Cross the hip joint; attach lower extremity to pelvic girdle

• Iliopsoas (Iliacus & Psoas Major)
• Sartorius

Quadriceps (except *);

• Rectus Femoris
• Vastus Lateralis
• Vastus Medialis
• Vastus Intermedius
• *Tensor Fascia lata

Originate on pelvis; Groin injuries involve these muscles

• Adductor Magnus
• Adductor Longus
• Adductor Brevis
• Pectineus
• Gracilis

Forceful adduction is NOT a common action, so the more important action of these muscles is their role in posture and gait (stabilize thigh during walking, running, etc...)

Anterior pelvic muscle; part of Iliopsoas

O: Iliac fossa

I: Lesser trochanter of femur via iliopsoas tendon

N: Femoral Nerve

A: Hip (thigh) flexion; trunk flexion; stabilizes hip joint

Anterior pelvic muscle; part of Iliopsoas;

O: Transverse processes, bodies and discs of lumbar vertebrae and T12-L5

I: Lesser trochanter of femur via iliopsoas tendon

N: Ventral Rami L1-L3

A: Flexes thigh and trunk

Most superficial muscle in anterior thigh; ribbon-like (thin and not strong; passes obliquely from lateral to medial across thigh; longest muscle in body; forms part of pes anserinus;

O: Anterior superior iliac spine

I: Upper medial tibia

N: Femoral nerve

A: Flexes, abducts and laterally rotates thigh; flexes leg

Anterior compartment muscle of thigh; kicking muscle; quadriceps muscle;

O: Anterior inferior iliac spine, rim of acetabulum

I: Patella and tibia tuberosity via patellar ligament

N: Femoral Nerve

A: Extends leg at knee joint; flexes thigh at hip joint (synergistic to iliopsoas)

Vastus Lateralis (Origin, Insertion, Innervation, & Action)

Anterior compartment muscle of thigh; largest component of quadriceps;

O: Greater trochanter, intertrochanteric line, linea aspera

I: Patella and tibia tuberosity via patellar ligament

N: Femoral nerve

A: Extends leg at knee joint

Anterior compartment muscle of thigh; Quadriceps muscle

O: Linea aspera, intertrochanteric line

I: Patella and tibia tuberosity via patellar ligament
N: Femoral nerve

A: Extends leg at knee joint

Anterior Compartment Muscle of Thigh; Quadriceps muscle; lies deep to Rectus Femoris;

O: Anterior and lateral surfaces of proximal femur shaft

I: Tibia tuberosity via Patellar ligament

N: Femoral Nerve

A: Extends Knee

Anterior Compartment Muscle of Thigh; NOT quad muscle;

O: Anterior aspect of ilac crest and anterior superior iliac spine

I: via iliotibial tract/band (into lateral tibia)

N: Superior Gluteal Nerve

A: Flexes thigh (synergistic with iliopsoas), abducts and rotates thigh medially; steadies trunk by making iliotibial tract taut (tense)

Medial Compartment Muscle of Thigh; largest and most deeply placed of adductors

O: Ischial and pubic rami (oblique fibers) and ischial tuberosity (vertical/medial fibers)

I: Linea aspera (oblique fibers) and adductor tubercle of femur (most medial fibers)

N: Obturator (oblique fibers) and sciatic (tibial) nerves (medial fibers)

A: Adduction and medial rotation of thigh; active in gait and posture; medial fibers extend thigh

Medial Compartment Muscle of Thigh; narrow triangular muscle; most anterior of adductor group;

O: Pubis (near pubic symphysis)

I: Linea aspera of femur

N: Obturator Nerve

A: Adducts, medially rotates, and flexes thigh; stabilize thigh during gait

Medial Compartment Muslce of Thigh; deep to adductor longus; thinner and smaller than longus;

O: Body and inferior ramus of pubis

I: Linea aspera (above adductor longus)

N: Obturator nerve (nerve splits into anterior and posterior division around this muscle)

A: Adducts, medially rotates and flexes thigh; stabilize thigh during gait

Medial Compartment Muscle of the Thigh; located more laterally than other adductors;

O: Pectineal line of pubis (and superior ramus)

I: Inferior on lesser trochanter, the pectineal line of femur
N: Femoral nerve
A: Adducts and flexes thigh; can assist in medial rotation

Medial Compartment Muscle of Thigh; long, strap-like; lies superficially on medial side of thigh; only adductor to cross knee; forms part of pes anserinus on medial side

O: Inferior ramus and body of pubis

I: Upper medial surface of tibia (via pes anserinus)

N: Obturator nerve

A: Adducts thigh at hip joint; flexes leg at knee joint

Gluteal Muscles: extend, abduct, & laterally rotate thigh

• Gluteus Maximus
• Gluteus Medius
• Gluteus Minimus

Lateral Rotator Muscles of thigh:

• Piriformis
• Obturator Externus
• Obturator Internus
• Gemellus Superior & Inferior
• Quadratus Femoris

Hamstring Muscles; Extensors of thigh and flexors of leg; Innervated by Sciatic nerve EXCEPT for biceps short head;

• Biceps Femoris (long head/short head)
• Semitendinosus
• Semimembranosus

Gluteal Muscles; originates on pelvis;

O: Dorsal ilium, sacrum, coccyx, & sacrotuberous ligament

I: Gluteal tuberosity of femur & iliotibial tract/band

N: Inferior Gluteal Nerve

A: Major extensor of thigh & thigh lateral rotation

Gluteal Muscles; originates on pelvis;

O: Between anterior and posterior gluteal lines

I: Lateral aspect of greather trochanter of femur

N: Superior Gluteal Nerve

A: Abduct and Medially Rotate thigh (anterior fibers); Extend and Laterally Rotate thigh (posterior fibers); Important in walking- prevents unsupported limb from dragging on ground by keeping pelvis level

Gluteal Muscles; originates on pelvis;

O: Between anterior and inferior gluteal lines

I: Anterior border of greater trochanter of femur

N: Superior Gluteal Nerve

A: Abduct thigh and rotate it medially; Important in walking- prevents unsupported limb from dragging on ground by keeping pelvis level

Lateral Rotator of Thigh; originates on pelvis;

O: Anterior surface of sacrum

I: Superior border of greater trochanter of femur

N: L5, S1, & S2 (Ventral Rami)

A: Rotates thigh laterally, abducts thigh

Lateral Rotator of Thigh; originates on pelvis;

O: Inner surface of obturator membrane and margins of obturator foramen (pelvis)

I: Greater trochanter of femur (between S & I gemellus)

N: L5 and S1 (Ventral Rami)

A: Rotates thigh laterally

Lateral Rotator of Thigh; originates on pelvis;

O: Ischial spine (Gem. S); ischial tuberosity (Gem. I)

I: Greater Trochanter of femur (Common attachment with obturator internus)

N: L5 and S1 (Ventral Rami)

A: Rotates thigh laterally

Lateral Rotator of Thigh; originates on pelvis;

O: Ischial tuberosity

I: Greater trochanter of femur

N: L5 and S1 (Ventral Rami)

A: Rotates thigh laterally

Lateral Rotator of Thigh; originates on pelvis;

O: Outer surface of obturator membrane and margins of obturator foramen

I: Trochanteric fossa

N: Obturator Nerve

A: Rotates thigh laterally (also helps stabilize head of femur into acetabulum)

Posterior Thigh; Hamstrings; a border of popliteal fossa;

O: Ischial tuberosity (long head); linea aspera and distal femur (short head)

I: Common tendon; inserts into head of fibula and lateral condyle of tibia

N: Sciatic Nerve: tibial nerve branch (long head); common fibular branch (short head)

A: Extends thigh and flexes knee; laterally rotates leg when knee is flexed

Posterior Thigh; Hamstrings; a border of popliteal fossa; part of pes anserinus;

O: Ischial tuberosity (with long head of biceps femoris)

I: Medial aspect of upper tibial shaft

N: Sciatic Nerve (Tibial branch)

A: Extends thigh at hip, flexes knee, and medially rotates leg when flexed

Posterior Thigh; Hamstrings; a border of popliteal fossa;

O: Ischial tuberosity

I: Medial condyle of tibia (forms oblique popliteal lig.)

N: Sciatic Nerve (tibial branch)

A: Extends thigh and flexes knee; slight medial rotation of leg when knee is flexed