Lower Limb Muscles
All muscles of lower limb body with their Origin, Insertion, Nerve Supply and Action
Thigh Muscles:-
Anterior Side
(A) Sartorius:-
Origin – Anterior superior iliac spine.
Insertion – Proximal end of tibial below medial condyle.
Nerve Supply – Femoral Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Hip flexion, Abduction, external rotation and Knee flexion, internal rotation.
(B) Rectus femoris:-
Origin – Anterior inferior iliac spine and supra acetabular groove.
Insertion – Tibial tuberosity and Patella.
Nerve Supply – Femoral Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Hip Flexion and Knee Extension.
(C) Vastus intermedius:-
Origin – Anterior surface of the femoral shaft.
Insertion – Tibial tuberosity and Patella.
Nerve Supply – Femoral Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Knee Extension.
(D) Vastus lateralis:-
Origin – Linea aspera of the femur and Greater trochanter of femur.
Insertion – Tibial tuberosity and Lateral condyle of the tibia bone.
Nerve Supply – Femoral Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Knee Extension.
(E) Vastus medialis:-
Origin – Intertrochanteric line, spiral line and linea aspera and medial supracondylar line of femur.
Insertion – Tibial tuberosity and Medial condyle of the tibia bone.
Nerve Supply – Femoral Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Knee Extension.
Quadriceps muscles are Rectus femoris, Vastus intermedius, Vastus lateralis and Vastus medialis.
Posterior Side
(A) Semimembranosus:-
Origin – Ischial tuberosity.
Insertion – Medial condyle of the tibia bone.
Nerve Supply – Sciatic Nerve (L5, S2).
Action – Hip flexion, internal rotation and Knee flexion, internal rotation and Stabilises pelvis.
(B) Semitendinosus:-
Origin – Ischial tuberosity.
Insertion – Proximal end of the tibia bone below medial condyle.
Nerve Supply – Sciatic Nerve (L5, S2).
Action – Hip flexion, internal rotation and Knee flexion, internal rotation and Stabilises pelvis.
(C) Biceps femoris:-
Origin – Long head : Ischial tuberosity. Short head : Linea aspera of the femur and lateral supracondylar line of femur.
Insertion – Head of the fibula bone.
Nerve Supply – Sciatic Nerve (L5, S2).
Action – Hip extension, external rotation and Knee flexion, external rotation and Stabilises pelvis.
Medial Side
(A) Pectineus:-
Origin – Superior pubic ramus.
Insertion – Pectineal line of the femur, Linea aspera of femur.
Nerve Supply – Femoral and Obturator Nerve.
Action – Hip flexion, adduction, external rotation, internal rotation and Pelvis stabilization.
(B) Adductor magnus:-
Origin – Inferior pubic ramus and Ischial ramus.
Insertion – Gluteal tuberosity and Medial supracondylar line.
Nerve Supply – Obturator Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Hip flexion, adduction, external rotation, internal rotation and Pelvis stabilization.
(C) Adductor minimus:-
Origin – Inferior public ramus.
Insertion – Gluteal tuberosity of the femur.
Nerve Supply – Obturator Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Hip adduction and external rotation.
(D) Adductor longus:-
Origin – Anterior body of pubis.
Insertion – Linea aspera of femur.
Nerve Supply – Obturator Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Hip flexion, adduction, external rotation and pelvis stabilization.
(E) Adductor brevis:-
Origin – Anterior body of pubis and inferior pubic ramus.
Insertion – Linea aspera of femur.
Nerve Supply – Obturator Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Hip flexion, adduction, external rotation and pelvis stabilization.
(E) Gracilis:-
Origin – Anterior body of pubis, inferior pubic ramus and Ischial ramus.
Insertion – Medial surface of proximal tibia..
Nerve Supply – Obturator Nerve (L2-L4).
Action – Hip flexion, adduction and Knee flexion, internal rotation.
Leg Muscles:-
Anterior Side
(A) Tibialis anterior:-
Origin – Lateral tibial condyle, Proximal half of lateral surface of the tibia and Interosseous membrane.
Insertion – Medial cuneiform bone and Base of metatarsal bone Ist.
Nerve Supply – Deep fibular Nerve (L4, L5).
Action – Ankle dorsiflexion, inversion and support the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.
(B) Extensor hallucis longus:-
Origin – Medial surface of fibula and interosseous membrane.
Insertion – Base of distal phalanx of the great toe.
Nerve Supply – Deep fibular Nerve (L5, S1).
Action – Toe extension, Ankle dorsiflexion and Eversion.
(C) Extensor digitorum longus:-
Origin – Medial surface of fibula, Lateral tibial condyle and Interosseus membrane.
Insertion – Distal and middle phalanges of digits 2-5.
Nerve Supply – Deep fibular Nerve (L5, S1).
Action – Toes extension, Ankle dorsiflexion and Eversion.
(D) Fibularis tertius:-
Origin – Medial surface of fibula and Anterior intermuscular septum.
Insertion – Dorsal surface of base of metatarsal bone 5.
Nerve Supply – Deep fibular Nerve (L5, S1).
Action – Ankle dorsiflexion and Eversion.
Lateral Side
(A) Fibularis longus:-
Origin – Head of fibula, Anterior and Posterior intermuscular septa.
Insertion – Medial cuneiform bone and Metatarsal bone 5.
Nerve Supply – Superficial fibular Nerve (L5, S1).
Action – Ankle plantar flexion, Eversion and supports longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot.
(B) Fibularis brevis:-
Origin – Distal 2/3 of lateral surface of fibula and Anterior intermuscular septum.
Insertion – Tuberosity of metatarsal bone 5.
Nerve Supply – Superficial fibular Nerve (L5, S1).
Action – Ankle plantar flexion and Eversion
Posterior Side
(A) Gastrocnemius:-
Origin – Lateral head : Posterolateral surface of the lateral femoral condyle. Medial head : Posterior surface of the medial femoral condyle and Popliteal surface of the femoral shaft.
Insertion – Posterior Surface of the calcaneus.
Nerve Supply – Tibial Nerve (S1, S2).
Action – Ankle plantar flexion and Knee flexion.
(B) Soleus:-
Origin – Soleal line, Medial border of tibia, Head of the fibula and Posterior border of the fibula.
Insertion – Posterior Surface of the calcaneus.
Nerve Supply – Tibial Nerve (S1, S2).
Action – Ankle plantar flexion and Knee flexion.
(C) Plantaris:-
Origin – Lateral supracondylar line of femur.
Insertion – Posterior Surface of the calcaneus.
Nerve Supply – Tibial Nerve (S1, S2).
Action – Ankle plantar flexion.
(D) Popliteus:-
Origin – Lateral femoral condyle, Posterior horn of lateral meniscus of the knee joint.
Insertion – Posterior surface of the proximal tibia.
Nerve Supply – Tibial Nerve (L5-S2).
Action – Unlock knee joint and Knee joint stabilization.
(E) Tibialis posterior:-
Origin – Posterior surface of the tibia, Posterior surface of fibula and Interosseous membrane.
Insertion – Tuberosity of navicular bone, all cuneiform bones and bases of metatarsal bones 2-4.
Nerve Supply – Tibial Nerve (L4, L5).
Action – Ankle plantar flexion, Inversion and supports the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.
(F) Flexor digitorum longus:-
Origin – Posterior surface of tibia.
Insertion – Base of distal phalanges of digits 2-5.
Nerve Supply – Tibial Nerve (L5-S2).
Action – Toes flexion, Ankle plantar flexion and Inversion.
(G) Flexion halliucis longus:-
Origin – Posterior surface of fibula and Interosseous membrane.
Insertion – Base of distal phalanx of great toe.
Nerve Supply – Tibial Nerve (S2, S3).
Action – Toes flexion, Ankle plantar flexion and Inversion.
Foot Muscles:-
Medial Plantar Muscles
(A) Abductor hallucis:-
Origin – Medial process of calcaneal tuberosity, Flexor retinaculum and Plantar aponeurosis.
Insertion – Base of proximal phalanx of the great toe.
Nerve Supply – Medial plantar Nerve (S1-S3).
Action – Toe flexion, abduction and Support of longitudinal arch of the foot.
(B) Flexor hallucis brevis:-
Origin – Tendon of tibialis posterior muscle, Medial and Lateral Cuneiform bone and Cuboid bone.
Insertion – Medial and Lateral aspects of base of proximal phalanx of the great toe.
Nerve Supply – Medial plantar Nerve (S1, S2).
Action – Toe flexion and Support of longitudinal arch of the foot.
(C) Adductor hallucis:-
Origin – Oblique head: Bases of metatarsal bones 2-4, Cuboid bone, Lateral cuneiform bone and Tendon of fibularis longus muscle. Transverse head: Deep transverse metatarsal ligaments of toes 3-5.
Insertion – Lateral aspect of the base of proximal phalanx of the great toe.
Nerve Supply – Lateral plantar Nerve (S2, S3).
Action – Toe adduction, flexion and Support of longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot.
Central Plantar Muscles
(A) Flexor digitorum brevis:-
Origin – Medial process of Calcaneal tuberosity, Plantar aponeurosis.
Insertion – Middle phalanges of digits 2-5.
Nerve Supply – Medial plantar Nerve (S1-S3).
Action – Toe flexion, Support longitudinal arch of foot.
(B) Quadratus plantae:-
Origin – Medial process of Calcaneus bone and Lateral process of calcaneal tuberosity.
Insertion – Tendon of flexor digitorum longus.
Nerve Supply – Lateral plantar Nerve (S1-S3).
Action – Toe flexion.
(C) Lumbricals (4):-
Origin – Tendon of flexor digitorum longus.
Insertion – Medial bases of proximal phalanges and extensor of digits 2-5.
Nerve Supply – Lumbrical 1: Medial plantar nerve, Lumbrical 2-4: Lateral plantar nerve.
Action – Toe flexion and adduction.
(D) Plantar interossei (3):-
Origin – Medial aspects of metatarsal bones 3-5.
Insertion – Medial bases of proximal phalanges and extensor of digits 3-5.
Nerve Supply – Lateral plantar Nerve (S2-S3).
Action – Toe flexion and adduction.
(E) Dorsal interossei (4):-
Origin – Opposing sides of metatarsal bones 1-5.
Insertion – 1: Medial base of proximal phalanx of digit 2, 2-4: Lateral bases of proximal phalanges and extensor expansion of digits 2-4.
Nerve Supply – Lateral plantar Nerve (S2-S3).
Action – Toe flexion and abduction.
Lateral Plantar Muscles
(A) Abductor digiti minimi:-
Origin – Calcaneal tuberosity, Plantar aponeurosis.
Insertion – Base of proximal phalanx of digit 5 and Metatarsal bone 5.
Nerve Supply – Lateral plantar Nerve (S2-S3).
Action – Toe flexion, abduction and Support of longitudinal arch of the foot.
(B) Flexor digiti minimi brevis:-
Origin – Base of metatarsal bone 5 and Long plantar ligament.
Insertion – Base of proximal phalanx of digit 5.
Nerve Supply – Lateral plantar Nerve (S2-S3).
Action – Toe flexion.
(C) Opponens digiti minimi:-
Origin – Long plantar ligament, Base of metatarsal bone 5 and Tendon sheath of fibularis longus.
Insertion – Lateral border of metatarsal bone 5.
Nerve Supply – Lateral plantar Nerve (S2, S3).
Action – Toe abduction, flexion.
Dorsal Plantar Muscles
(A) Extensor digitorum brevis:-
Origin – Supralateral surface of calcaneus bone, Interosseous talocalcaneal ligament and Stem of inferior extensor retinaculum.
Insertion – Extensor digitorum longus tendons of toes 2-4.
Nerve Supply – Deep fibular/Peroneal Nerve (L5,S1).
Action – Toe extension.
(B) Extensor hallucis brevis:-
Origin – Superolateral surface of calcaneus bone.
Insertion – Proximal phalanx of the great toe.
Nerve Supply – Deep fibular/Peroneal Nerve (L5,S1).
Action – Toe extension.