Anatomy: Legs
Muscles of Posterior Thigh
| Muscle | Attachements | Nerve Supply | Actions | Special Tests | |
| Semitendinosus (Hamstring) | O:Ischial Tuberosity I: Medial surface of superior part of tibia | Tibial Nerve (Branched from Sciatic Nerve) | -Extend hip – Flex knee – Internally rotate knee | Hamstring Strength Test | |
| Semimembranosus (Hamstring) | O: Ischial tuberosity I: Posterior part of medial condyle of tibia | Tibial Nerve ( Branched from Sciatic Nerve) | Extend hip – Flex knee – Internally rotate knee | Hamstring Strength Test | |
| Biceps Femoris (Hamstring) | O: Long Head : Ischial tuberosity, Short head: Linea aspera and lateral supracondylar line of femur I: Lateral side of head of fibula | Long Head : Tibial Nerve, Short head: Fibular Nerve | – Flex knee – Lateral rotation of knee – Extend hip | Hamstring Strength Test | |
| Tensor Fasciae Latae | O: Anterior superior iliac spine along anterior part of iliac crest I: ITB | Superior Gluteal Nerve | – Flex Hip | Ober’s Test |
Muscles of Anterior Thigh
| Muscles | Attachements | Nerve Supply | Actions | Special Tests |
| Rectus femoris (Quadriceps) | O: Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine I: Quadriceps tendon | Femoral Nerve | – Extend knee joint – Stabilizes hip joint | Thomas Test, Clarke’s Patello-femoral Grind Test, Ely’s Test |
| Vastus lateralis (Quadriceps) | O: Greater Trochanter and lateral lip of linea aspera of femur I: Quadriceps tendon | Femoral Nerve | – Extend the knee joint | Thomas Test, Clarke’s Patello-femoral Grind Test |
| Vastus medialis (Quadriceps) | O: Intertrochanteric line and medial lip of linea aspera of femur I: Quadriceps tendon | Femoral Nerve | – Extend the knee joint | Thomas Test, Clarke’s Patello-femoral Grind Test |
| Vastus intermedius (Quadriceps) | O: Anterior and lateral surface of femoral shaft I: Quadriceps tendon | Femoral Nerve | – Extend the knee joint | Thomas Test, Clarke’s Patello-femoral Grind Test |
| Sartorius | O: Anterior Superior Iliac Spine I: Superior part of medial surface of tibia | Femoral Nerve | – Flex hip – Abduct hip – Laterally rotates hip -Flex knee | Sartorius Strength and Length Tests |
Medial Compartment of Thigh
| Muscles | Attachement | Nerve Supply | Action | Special Test |
| Adductor Longus | O: Body of pubis inferior along pubic crest I: Middle third of linea aspera of the femur | Obturator nerve | – Adduct hip | Adductor Length Test |
| Adductor Brevis | O: Inferior ramus of pubis I: Pectineal line and proximal part of linea aspera of the femur | Obturator Nerve | – Adduct hip | Adductor Length Test |
| Adductor Magnus | O: Adductor part: Inferior ramus of pubis, ramus of ischium. O: Hamstring part: Ischial Tuberosity I: Adductor tubercle | Adductor part: Obturator Nerve Hamstring part: Tibial Nerve | – Adduct hip – Flex hip – Hamstring portion: Extend hip | Adductor Length Test |
| Gracillis | O: Body of inferior ramus of pubis I: Superior part of medial surface of tibia | Obturator Nerve | – Adducts hip – Flexes knee – Assists in internal rotation of hip | Gracillis Strength and Length Tests |
| Obturator Externus | O: Obturator foramen I: Trochanteric fossa of femur | Obturator nerve | – Laterally rotation of hip | Obturator Externus Length Test |
Anterior and Lateral Compartments of the Leg
| Muscles | Attachements | Nerve Supply | Actions | Special Tests |
| Tibialis Anterior | O: Lateral condyle and superior half of the tibia I: Medial and inferior surfaces of medial cuneiform and base of first metatarsal | Deep Fibular Nerve | – Dorsiflexes ankle – Inverts ankle | Tibialis Anterior Strength and Length Tests |
| Extensor Hallucis Longus | O: Middle part of anterior surface of fibula I: Dorsal aspect of distal phalanx of the big toe | Deep Fibular Nerve | – Extends the big toe – Dorsiflexes ankle | EHL Strength and Length Tests |
| Extensor Digitorum Longus | O: Lateral condyle of tibia I: Middle and distal phalanges of lateral 4 digits | Deep Fibular Nerve | – Extends lateral four digits – Dorsiflexes ankle | EDL Strength and Length Tests |
| Fibularis Longus | O: Head and superior 2/3rds of lateral surface of fibula I: Base of first metatarsal and medial cuneiform | Superficial Fibular Nerve | -Everts ankle – Supports Transverse arch of the foot | Fibularis Longus Strength and Length Tests |
| Fibularis Brevis | O: Inferior 2/3rds of lateral surface of fibula I: Dorsal surface of tuberosity of base of 5th metatarsal | Superficial Fbular Nerve | – Everts ankle | Fibularis Brevis Strength and Length Tests |
Posterior Compartment of Leg
| Muscles | Attachements | Nerve Supply | Actions | Special Tests |
| Tibialis Posterior | O: Interosseous membrane, posterior surface of tibia I: Tuberosity of the navicular, cuneiforms, cuboid and bases of 2nd– 4th metatarsals | Tibial Nerve | – Plantarfles ankles – Inverts ankle | Single Heel Raise |
| Gastrocnemius | O: Lateral head: Lateral aspect of lateral condyle of femur Medial Head: Popliteal surface of femur I: Achilles tendon | Tibial Nerve | – Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended – Flexes knee | Thompson’s Test |
| Soleus | O: Soleal Line of tibia I: Achilles tendon | Tibial Nerve | – Plantarflexes ankle | Thompson’s Test |
| Flexor Hallucis Longus | O: Inferior t2/3rds of posterior surface of fibula I: Base of distal phalanx of the big toe | Tibial Nerve | – Flexes big toe | FHL Strength and Length Tests |
| Flexor Digitorum Longus | O: Medial part of posterior surface of tibia I: Bases of distal phalanges of lateral 4 digits | Tibial Nerve | – Flexes lateral 4 digits – Supports longitudinal arches of the foot | FDL Strength and Length Tests |
