Muscles of the pelvic limb

Question 1

biceps femoris

Answer 1

Origin: sacrotuberous ligament and ischiatic tuberosity

Insertion: patella, patellar ligament, and cranial border of the tibia via fascia lata and crural fascia; tuber calcanei via common calcanean tendon

Action: extend hip and hock; can either extend (weight bearing) or flex (non-weight bearing) the stifle dependent on the position of the limb

Question 2

semitendinosus

Answer 2

Origin: ischiatic tuberosity

Insertion: medial surface of the tibial body; tuber calcanei via common calcanean tendon

Action: extend hip and hock, flex stifle

Question 3

semimembranosus

Answer 3

Origin: ischiatic tuberosity

Insertion: distal and medial aspect of the caudal femur and the medial condyle of the tibia

Action: extend hip extend (weight bearing) or flex (non-weight bearing)stifle depending on limb position

Question 4

sartorius

Answer 4

Origin: ilium

Insertion: patella and cranial border of tibia

Action: flex hip; extend stifle (weight bearing); flex stifle (non-weight bearing)

Question 5

gracilis

Answer 5

Origin: pelvic symphysis via symphysial tendon

Insertion: cranial border of the tibia; tuber calcanei via common calcanean tendon

Action: adduct limb; flex stifle; extend hip and hock

Question 6

pectineus

Answer 6

Origin: pubis

Insertion: distal end of caudomedial aspect of femur

Action: adduct limb

Question 7

adductor

Answer 7

Origin: pelvic symphysis via symphysial tendon; ventral surface of pubis and ischium

Insertion: caudolateral aspect of femur

Action: adduct limb; extend hip

Question 8

tensor fasciae latae

Answer 8

Origin: tuber coxae; aponeurosis of middle gluteal m.

Insertion: fascia lata

Action: tense fascia lata; flex hip; extend stifle

Question 9

superficial gluteal

Answer 9

Origin: sacrotuberous ligament; deep gluteal fascia

Insertion: third trochanter of femur

Action: extend hip; abduct limb

Question 10

middle gluteal

Answer 10

Origin: crest and gluteal surface of ileum

Insertion: greater trochanter of the femur

Action: extend hip, abduct hip, rotate PL medially

Question 11

deep gluteal

Answer 11

Origin: body of ilium

Insertion: greater trochanter of the femur

Action: extend hip; abduct hip; rotate PL medially

Question 12

internal obturator

Answer 12

Origin: dorsal surface of ischium and pubis

Insertion: trochanteric fossa of femur

Action: rotate PL laterally

Question 13

gemelli

Answer 13

Origin: lateral surface of ischium, ventral to lesser ischiatic notch

Insertion: trochanteric fossa of the femur

Action: rotate PL laterally

Question 14

quadratus femoris

Answer 14

Origin: ventral surface of caudal ischium

Insertion: interotrochanteric crest of femur

Action: rotate PL laterally

Question 15

external obturator

Answer 15

Origin: ventral surface of pubis and ischium

Insertion: trochanteric fossa of femur

Action: rotate PL laterally

Question 16

quadriceps femoris

Answer 16

Origin: ilium (rectus femoris); proximal aspect of femur (all other heads)

Insertion: tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament

Action: flex hip (rectus femoris); extend stifle (all heads)

Question 17

iliopsoas

Answer 17

Origin: ventral aspect of lumbar vertebrae; cranioventral ilium

Insertion: lesser trochanter of the femur

Action: flex hip

Question 18

cranial tibial

Answer 18

Origin: proximal and lateral aspect of the tibia near the extensor groove.

Insertion: proximal plantar surfaces of the metatarsals I and II

Action: flex tarsus; rotate paw laterally so plantar surface faces medially

Question 19

long digital extensor

Answer 19

Origin: extensor fossa of the femur

Insertion: extensor processes of distal phalanges of digits 2, 3, 4, and 5

Action: extend digits; flex tarsus

Question 20

fibularis longus

Answer 20

Origin: lateral collateral ligament; proximal aspect of tibia and fibula

Insertion: tarsal bone IV; plantar aspect of proximal ends of metatarsals

Action: flex tarsus; rotate paw medially so plantar surface faces laterally (pronation)

Question 21

gastrocnemius

Answer 21

Origin: medial and lateral supracondylar tuberosities of the femur

Insertion: tuber calcanei

Action: extend tarsus; flex stifle

Question 22

superficial digital flexor

Answer 22

Origin: lateral supracondylar tuberosity of the femur

Insertion: tuber calcanei; plantar aspect of the base of the middle phalanx of digits 2, 3, 4, and 5

Action: flex stifle; extend tarsus (hock); flex digits

Question 23

deep digital flexor

Answer 23

Origin: proximal tibia and fibula and adjacent interosseus membrane between the two

Insertion: plantar aspect of the base of the distal phalanx of digits 1-5

Action: flex digits; extend tarsus

Question 24

popliteus

Answer 24

Origin: lateral condyle of femur

Insertion: proximal and caudomedial aspect of the tibia

Action: flex stifle