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 medial group includes the following muscles:
Gracilis muscle (m. gracilis)
Gracilis muscle (m. gracilis) Gracilis muscle (m. gracilis) Gracilis muscle (m. gracilis) Gracilis muscle
(m. gracilis)Origin: inferior half of the pubic symphysis, inferior branch of the pubis
Insertion: tibial tuberosity. Together with the tendons of the sartorius and semitendinosus muscles, it forms pes anserinus superficialis (pes anserinus superficialis)
Function: adducts the thigh, flexes the leg at the knee joint, pronates the leg
Innervation: obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Blood supply: obturator artery, deep external pudendal artery, femoral artery
Pectinate muscles (m. pectineus)
Pectinate muscles (m. pectineus) Pectinate muscles (m. pectineus) Pectinate muscles
(m. pectineus)Origin: crest of the pubis, superior branch of the pubis
Insertion: pectineal line of the femur
Function: adducts and flexes the thigh
Innervation: зobturator nerve (L2-L3)
Blood supply: obturator artery, deep external pudendal artery, deep artery of the thigh
Adductor longus muscle (m. adductor longus)
Adductor longus muscle (m. adductor longus) Adductor longus muscle (m. adductor longus) Adductor longus muscle
(m. adductor longus)Origin: superior branch of the pubis
Insertion: medial lip of the linea aspera
Function: adducts, flexes and supinates the thigh
Innervation: obturator nerve (L2-L3)
Blood supply: obturator artery, deep external pudendal artery, deep artery of the thigh
Adductor brevis muscle (m. adductor brevis)
Adductor brevis muscle (m. adductor brevis) Adductor brevis muscle (m. adductor brevis) Adductor brevis muscle
(m. adductor brevis)Origin: inferior branch of the pubis, body of the pubis
Insertion: medial lip of the linea aspera
Function: adducts, flexes and supinates the thigh
Innervation: obturator nerve (L2-L3)
Blood supply: obturator artery, perforating arteries
Adductor magnus muscle (m. adductor magnus)


(m. adductor magnus)
Origin: ischial tuberosity, ischium ramus, inferior pubic ramus
Insertion: medial lip of the linea aspera; a small part inserts into the medial epicondyle of the femur
Function: adducts, flexes and supinates the thigh
Innervation: obturator nerve (L2-L3), branches of the sciatic nerve (L4-L5)
Blood supply: obturator artery, perforating arteries
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
- Gracilis muscle
- m. gracilis
- Pectineus muscle
- m. pectineus
- Adductor longus muscle
- m. adductor longus
- Adductor brevis muscle
- m. adductor brevis
- Adductor magnus muscle
- m. adductor magnus