Hip and pelvis

Iliopsoas / Gluteus Medius / Gluteus Minimus / Gluteus Maximus / Piriformis / Pectineus /
Sartorius / Rectus Femoris / Tensor Fasciae Latae / Biceps Femoris / Semitendinosus /
Semimembranosus / Adductor Brevis / Adductor Longus / Adductor Magnus / Gracilis
Iliopsoas
Iliopsoas is sometimes classified as two muscles, Iliacus and Psoas major.
Origin

Inner surface of the Ilium

Base of the sacrum

Sides of the bodies of T12-L5
Insertion

Lesser trochanter of the femur
Actions

Flexion of the hip

Lateral rotation of the hip

Flexes torso when the legs are fixed (e.g. laying to sitting)
Innervation

Femoral nerve and branches of the lumbar plexus
Daily uses

Climbing a step
Gluteus Medius
Gluteus Medius is an important muscle in controlling the level of the hips. Weaknesses in gluteus
medius often result in a trendelenburg sign, an abnormal gait cycle where the hip of the swinging leg
drops down, rather than raises up. This results in increased degrees of knee flexion in order to clear
the ground.
Origin

Outer surface of the ilium, just below the crest
Insertion

Greater trochanter of the femur
Actions

Hip abduction

Posterior fibres externally rotate the hip

Anterior fibres internally rotate the hip
Innervation

Superior gluteal nerve
Daily uses

Stepping sideways out of the bath
Gluteus Minimus
Origin

Outer surface of the ilium, below the origin of Gluteus medius
Insertion

Greater trochanter of the femur
Actions

Hip abduction

Internal rotation of the hip
Innervation

Superior gluteal nerve
Daily uses

Getting out of a car
Gluteus Maximus
Gluteus Maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles.
Origin

Posterior crest of the ilium

Posterior surface of the sacrum
Insertion

Gluteal tuberosity of the femur

Iliotibial band (ITB)
Actions

Hip extension

External rotation of the hip
Innervation

Inferior gluteal nerve
Daily uses

Extension phase of walking upstairs
Piriformis
The Piriformis muscle is an important muscle. The sciatic nerve passes underneath this muscle on its
route down to the posterior thigh. In some individuals the nerve can actually pass right through the
muscle.
This can lead to sciatica symptoms due to a condition known as piriformis syndrome.
Origin

Anterior surface of the lateral sacrum
Insertion

Greater trochanter of the femur
Actions

External rotation of the hip

Hip abduction
Innervation

Branch of the sacral plexus
Daily uses

Taking the first leg out of the car
Pectineus
Pectineus is positioned between the Iliopsoas and Adductor Longus muscles.
Origin

Upper front of the pubic bone
Insertion

Upper medial shaft of the femur, inferior to the lesser trochanter
Actions

Hip adduction

Hip flexion
Innervation

Femoral nerve
Daily uses

Kicking a football
Sartorius Muscle
The Sartorius is a two joint muscle and so is weak when the knee is flexed and the hip is flexed at the
same time. It works better during single movements.
Origin

Area between the ASIS (Anterior Superior Iliac Spine) and AIIS (Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine)
Insertion

Anterior part of the medial condyle of the tibia
Actions

Flexion of the hip

Flexion of the knee

External rotation of the hip as it flexes the hip and knee

Abducts the hip
Innervation

Femoral nerve
Daily uses

Sitting in a cross-legged position
Rectus Femoris
The Rectus Femoris muscle is part of the Quadriceps muscle group. It is the only muscle of the group
which crosses the hip joint and is a powerful knee extensor when the hip is extended, but is weak
when the hip is flexed.
Origin

Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine (AIIS)
Insertion

Top of the patella and the patella tendon to the tibial tuberosity
Actions

Flexion of the hip

Extension of the knee
Innervation

Femoral nerve
Daily uses

Kicking a football
Tensor Fasciae Latae Muscle
The Tensor Fasciae Latae is a small muscle which attaches inferiorly to the long thick strip of fascia,
known at the iliotibial band (ITB)
Origin

Anterior Iliac crest and ilium
Insertion

Lateral condyle of the tibia via the Iliotibial band
Actions

Flexion of the hip

Hip abduction
Innervation

Superior gluteal nerve
Daily uses

Keeping one foot in front of the other when walking
Biceps Femoris
Biceps Femoris is one of the three muscles which form the hamstring group. The muscle is often
described as having a long head (the attachment from the ischium) and a short head (attached to
the femur).
Origin

Tuberosity of the ischium

Lower1/2 of the linea aspera of the femur

Lateral supracondylar ridge
Insertion

Lateral condyle of the tibia

Head of the femur
Actions

Hip extension

Knee flexion

Lateral rotation of the hip when the knee is flexed
Innervation

Tibial part of the sciatic nerve
Daily uses

Bending the knee to step over something
Semitendinosus
When running the hamstrings act eccentrically to slow down the knee extension motion. Hamstring
strains are common in individuals with chronically tight hamstrings or who do not warm-up
thoroughly.
Origin

Ischial tuberosity
Insertion

Upper medial surface of the tibia
Actions

Hip extension

Knee flexion

Internal rotation of the hip when the knee is flexed
Innervation

Tibial part of the sciatic nerve
Daily uses

Bending the knee to step over something
Semimembranosus
Semimembranosus is the most medial (inside) of the three hamstring muscles and along with the
semitendinosus muscle provides dynamic stability to the knee joint.
Origin

Ischial tuberosity
Insertion

Posterior part of the medial condyle of the tibia
Actions

Hip extension

Knee flexion

Internal rotation of the hip when the knee is flexed
Innervation

Tibial part of the sciatic nerve
Daily uses

Bending the knee to step over something
Adductor Brevis
Adductor Brevis is the smallest and shortest of the five adductor muscles with the others being
Adductor longus, Adductor magnus, Gracilis and Pectineus.
Origin (where it starts from)

The pubic bone
Insertion (where it inserts into)

Upper part of the femur or thigh bone.
Actions (what does it do?)

Hip adduction

Hip flexion
Which nerve makes it move?

Obturator nerve
Everyday uses

Bringing your second leg into the car
Adductor Longus
Adductor Longus is the middle of the three short adductor muscles (adductor brevis and pectineus
are the other two). The adductor magnus and gracilis are the two long adductor muscles which go
from the pubic bone to the knee.
Origin (where it starts from)

Superior pubic ramus, just below the crest
Insertion (where it inserts into)

Middle third of the linea aspera of the femur
Actions

Hip adduction

Hip flexion
Which nerve makes it move?

Obturator nerve
Everyday uses

Bringing your second leg into the car
Adductor Magnus
Adductor Magnus is the largest of the adductor muscles and with the gracilis muscle forms the long
adductor group.
Origin (where it starts from)

Adductor head: Inferior ramus of pubis and ischial ramus

Hamstring head: Ischial tuberosity
Insertion (where it inserts into)

Adductor head: Gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera and proximal supracondylar line

Hamstring head: Adductor tubercle of the femur
Actions

Adductor head: Adducts and flexes hip

Hamstring head: Extends hip
Which nerve makes it move?

Adductor head: Obturator nerve

Hamstring head: Sciatic nerve
Everyday uses

Bringing your second leg into the car
Gracilis
Gracilis is another muscle which works in conjunction with the groin muscles, or adductors.
Origin

Lower pubic body, near the pubic symphesis
Insertion

Upper medial surface of the tibia (pes anserine insertion)
Actions

Adducts hip

Flexes knee

Internally rotates the hip when the knee is flexed
Innervation

Obturator nerve
Daily uses

Sitting with the knees pressed together