Muscles of the Leg
Scott.lehbauer@lethbridgecollege.ab.ca
Gluteus Maximus
Origin
• outer surface of iliac
crest
• Sacrum
• Coccyx
Insertion
• Iliotibial tract
• Posterior femur
Function
• Hip extension
Gluteus Maximus
Gluteus Medius
Origin
• Lateral surface of the
ilium
Insertion
• Greater trochanter of
the femur
Function
• Abducts the hip
Gluteus Medius
Tensor Fascia Latae
Origin
• Lateral surface of the
iliac crest
Insertion
• Iliotibial tract
Function
• Abducts, flexes and
medially rotates the
thigh
Tensor Fascia Latae
Gracilis
Origin
• Inferior ramus of the
pubis
Insertion
• Medial surface of the
tibia
Function
• Adduction of the hip
• Flexes the leg at the knee
Gracilis
Biceps Femoris
Origin
• Ischial Tuberosity
• Linea aspera of femur
Insertion
• Medial surface of the
tibia
Function
• Flexes the leg at the knee
• Extends the hip
Biceps Femoris
Semitendinosus
Origin
• Ischial tuberosity
Insertion
• Head of the fibula
• Medial tibia
Function
• Flexes knee
• Extends the hip
Semitendinosus
Semimembranous
Origin
• Ischial tuberosity
Insertion
• Medial condyle of the
tibia
Function
• Flexes the knee
• Extends the hip
Semimembranous
Adductor magnus
Origin
• Ischial tuberosity
Insertion
• Linea aspera of femur
Function
• Adducts and extends hip
Adductor Magnus
Adductor longus
Origin
• Inferior ramus of the
pubis
Insertion
• Linea aspera of the femur
Function
• Adducts and flexes the
hip
Adductor Longus
Iliacus
Origin
• Iliac fossa
Insertion
• Lesser trochanter
Function
• Flexes hip
Iliacus
Psoas major
Origin
• Transverse process of T12
– L5
Insertion
• Lesser trochanter
Function
• Flexes hip
Psoas major
Sartorius – the longest muscle in
the body
Origin
• Anterior Superior Iliac Spine
Insertion
• Medial surface of the tibia
Function
• Flexes the knee and hip
• Laterally rotates the hip
• “Crosses Legs”
Sartorius
Rectus femoris
Origin
• Anterior inferior iliac
spine
Insertion
• Tibial tuberosity by the
patellar ligament
Function
• Extends knee
• Flexes hip
Rectus Femoris
Vastus lateralis
Origin
• Greater trochanter of
femur
Insertion
• Tibial tuberosity by
the patellar ligament
Function
• Extends knee
Vastus lateralis
Vastus medialis
Origin
• Medial surface of the
linea aspera of the femur
Insertion
• Tibial tuberosity by the
patellar ligament
Function
• Extends the knee
Vastus medialis
Vastus intermedius
Origin
• Anterior and lateral
surfaces of femur
Insertion
• Tibial tuberosity by
the patellar ligament
Function
• Extends knee
Vastus intermedius
Gastocnemius
Origin
• Medial and lateral
epicondyles of the femur
Insertion
• Posterior surface of
calcaneus via
tendocalcaneus
Function
• Plantar flexes the ankle
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Origin
• Head of the fibula
• Shaft of the tibia
Insertion
• Calcaneus via the
tendocalcaneus
Function
• Plantar flexes ankle
Soleus
Tibialis anterior
Origin
• Lateral condyle and the
lateral surface of the tibia
Insertion
• Base of the 1st metatarsal
and the medial
cuneiform
Function
• Dorsiflexes ankle and
inverts foot
Tibialis anterior
Extensor digitorum longus
Origin
• Lateral condyle of the tibia
and anterior surface of the
fibula
Insertion
• Toes 2-5
Function
• Extends toes 2-5
• Dorsiflexes and everts foot
Extensor Digitorum Longus
Peroneus Longus
Origin
• Lateral condyle of tibia
• Head and shaft of fibula
Insertion
• Tarsals and metatarsals
Function
• Everts foot and plantar
flexes ankle
Peroneus Longus
Peroneus Brevis
Origin
• Lateral margin of the
fibula
Insertion
• Base of the 5th
metatarsal
Function
• Everts foot and
plantar flexes ankle
Peroneus Brevis
Biology 160 Muscles
(Need to Know)
Leg Lab 2
You will need to know the origins, insertions
and functions for these muscles
• 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,17,18,19,20,21,22,
• Psoas Major and Iliacus