1. Muscles that Move the Thigh & Leg

2. Muscles that move the thigh (hip joint) Muscles are attached to the pelvic girdle and femur.
Anterior group muscles:
Flex thigh (hip):
1. Psoas major
2. Iliacus
Adductors - first 3 also flex thigh:
1. Pectineus
2. Adductor longus rotates laterally
3. Adductor magnus
4. Gracilis – flexes knee
*Total of 5 anterior muscles
that flex thigh. Foreswing of
thigh when walking, running.

3. Posterior group muscles:
Extend thigh (hip):
1. Gluteus maximus – largest muscle in the body.
*Straightens leg at the hip when walking, running climbing; raises body from sitting position.
Abduct thigh - and rotate
medially:
1. Gluteus medius
2. Tensor fasciae latae –
Flexes thigh

4. Muscles That Move the Thigh
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Psoas major
Psoas minor
Iliacus
Tensor fasciae
latae
Pectineus
Sartorius
Adductor longus
Sartorius
Rectus femoris
Adductor magnus
Vastus intermedius
Vastus lateralis
Gracilis
Quadriceps femoris
tendon (patellar tendon)
Vastus medialis
Patella
Patellar
ligament
(a)
(b)
Adductor brevis
Gracilis
Adductor longus
Adductor magnus
(c)
(d)
(e)
Psoas major
Psoas minor
Iliacus
(f)
(g)

5. Muscles That Move the Thigh
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Gluteus medius
Tensor fasciae latae
Gluteus maximus
Sartorius
Rectus femoris
Vastus lateralis
Biceps femoris
Iliotibial tract (band)
(a)
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus
Gluteus maximus
Piriformis
(b)
(c)
(d)

6. Muscles That Move the Thigh

7. This group connects the tibia or fibula to the femur or pelvic girdle.
Muscles that Move the Leg (knee joint):
This group connects the tibia or fibula to the femur or pelvic girdle.
Flexors:
1. Biceps femoris rotates leg laterally
2. Semitendinosus rotates leg medially
3. Semimembranosus rotates leg medially
4. Sartorius (on the anterior side of the leg) – flexes hip

8. An extensor of the knee
is the
Quadriceps femoris group:
(made up of four muscles):
1. Rectus femoris
2.Vastus lateralis
3. Vastus intermedius
4. Vastus medialis

10. Muscles That Move the Leg
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Gluteus medius
Gluteus maximus
Adductor magnus
Vastus lateralis
covered by fascia
Gracilis
Semitendinosus
Biceps femoris
Semimembranosus
Sartorius
Gastrocnemius
Semitendinosus
(a)
Biceps femoris
(long head)
Semimembranosus
Biceps femoris
(short head)
(b)
(c)

11. Muscles That Move the Leg
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Plantaris
Iliotibial tract
(band)
Soleus
Semitendinosus
Biceps femoris
Semimembranosus
Gastrocnemius
Gracilis
Sartorius
Gastrocnemius:
Medial head
Lateral head
Fibularis
longus
(b)
(c)
Soleus
Calcaneal tendon
Fibularis
brevis
Flexor digitorum
longus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor retinaculum
Flexor digitorum
longus
Calcaneus
Fibular
retinacula
(a)
(d)
(e)

12. Muscles That Move the Leg