Rectus Femoris
Vastus Intermedius
Vastus Medialis
Vastus Lateralis
O Anterior Inferior Iliac
Spine [A.I.I.S.]; Upper
Margin of Acetabulum
I Patella; Tibial tuberosity
via patellar ligament;
Sesamoid Bone
A Extension of knee;
Assists flexion of femur
at hip
N Only quad muscle
crossing both hip and
knee joints; combined
action in walking
O Anterior & Lateral femur
I Patella; Tibial tuberosity
via patellar ligament
A Extension of knee
N Deepest quad; deep to
rectus femoris; may try
to palpate underneath
by pushing rectus
femoris medially in
active knee extension
O Linea Aspera (posterior
femur)
I Patella; Tibial tuberosity
via patellar ligament
A Extension of knee
N Anterior, medial surface
of lower third of thigh,
medial to rectus femoris
in active knee extension;
sartorius overlaps vastus
medialis
O Linea Aspera; Greater
Trochanter
I Patella; Tibial tuberosity
via patellar ligament
A Extension of knee
N Lateral surface of
anterior thigh; lateral to
rectus femoris in active
knee extension
Tibialis Anterior
Ext. Hallucis Longus
Ext. Digitor. Longus
O Lateral Condyle &
Lateral shaft of tibia
I Base of 1st Metatarsal
(plantar surface); First
(medial) cuneiform
(plantar surface)
A Dorsiflexion of Ankle;
Inversion of Foot
N Area of “shin splints”;
Paralysis of this muscle
causes “foot drop”
O Anterior Shaft of fibula
I Base of distal phalanx of
great toe (Hallucis)
A Extension of great toe;
assists dorsiflexion of
ankle
N Comparable to Extensor
Pollicis Longus in the
hand
O Lateral condyle of tibia;
anterior shaft of fibula
I Middle and distal
phalanges of 4 lateral
toes
A Extension of 4 lateral
toes; assists dorsiflexion
of ankle
N Comparable to Extensor
Digitorum in the hand
Key
O = Origin
I = Insertion
A = Action
N = Notes
7 June 2008
Muscles of the Shin
Quadriceps Femoris Group
Anterior Leg Muscles
Healing Hands Institute
1
Biceps Femoris
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Hamstrings Notes
O Ischial Tuberosity
I Head of Fibula (inserts
laterally at the knee)
A Flexion of Knee;
(to a lesser degree,
Extension of Hip)
N Most lateral of the
hamstrings; “biceps”
indicates “2 heads”
O Ischial Tuberosity
I Anterior proximal tibial
shaft (inserts medially at
the knee, at “Pes
Anserinus”)
A Flexion of Knee;
(to a lesser degree,
Extension of Hip);
Medial rotation of flexed
knee
N Central hamstring;
tendon is deep, and
difficult to palpate
O Ischial Tuberosity
I Posterior medial tibial
condyle
A Flexion of Knee;
(to a lesser degree,
Extension of Hip);
Medial rotation of flexed
knee
N Most medial of the
hamstrings; adjacent to
Gracilis
All three of the Hamstrings
cross both the hip and knee
joints from lateral to medial
(BTM):
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Tibialis Posterior
O Medial Head: medial
epicondyle of femur
Lateral Head: lateral
epicondyle of femur
I Calcaneus via Achilles
Tendon
A Plantarflexion of ankle;
assists flexion of knee
N “Gastro” (Greek = belly);
Can act on the knee or
the ankle separately, but
not simultaneously;
raises heel during
running & jumping
O Soleal line of tibia;
posterior head & upper
shaft of fibula
I Calcaneus via Achilles
Tendon
A Plantarflexion of ankle
(stronger than gastroc.)
N “Soleus” (Latin = sole, a
flat fish); deep to
gastrocnemius;
together, gastroc and
soleus are often referred
to as the “Triceps Surae”
O Posterior tibia &
posterior fibula
I Navicular; adjacent
tarsals & metatarsals on
plantar surface of foot
A Inversion of foot; assists
plantarflexion of ankle
N Belly of muscle deep to
Triceps Surae, cannot be
palpated
Key
O = Origin
I = Insertion
A = Action
N = Notes
7 June 2008
Muscles of the Calf
Hamstrings
Posterior Leg Muscles
Healing Hands Institute
Biceps Femoris
SemiTendinosus
SemiMembranosus
An inability to touch your
toes while keeping your
knees extended is largely due
to shortened hamstrings.
2
Gluteals
Muscles of the Gluteal Region
Gluteus Maximus
Gluteus Medius
Gluteus Minimus
Tensor Fasciae Latae
O Posterior sacrum; Ilium;
superior gluteal line of
ilium
I Gluteal Tuberosity of
femur; I.T. Tract
A Extension of femur at
hip; lateral rotation of
extended hip
N “Gluteus” (Greek =
Rump); Maximus used
mostly for power, as in
climbing stairs, running,
rising from sitting
position
O Iliac Crest
I Greater Trochanter of
Femur
A Abduction
N When standing on one
foot, Medius contracts
on that side to stabilize
pelvis and prevent tilting
to unsupported side;
alternate contraction of
these muscles occurs in
walking
O Posterior Ilium
I Anterior surface of
Greater Trochanter
A Abduction
N Gluteus Minimus works
with anterior portion of
Gluteus Medius
O Iliac Crest (posterior to
A.S.I.S.)
I Iliotibial Tract (I.T. Band)
A Stabilizes knee; prevents
collapse of extended
knee during walking
N Braces the knee while
walking
Key
O = Origin
I = Insertion
A = Action
N = Notes
7 June 2008
Deep Lateral Hip Rotator
Piriformis
O Anterior sacrum
I Greater Trochanter
A Lateral rotation of femur
at hip
N (Sciatic Nerve); attempt
to palpate just posterior
to greater trochanter
during active lateral
rotation of hip; difficult
to differentiate from
gluteus medius
Healing Hands Institute
3
Pectineus
Adductor Longus
Adductor Brevis
Adductor Magnus
O Anterior Pubis
I Linea Aspera
A Flexion of femur at hip;
assists adduction of
femur at hip
N Uppermost of the
medial thigh muscles;
only adductor that flexes
hip
O Anterior Pubis
I Linea Aspera
A Adduction of femur at
hip; assists flexion of
femur at hip; medial
rotation of femur at hip
N Forms medial border of
femoral triangle
O Anterior Pubis
I Linea Aspera
A Adduction of femur at
hip; assists flexion of
femur at hip; medial
rotation of femur at hip
N Not present in all
individuals; if present,
lies deep to adductor
longus
O Inferior Pubic Ramus,
Ischial tuberosity &
ramus of ischium
I Linea Aspera
A Adduction of femur at
hip; assists flexion &
extension of femur at
hip
N Largest and deepest
adductor
PES ANSERINUS
Gracilis
Three thigh muscles insert at
the Superior (proximal)
Medial Tibia forming the
shape of a “duck foot”:
O Anterior Pubis
I Medial proximal tibia
(“Pes Anserinus”)
A Adduction of femur at
hip; assists flexion &
medial rotation of flexed
knee
N Most superficial and
medial of adductor
group; only adductor
that crosses the knee
joint; Femur and Gracilis
form the shape of the
letter “V”
Sartorius
Gracilis
Semitendinosus
Key
O = Origin
I = Insertion
A = Action
N = Notes
7 June 2008
The initial letters of these
muscles form the mnemonic
expression “Silly Goose
Steps”.
Sartorius
Healing Hands Institute
Muscle of Anterior Thigh
Adductors
Muscles of the Medial Thigh
O Anterior Superior Iliac
Spine (A.S.I.S.)
I Upper medial shaft of
tibia (“Pes Anserinus”)
A Assists flexion,
abduction, lateral
rotation of femur at hip;
assists flexion, medial
rotation of knee
N Longest muscle in the
body; most superficial
thigh muscle; not an
adductor
4
Peroneals
Muscles of the Lateral Lower Leg
Peroneus Longus
Peroneus Brevis
Peroneus Tertius
Peroneals Notes
O Head & lateral shaft of
fibula
I Base of first metatarsal;
1st (medial) cuneiform
(plantar surface of foot)
A Eversion of foot; assists
plantar flexion of ankle
N Traverses the sole of the
foot to meet the tibialis
anterior tendon to form
a stirrup for the foot
(wraps under the foot);
a.k.a. Fibularis Longus
O Lateral shaft of fibula
I Base of 5th metatarsal
A Eversion of foot; assists
plantar flexion of ankle
N Helps when walking or
running on uneven
surfaces;
a.k.a. Fibularis Brevis
O Anterior distal fibula
I Base of 5th metatarsal
A Eversion of foot; assists
dorsiflexion (lifts little
toe)
N Functions to place the
foot flat on the ground
by raising its lateral
border
Peroneus = Greek for “fibula”
These muscles would be
involved in the case of a
lateral ankle sprain.
“Eversion” occurs when the
foot is turned or rotated
outward; i.e., while standing,
lifting the lateral edges of the
feet while ‘collapsing’ toward
the inner arches.
Key
O = Origin
I = Insertion
A = Action
N = Notes
7 June 2008
Healing Hands Institute
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