Lower Extremity Muscles

Question 1

Gluteus Maximus

Answer 1

largest and most superficial gluteus muscle. Major extensor of the thigh, running climbing stairs

Question 2

Gluteus Medius

Answer 2

thick muscle covered by glute max, important injection site. Abducts and medially rotates the thigh

Question 3

Gluteus Minimus

Answer 3

smallest and deepest gluteal muscle. synergist with glute medius, abducts and medially rotates the thigh

Question 4

Piriformis

Answer 4

Inferior to glute minimus, issues from pelvis via greater sciatic notch. Rotates and extends thigh laterally, can assist abduction

Question 5

Quadriceps femoris

Answer 5

four separate heads that form the anterior flesh part of thigh. The heads have a common insertion tendon, the quadriceps tendon, which inserts onto the patella. extend the leg primarily

Question 6

Rectus Femoris

Answer 6

superficial anterior thigh, runs straight down and only muscle of the quads to cross the hip. extends leg and flexes the thigh.

Question 7

Vastus Lateralis

Answer 7

Largest head of the quads on the lateral side. extends leg and stabilizes the knee.

Question 8

Vastus Medialis

Answer 8

this quad forms anterior inferiomedial aspect of the thigh. extend leg and stabilize the patella

Question 9

Vastus Intermedius

Answer 9

quad muscle deep to rectus femurs, b/n vastus laterals and vastus medialis. extend leg

Question 10

Quadratus Femoris

Answer 10

flat quadrilateral muscle located on posterior side of hip. Strong external rotator and adductor of thigh

Question 11

Pectineus

Answer 11

short flat muscle overlies, adductor brevis, abuts adductor longus medially. Adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the thigh.

Question 12

Gracilis

Answer 12

long thin superficial muscle on medial thigh. adducts thigh, flexes and medially rotates leg

Question 13

Illiopsoas

Answer 13

composite of two closely related muscles (iliacus and psoas major), whose fibers pass under the inguinal ligament to insert via a common tendon (illiopsoas tendon) on lesser trochanter of femur. Prime movers in thigh flexion and in flexing trunk.

Question 14

iliacus

Answer 14

fan shaped more lateral of the illiopsoas, iliac fossa to the lesser trochanter of the femur.prime mover in thigh flexion and in flexing the trunk (bowing)

Question 15

Psoas Major

Answer 15

longer thicker more medial of the illiopsoas, slips from transversals processes of T12 and lumbar vertebrae to lesser trochanter on femur. Prime mover in thigh flexion and in flexing trunk, provides lateral flexion of vertebral column.

Question 16

Tensor Fasciae Latae

Answer 16

anteriolaterial aspect of thigh, illiac crest to illiotibial tract. Steadies trunk on thigh by creating tensile force on illiotibial tract; flexes abducts and medially rotates thigh.

Question 17

Sartorius

Answer 17

Straplike superficial muscle running obliquely anterior surface of thigh to knee. Flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates the thigh, weak flexor for leg

Question 18

Adductor Longus

Answer 18

overlies middle aspect of adductor Magnus and inferior to pectineus, most anterior of adductor muscles. adducts, flexes, and medially rotates the thigh

Question 19

Adducter Brevis

Answer 19

largely concealed by adductor longus and pectinous. Adducts and medially rotates the thigh

Question 20

Adducter Magnus

Answer 20

Triangular muscle with broad insertion, deep to brevis and longus. Anterior part adducts, medially rotates, and flexes the thigh; posterior part is a synergist of the hamstring in thigh extension.

Question 21

Semimembranosus

Answer 21

deep to semitendinosus visible on distal end, ischial tuberosity to medial condyle of tibia. extends thigh and flexes leg, medially rotates

Question 22

Semitendinosus

Answer 22

lies medial to biceps femoris, long slender tendon begins 2/3s of the way down the thigh. Extends thigh and flexes leg, medially rotates

Question 23

Bicep Femoris (long head)

Answer 23

Most lateral hamstring muscle with two heads, short head runs deeper. Extends thigh and flexes leg, laterally rotates leg when semiflexed

Question 24

Hamstrings

Answer 24

Bicep femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus make up the posterior thigh. They cross both the hip and knee joint. Making them prime movers for thigh extension and knee flexion.

Question 25

Tibialis Anterior

Answer 25

Superficial muscle of anterior leg, laterally parallels the sharp anterior margin on the tibia. Prime mover of dorsiflexion also inverts the foot.

Question 26

Extensor Digitorum Longus

Answer 26

unipennate muscle on anterolateral surface of leg, lateral to tibialis anterior. Prime mover of toe extension.

Question 27

Extensor Hallucis Longus

Answer 27

deep to extensor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior, narrow origin. Extends great toe and assists in dorsiflexion

Question 28

Fibularis (Peroneus) Longus

Answer 28

Superficial lateral muscle that overlies fibula. Plantar flexes and everts foot.

Question 29

Fibularis (peroneus) Brevis

Answer 29

smaller muscle deep to fibularis longus, enclosed in common sheath and visible at the distal end. plantar flexes and everts the foot.

Question 30

Gastrocnemius

Answer 30

superficial muscle pair with two bellies that form the proximal curve of calf, crosses the knee joint. Plantar flexes foot when the leg is extended

Question 31

Soleus

Answer 31

broad flat muscle deep to gastrocnemius, on posterior surface of calf. Plantar flexes foot, important locomotion muscle and postural muscle.

Question 32

Flexor Digitorum Longus

Answer 32

deep to soleus,long narrow muscle that runs medial to and partially overlies tibialis posterior (potentially distal medial view). Plantar flexes and inverts foot, flexes toes.

Question 33

Flexor Hallucis Longus

Answer 33

deep to soles, bipennate muscle, lies lateral to inferior aspect of of tibialis posterior. Plantar flexes and inverts foot, flexes all the joints of the great toe “push off” muscle.

Question 34

Tibialis Posterior

Answer 34

thick flat muscle deep to soleus, placed b/n flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis lungus. Prime mover of foot inversion, plantar flexes foot, stabilizes medial longitudinal arch.