The Muscles of the Lower Extremity

- A Visual Guide -

Anatomy & Physiology I

BIOL 121

Rob Swatski

Assistant Professor of Biology

HACC - York Campus

Gluteus maximus

Extends and laterally rotates thigh; adducts the hip 2

Gluteus medius

Medially rotates thigh;

abducts hip3

Gluteus medius

4

Gluteus minimus

Medially rotates thigh; abducts hip5

Tensor fasciae latae

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

Tensor fasciae latae

7

Piriformis

Abducts and

laterally rotates

thigh at hip8

Gemellus superior

Laterally rotates thigh at hip 9

Obturator internus

Abducts and laterally rotates thigh at hip10

Gemellus inferior

Laterally rotates thigh at hip 11

Psoasmajor

Flexes thigh at hip; flexes vertebral

column12

Psoas major

13

Psoas major

14

Iliacus

Flexes thigh at hip15

Pectineus

Adducts and flexes thigh at hip16

Adductor longus

Adducts and flexes thigh at hip; assists

in medial rotation17

Adductor magnus

Adducts and extends thigh at hip; assists in

medial rotation18

Gracilis

Adducts thigh at hip and flexes leg at

knee; assists in medial rotation19

Gracilis

20

Gracilis

21

Sartorius

Flexes, abducts, and laterally

rotates thigh at hip; flexes knee22

Rectus femoris

Extends leg at knee and flexes thigh at

hip; part of the quadriceps group23

Vastusmedialis

Extends leg at knee; part of the

quadriceps group24

Vastusmedialis

25

Vastuslateralis

Extends leg at knee; part of the

quadriceps group26

Biceps femoris

Flexes leg at knee and extends thigh at hip;

belongs to the hamstring group27

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 ankle31

Gastrocnemius

32

Soleus

Plantar flexion of ankle33

Soleus

34

Soleus

35

Flexor digitorumlongus

Flexes lateral four toes; plantar

flexion and inversion of foot36

Flexor hallucislongus

Flexes great toe; plantar flexion and

inversion of foot37

Tibialisanterior

Dorsiflexion of foot at ankle;

inversion of foot38

Extensor digitorumlongus

Extends lateral four toes;

dorsiflexion of ankle and

eversion of foot39

Extensor digitorumlongus

40

Fibularis(Peroneus) longus

Plantar flexion and eversion of foot;

stabilizes lateral ankle and arch of foot41

Fibularis(Peroneus) longus

42

Fibularis(Peroneus) longus

43

Fibularis(Peroneus) brevis

Plantar flexion and eversion of foot44

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

CreditsAll photographs and labels by Rob Swatski, 2009-2010

http://robswatskibiology.wetpaint.com

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