Muscles of the Lower Extremity
Inferior Half
Hip
Leg
Foot
Hip
 Gluteus Maximus
 Gluteus Medius
Gluteus Maximus
 Function: Extends and rotates
the thigh
 Origin: Pelvis and sacrum
 Insertion: Femur (posterior)
Gluteus Medius
 Function: Extends and
rotates the thigh
 Sits above the gluteus
maximus
 Origin: pelvis (posterior)
 Insertion: top of femur
Upper Leg
 Sartorius
 Quadriceps Muscles
 Hamstring Muscles
Sartorius
 Function: flexes lower
leg
 Longest muscle in the body
(anterior)
 Origin: pelvis
 Insertion: medial side of
tibia
Muscle you use to:
- Play “Hacky Sack”
- Cross your legs – “Man style”
Quadriceps Muscles
 Quadriceps
 4 muscles make up the “Quad” on the anterior side of leg
 Vastus Medialis
 Vastus Intermedius
 Vastis Lateralis
 Rectus femoris
 Function: Extends the leg & knee and flexes of the hip &
thigh
Quadriceps (Quads)
 Origin: Lower part of the pelvis and top of the femur
 Insertion: patella (knee cap)
 Vastus Medialis (VMO)
 Located on the inside of your thigh
 Vastus Intermedius
 Located next to the vastus lateralis
 Vastus Lateralis
 Located on the outside of your thigh
 Rectus Femoris
 Located next to the sartorius
 Goes over all the vastus muscles and sits on top
Hamstring Muscles
 3 muscles make up the hamstring
 Biceps Femoris
 Semimembranosus
 Semitendinosus
 They are located on the posterior side of the leg
 Function: Flexes the knee and extends the thigh
Hamstring Muscles
 Origin: Back of Pelvis
 Insertion:Tibia (medial & lateral)
 Biceps Femoris
 Lateral (insertion)hamstring muscle
 Semimembranosus
 Most Medial (insertion)hamstring muscle
 Semitendinosus
 Medial (insertion)hamstring muscle
Lower Leg
 Tibialis Anterior
 Extensor Digitorum Longus
 Peroneus (Fibularis)Longus
 Peroneus (Fibularis)Brevis
 Gastrocnemius (Calf)
 Soleus (Calf)
 Flexor Digitorum Longus
Tibialis Anterior
 Function: flexes the foot
muscle on your shin bone
 Origin: Tibia
 Insertion: Metatarsal
Extensor Digitorum Longus
 Function: Moves your
toes/digits 2-5
 Origin: top of tibia and
fibula
 Insertion: Phalanges (2-5)
 Located next to tibialis
anterior on the outside of
the leg
Peroneus Longus
 Function: Flexes the foot;
arch support muscle (side
of leg)
 Origin: Fibula
 Insertion: Big toe (1st
metatarsal)
Peroneus Brevis
 Function: Flexes foot;
arch support muscle
 Origin: shaft of fibula
 Insertion: your little toe
(outside lower leg)
Gastrocnemius
 Function: (posterior) bends the
knee; points the toes or plants the
foot down
 Origin: bottom of the femur
 Insertion: heel bone (calcaneus)
Soleus
 Function: (posterior)
extends or depresses the
foot when standing or
walking; points the foot
down
 Origin: tibia and fibula
 Insertion: heel bone
(calcaneus)
Flexor Digitorum Longus
 Function Flexes Second
Through Fifth Toes, Inverts
Foot, Weak Plantar Flexion Of
Ankle
 Origin Middle Posterior
Surface Of Tibia
 Insertion Distal Phalanges
Of Second Through Fifth Toes