In this pdf-note, we’ll start with the borders of the lower limb:
The posterior border passes through the coccyx and the lateral margins of the sacrum
The lateral border is the iliac crest
The anterior border passes through the inguinal ligament and the pubic symphysis
There are several regions within the lower limb:
Gluteal region (regio glutealis)
Femoral region (regio femoralis)
Knee region (regio genus)
Leg region (regio cruralis)
Ankle region (regio talocruralis)
Foot region (regio pedis)
Within these areas, the muscles of the lower limb are located.
These include:
Pelvic girdle muscles
Muscles of the free part of lower limb
The muscles of the free part of the lower limb are divided into:
Thigh muscles
Leg muscles
Foot muscles
The thigh muscles form three groups:
The anterior group consists of the thigh flexors and the leg extensors
The posterior group consists of the thigh extensors and the leg flexors
The medial group consists of the thigh adductor muscles The anterior group includes the following muscles:
Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)
Sartorius muscle
(m. sartorius)Origin: anterior superior iliac spine
Insertion: tibial tuberosity. Together with the tendons of the gracilis and semitendinosus muscles, it forms pes anserinus superficialis (pes anserinus superficialis)
Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint), supinates the thigh, pronates the leg when the knee joint is flexed. It also has a specific function of “throwing” a leg over a leg
Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Blood supply: lateral circumflex femoral artery, descending genicular artery
Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris) – consists of four heads (which are essentially separate muscles):
Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)
(m. rectus femoris)
Origin: anterior inferior iliac spine, external surface of the ilium
Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)
Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)
Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh
Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)
(m. vastus lateralis)
Origin: intertrochanteric line of the femur, greater trochanter of the femur, lateral lip of the linea aspera of the femur
Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)
Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)
Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh
Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)
(m. vastus medialis)
Origin: intertrochanteric line of the femur, medial lip of the linea aspera of the femur
Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)
Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)
Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh
Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)
(m. vastus intermedius)
Origin: anterior and lateral surfaces of the body of the femur, lateral lip of the linea aspera of the femur
Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)
Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)
Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh
Muscles of the thigh
- Gluteal region
- regio glutealis
- Femoral region
- regio femoralis
- Knee region
- regio genus
- Leg region
- regio cruralis
- Ankle region
- regio talocruralis
- Foot region
- regio pedis
- Sartorius muscle
- m. sartorius
- Quadriceps femoris muscle
- m. quadriceps femoris
- Rectus femoris muscle
- m. rectus femoris
- Vastus lateralis muscle
- m. vastus lateralis
- Vastus medialis muscle
- m. vastus medialis
- Vastus intermedius muscle
- m. vastus intermedius