Muscles of Lower Limbs

Question 1

oined psoas and the iliacus muscles. The two muscles are separate in the abdomen, but usually merge in the thigh

action: prime mover of hip flexion, and is the strongest of the hip flexors
origin: iliac fossa and lumbar spine
insertion: lesser trochanter of femur

Answer 1

iliopsoas

Question 2

a muscle of the thigh ( anterior part of the outer lip of the iliac crest)

action: a tensor of the fascia lata; continuing its action, the oblique direction of its fibers enables it to stabilize the hip in extension
origin: anterior superior iliac spine
insertion: iliotibial tract (via greater trochanter)

Answer 2

tensor fasciae latae

Question 3

longest muscle in the human body. a long, thin, superficial muscle that runs down the length of the thigh in the anterior (tailor’s muscle)
action: move the hip joint and the knee joint, but all of its actions are weak, making it a synergist muscle
origin: anterior superior iliac spine of the pelvic bone
insertion: anteromedial surface of the proximal tibia in the
pesanserinus

Answer 3

sartorius

Question 4

one of the four quadriceps muscles of the human body (front of thigh) (middle of the front of the thigh; it is fusiform in shape)

action: weaker hip flexor when the knee is extended because it is already shortened and thus suffers from active insufficiency
origin: anterior inferior iliac spine and the exterior surface of the bony ridge which forms the groove on the iliac portion of the acetabulum
insertion: inserts into the patellar tendon as one of the four quadriceps muscles

Answer 4

rectus femoris

Question 5

largest and most powerful part of the quadriceps femoris, a muscle in the thigh

action: extend the knee joint, moving the lower leg forward
origin: greater trochanter, intertrochanteric line, and linea aspera of the femur
insertion: patella by the quadriceps tendon and tibial tuberosity by the patellar ligament

Answer 5

vastus lateralis

Question 6

(teardrop muscle) present in the anterior compartment of thigh

action: knee extension, along with the other muscles which make up the quadriceps muscle
origin: medial side of femur
insertion: quadriceps tendon

Answer 6

vastus medialis

Question 7

front and lateral surfaces of the body of the femur (sitting under the rectus femoris)

action: extension of knee joint
origin: anterolateral femur
insertion: quadriceps tendon

Answer 7

vastus intermedialis

Question 8

forms the medial wall of the femoral triangle

action: adduct and laterally rotate the thigh
origin: pubic body just below the pubic crest
insertion: middle third of linea aspera

Answer 8

adductor longus

Question 9

most superficial muscle on the medial side of the thigh. It is thin and flattened, broad above, narrow and tapering below

action: adducts, medially rotates (with hip flexion), laterally rotates, and flexes the hip
origin: ischiopubic ramus
insertion: tibia (pes anserinus)

Answer 9

gracilis

Question 10

large triangular muscle, situated on the medial side of the thigh

action: powerful adductor of the thigh
origin: pubis, tuberosity of the ischium
insertion: linea aspera and adductor tubercle of femur

Answer 10

adductor magnus

Question 11

butt
remarkably coarse in function and structure
action: main extensor muscle of the hip
origin: gluteal surface of ilium, lumbar fascia, sacrum, sacrotuberous ligament
insertion: gluteal tuberosity of the femur and iliotibial tract

Answer 11

gluteus maximus

Question 12

smallest of the three gluteal muscles, fan-shaped

action: abduct the thigh, when the limb is extended, and are principally called into action in supporting the body on one limb
origin: from area in between the anterior gluteal line and inferior gluteal line of gluteal surface ilium, under gluteus medius
insertion: greater trochanter of the femur

Answer 12

gluteus minimus

Question 13

broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis

action: helps to flex and internally rotate the hip, helps to extend and externally rotate the hip
origin: gluteal surface of ilium, under gluteus maximus
insertion: greater trochanter of the femur

Answer 13

gluteus medius

Question 14

a long superficial muscle in the back of the thigh (has a very long tendon of insertion) one of three hamstring muscles that are located at the back of the thigh

action: flex the knee and extend the hip
origin: lower quadrangular part of tuberosity of the ischium
insertion: pes anserinus (tibia)

Answer 14

semitendinosus

Question 15

most medial of the three hamstring muscles (posteromedially in the thigh, deep to the semitendinosus)

action: helps to extend (straighten) the hip joint and flex (bend) the knee joint
origin: ischial tuberosity
insertion: medial condyle of tibia

Answer 15

semimembranosus

Question 16

a muscle of the thigh located to the posterior, or back

action: perform knee flexion
origin: tuberosity of the ischium, linea aspera, femur
insertion: the head of the fibula which articulates with the back of the lateral tibial condyle

Answer 16

biceps femoris

Question 17

ateral side of the tibia; it is thick and fleshy above, tendinous below

action: dorsiflexing and inverting the foot
origin: from the upper 1/2 or 2/3 of the lateral surface of the tibia and the adjacent interosseous membrane
insertion: medial cuneiform and the base of first metatarsal bone of the foot

Answer 17

tibialis anterior

Question 18

lateral part of the front of the leg

action: extension of toes and dorsiflexion of ankle
origin: anterior lateral condyle of tibia, anterior shaft of fibula and superior ​3⁄4 of interosseous membrane
insertion: dorsal surface; middle and distal phalanges of lateral four digits

Answer 18

extensor digitorum longus

Question 19

situated on the tibial side of the leg, origin it is thin and pointed, but it gradually increases in size as it descends

action: plantar flex and invert the foot
origin: posterior surface of the body of the tibia
insertion: plantar surface; base of the distal phalanges of the four lesser toes

Answer 19

flexor digitorum longus

Question 20

superficial two-headed muscle that is in the back part of the lower leg (runs from its two heads just above the knee to the heel) (“stomach of leg” (referring to the bulging shape of the calf))

action: plantar flexes foot, flexes knee
origin: superior to articular surfaces of lateral condyle of femur and medial condyle of femur
insertion: tendo calcaneus (achilles tendon) into mid-posterior calcaneus

Answer 20

gastrocnemius

Question 21

a powerful muscle in the back part of the lower leg (the calf) (deep to gastrocnemius)

action: involved in standing and walking, plantarflexion of the foot
origin: fibula, medial border of tibia (soleal line)
insertion: tendo calcaneus

Answer 21

soleus

Question 22

superficial muscle in the lateral compartment of the leg, longest and most superficial of the three peroneus muscles

action: plantarflex the foot, in conjunction with the tibialis posterior, antagonizing the tibialis anterior and peroneus tertius, which are dorsiflexors of the foot
origin: proximal part of lateral surface of shaft of fibula
insertion: first metatarsal, medial cuneiform

Answer 22

fibularis longus

Question 23

one of the three deep muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg, plantar surface of the distal phalanx of the great toe

action: plantar flex and invert the foot
origin: fibula, posterior aspect of middle 1/3
insertion: plantar surface; base of distal phalanx of hallux

Answer 23

flexor hallucis longus