Muscles that Move the Thigh & Leg

2

Flex thigh (hip): 1. Psoas major 2. Iliacus

Adductors - first 3 also flex thigh:1. Pectineus 2. Adductor longus -

rotates laterally3. Adductor magnus4. Gracilis – flexes knee

*Total of 5 anterior musclesthat flex thigh. Foreswing ofthigh when walking, running.

Muscles that move the thigh (hip joint) Muscles are attached to the pelvic girdle and femur.Anterior group muscles:

Posterior group muscles:

Extend thigh (hip):1. Gluteus maximus – largest muscle in the body.*Straightens leg at the hip when walking, running climbing; raises body from sitting position.

Abduct thigh - and rotate medially:

1. Gluteus medius 2. Tensor fasciae latae –

Flexes thigh

4

Muscles That Move the ThighCopyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Psoas major

Psoas minor

Iliacus

Tensor fasciaelatae

Rectus femoris

Sartorius

Sartorius

Vastus lateralis

Vastus intermedius

Quadriceps femoristendon (patellar tendon)

Patella

Adductor longus

Pectineus

Adductor magnus

Gracilis

Vastus medialis

Patellarligament

Gracilis

Adductor brevis

Adductor longus

Iliacus

Psoas major

Psoas minor

(b)(a)

(g)(f)

(e)(d)(c)

Adductor magnus

5

Muscles That Move the Thigh

Gluteus medius

Gluteus medius

Gluteus maximus

Gluteus maximus

Biceps femorisIliotibial tract (band)

Vastus lateralis

Rectus femoris

Sartorius

Tensor fasciae latae

Gluteus minimusPiriformis

(a)

(b) (c) (d)

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

6

Muscles That Move the Thigh

Muscles that Move the Leg (knee joint):This group connects the tibia or fibula to the femur or pelvic girdle.

Flexors: 1. Biceps femoris- rotates leg laterally

2. Semitendinosus- rotates leg medially 3. Semimembranosus- rotates leg medially

4. Sartorius (on the anterior side of the leg) – flexes hip

8

An extensor of the knee is the

Quadriceps femoris group: (made up of four muscles): 1. Rectus femoris

2.Vastus lateralis3. Vastus intermedius4. Vastus medialis

9

10

Muscles That Move the Leg

Adductor magnus

Gracilis

Semitendinosus

Semimembranosus

Semimembranosus

Sartorius

Gastrocnemius

Gluteus medius

Gluteus maximus

Biceps femoris

Semitendinosus

(a)

(b) (c)

Vastus lateraliscovered by fascia

Biceps femoris(short head)

Biceps femoris(long head)

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

11

Muscles That Move the LegCopyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Semitendinosus

SemimembranosusGracilisSartorius

Gastrocnemius:

Medial headLateral head

Soleus

Calcaneal tendon

Flexor retinaculum

Calcaneus

Biceps femoris

Plantaris

Soleus

Gastrocnemius

(a)

(b) (c)

(d) (e)

Flexor digitorumlongus

Fibularretinacula

Fibularisbrevis

Fibularislongus

Iliotibial tract(band)

Flexor digitorumlongus

Tibialis posterior

12

Muscles That Move the Leg