The Muscles of the Lower Extremity

- A Visual Guide -

Anatomy & Physiology I

BIOL 121

Rob Swatski

Associate Professor of Biology

HACC - York Campus

Gluteus maximus

Extends and laterally rotates thigh; adducts the hip 2

Gluteus medius

Medially rotates thigh;

abducts hip 3

Gluteus medius

4

Gluteus minimus

Medially rotates thigh; abducts hip 5

Tensor fasciae latae

Abducts, medially rotates, and flexes thigh; stabilizes hip 6

Tensor fasciae latae

7

Piriformis

Abducts and

laterally rotates

thigh at hip 8

Gemellus superior

Laterally rotates thigh at hip 9

Obturator internus

Abducts and laterally rotates thigh at hip 10

Gemellus inferior

Laterally rotates thigh at hip 11

Psoas major

Flexes thigh at hip; flexes vertebral

column 12

Psoas major

13

Psoas major

14

Iliacus

Flexes thigh at hip 15

Pectineus

Adducts and flexes thigh at hip 16

Adductor longus

Adducts and flexes thigh at hip; assists

in medial rotation 17

Adductor magnus

Adducts and extends thigh at hip; assists in

medial rotation 18

Gracilis

Adducts thigh at hip and flexes leg at

knee; assists in medial rotation 19

Gracilis

20

Gracilis

21

Sartorius

Flexes, abducts, and laterally

rotates thigh at hip; flexes knee 22

Rectus femoris

Extends leg at knee and flexes thigh at

hip; part of the quadriceps group 23

Vastus medialis

Extends leg at knee; part of the

quadriceps group 24

Vastus medialis

25

Vastus lateralis

Extends leg at knee; part of the

quadriceps group 26

Biceps femoris

Flexes leg at knee and extends thigh at hip;

belongs to the hamstring group 27

Biceps femoris

28

Semitendinosus

Flexes leg at knee and extends thigh at hip; belongs to the hamstring group 29

Semimembranosus

Flexes leg at knee and extends thigh at hip; belongs to the hamstring group 30

Gastrocnemius

Plantar flexion of ankle 31

Gastrocnemius

32

Soleus

Plantar flexion of ankle 33

Soleus

34

Soleus

35

Flexor digitorum longus

Flexes lateral four toes; plantar

flexion and inversion of foot 36

Flexor hallucis longus

Flexes great toe; plantar flexion and

inversion of foot 37

Tibialis anterior

Dorsiflexion of foot at ankle;

inversion of foot 38

Extensor digitorum longus

Extends lateral four toes;

dorsiflexion of ankle and

eversion of foot 39

Extensor digitorum longus

40

Fibularis (Peroneus) longus

Plantar flexion and eversion of foot;

stabilizes lateral ankle and arch of foot 41

Fibularis (Peroneus) longus

42

Fibularis (Peroneus) longus

43

Fibularis (Peroneus) brevis

Plantar flexion and eversion of foot 44

Fibularis (Peroneus) brevis

45

Fibularis (Peroneus) brevis

46

47

INDEX

Adductor longus: 17

Adductor magnus: 18

Biceps femoris: 27-28

Extensor digitorum longus: 39-40

Fibularis (Peroneus) brevis: 44-46

Fibularis (Peroneus) longus: 41-43

Flexor digitorum longus: 36

Flexor hallucis longus: 37

Gastrocnemius: 31-32

Gemellus inferior: 11

Gemellus superior: 9

Gluteus maximus: 2

Gluteus medius: 3-4

Gluteus minimus: 5

Gracilis: 19-21

Iliacus: 15

Obturator internus: 10

Pectineus: 16

Piriformis: 8

Psoas major: 12-14

Rectus femoris: 23

Sartorius: 22

Semimembranosus: 30

Semitendinosus: 29

Soleus: 33-35

Tensor fasciae latae: 6-7

Tibialis anterior: 38

Vastus lateralis: 26

Vastus medialis: 24-25

Credits All photographs and labels by Rob Swatski, 2009-2012

http://robswatski.virb.com

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Comments? Feedback? Please email me at rjswatsk@hacc.edu