Muscles That Move Leg

Question 1

Hip joint

Answer 1

Ball and socket joint

Created between the femur (thigh bone) and acetabulum of the pelvis (hip socket)

Question 2

Lift thigh upwards in front

Answer 2

Hip Flexion

Hip flexors: rectus femoris, iliopsoas, sartorius, and tensor fasciae latae

Question 3

Lift thigh behind

Answer 3

Hip extension

Hip Extensors: hamstrings (focus on biceps femoris) and gluteus maximus

Question 4

Leg lifted out to the side (or fall to side from squat position)

Answer 4

Hip abduction

Hip Abductors: gluteus medius and minimus

Question 5

Lower leg from out to the side back to center

Answer 5

Hip adduction

Hip adductors (group of muscles)

adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracillis

Question 6

Rotate leg inward towards midline

Answer 6

Internal rotation of hip

Because of the anatomical configuration of the hip, there are no true primary internal rotators of the hip. Muscles that play a role in internal rotation when the hip is first flexed to 90 degrees are the tensor fasciae latae, adductors longus and brevis, pectineus and the anterior fibers of gluteus medius and minimus.

Question 7

Rotate leg out from midline

Answer 7

External rotation of hip

External rotators

Particular focus on piriformis because of its role in sciatica