iliac spine by means of the deep gluteal fascia

Insertion: the third trochanter

Action: to extend the hip joint and abduct the limb

Innervation: caudal gluteal nerve

Question 21

Tensor Fasciae Latae

Answer 21

Origin: the tuber coxae and adjacent part of the ilium; the aponeurosis of the middle gluteal muscle

Insertion: the lateral femoral fascia

Action: to tense the lateral femoral fascia, flex the hip joint and extend the stifle joint

Innervation: cranial gluteal nerve

Question 22

Adductor

Answer 22

Origin: the entire pelvic symphysis by means of the symphysial tendon, the adjacent part of the ischiatic arch, and the ventral surface of the pubis and ischium

Insertion: the entire lateral lip of the caudal rough face of the femur

Action: to adduct the limb and extend the hip joint

Innervation: obturator nerve

Question 23

Pectineus

Answer 23

Origin: from the iliopubic eminence and the pubic tubercle via the prepubic tendon

Insertion: the distal end of the medial lip of the caudal rough face of the femur

Action: to adduct the limb

Innervation: obturator nerve

Question 24

Gracilis

Answer 24

Origin: the pelvic symphysis by means of the symphysial tendon

Insertion: the cranial border of the tibia and with the biceps femoris and semitendinosus, the tuber calcanei

Action: to adduct the limb, flex the stifle joint, and extend the hip and tarsal joints

Innervation: obturator nerve

Question 25

sartorius caudal and cranial parts

Answer 25

**Origin:** the cranial ventral iliac spine and the adjacent ventral border of the ilium (**cranial part**- the crest of the ilium and the thoracolumbar fasica) **Insertion:** the cranial border of the tibia, in common with the gracilis **(cranial part**- patella in common with the rectus femoris) **Action:** to flex the hip joint. **cranial part** extends the stifle **caudal part:** flex the stifle **Innervation:** femoral nerve (saphenous)

Question 26

Semimembranosus

Answer 26

**Origin:** the ischiatic tuberosity **Insertion:** distal medial lip of the caudal rough surface of the femur and the medial condyle of the tibia **Action:** to extend the hip joint. the part that attaches to the femur extends the stifle joint, the part that attached to the tibia flexes or extends the stifle depending on the position of the limb. **Innervation:** sciatic nerve

Question 27

Semitendinosus

Answer 27

**Origin:** ischiatic tuberosity **Insertion**: distocranial border of the tibia. the medial surface of the body of the tibia and the tuber calcanei by means of the crural fascia **Action:** to extend the hip joint, flex the stifle joint and extend the tarsal joints **Innervation:** sciatic nerve

Question 28

biceps femoris

Answer 28

**Origin:** sacrotuberous ligament and the ischiatic tuberosity **Insertion:** by means of the fascia late and crural fascia to the patella, patellar ligament, and cranial border of the tibia; by means of the crural fascia to the subcutaneous part of the tibial body; tuber calcanei **Action:** to extend the hip, stifle and tarsal joints. The caudal part of the muscle flexes the stifle joint **Innervation:** sciatic nerve