The Lower Extremity

BIOL 1010

FEMUR

TIBIA

FIBULA

ERROR:

#7 is CUBOID
#4 is LATERAL
CUNEIFORM

 Very similar to the upper extremity

Some definitions:
a. Thigh part from the hips to knees
b. Leg part from the knee to the ankle
Note that the hip joint is a ball and socket joint.
It allows movement in all direction. The knee
only allows flexion and extension not
circumduction. It is never normal for
hyperextension of knee (genu recurvatum)

CAT
In humans, the
abdominal aorta
terminates into
the common
iliac arteries.

The common
iliacs divide into
the external and
internal iliacs.

In humans, the
aorta terminates
as the middle
sacral artery.

 The nerves of the lower extremity are

simpler than the upper limb. There are
three nerves entering the thigh. Their
lateral branches serve the gluteal
muscles.
femoral nerve
obturator nerve
sciatic nerve

L2,3,4
anterior compartment
L2,3,4
medial compartment
L4,5,S1,2,3 (sacral plexus) posterior compartment

 The only one of the three that travel below

the knee is the sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve branches into two nerve:
1. tibial nerve
2. common peroneal nerve
a. Superficial peroneal nerve
b. Deep peroneal nerve

Anterior compartmentExtensors of the knee

Femoral Nerve
lateral
medial

femur

Medial compartmentAdductors of the knee

Obturator Nerve

Posterior
compartmentFlexors of the
knee
Sciatic Nerve

 The anterior compartment of the thigh is

homologous to the posterior compartment
of the arm.
The posterior compartment of the thigh is
homologous to the anterior compartment
of the arm.

 The leg has three compartments

1. Anterior compartment
- dorsiflexors (flexors) of the foot
- deep peroneal nerve
2. Posterior compartment
- plantarflexors (extensors) of the foot
- tibial nerve
3. Lateral compartment
- extensors of the foot
- superficial peroneal nerve

Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Action

Psoas major
FEMORAL NERVE

Transverse
processes and
bodies of T12-L5

femur

Prime flexor of thigh

and trunk.

Iliacus
FEMORAL NERVE

Iliac fossa

femur

Same as psoas
major

Gluteus Maximus
GLUTEAL NERVES
for all gluteal
muscels

Outside of ilium,
sacrum, and coccyx

Iliotibial tract and

femur

Extends the thigh

Gluteus Medius
- Part exposed and
part covered by
maximus. Shots
given here.

Outside of ilium

Lateral surface of
femur

Abducts thigh.
Pelvic tilt to allow
opposite limb to
clear ground during
gait.

Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Action

Gluteus
Minimus

Outer
surface of
ilium

Lateral side Abductor of

of femur
thigh

Tensor
Fascia
Latae

Iliac crest

Iliotibial
tract
(lateral side
of femur)

Extends
knee,
abducts,
and
medially
rotates

 The FASCIA LATA (not to be confused

with the muscle of similar name) is
connective tissue on the lateral side of the
femur. This forms the ILIOTIBIAL BAND.
This band connects the ilium and tibia and
is the site of inflammation in runners
iliotibial band syndrome.

Muscles of the Medial

Compartment of the Thigh
Obturator Nerve
Muscle

Origin

Adductor
Os coxae
Femoris
(magnus and
brevis)

Insertion

Action

Posterior
Adduct thigh
medial femur at hip

Adductor
Longus

Body of pubis Posterior

Adduct thigh
medial side medial femur and hip

Gracilis

Medial
surface of
pubis and
ischium

Medial
surface of
tibia

Adduct thigh,
flex leg

Muscles of the Posterior

Compartment of the Thigh
Tibial portion of Sciatic Nerve
Muscle

Origin Insertion

Action

Biceps Femoris

ischium fibula

Flex leg and

extend thigh

semitendinosis

ischium tibia

Flex leg and

extend thigh

semimembranosis ischium tibia

Flex leg and

extend thigh

Muscles of Anterior Thigh

*Femoral Nerve
Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Action

Pectineus

pubis

Linea aspera of
femur

Adduct, flex, and

laterally rotate
thigh

sartorius

ASIS

Medial side of
tibia shaft

Flex, abduct, and

laterally rotate hip.
Flex leg

Vastus lateralis

Femoral shaft

Patella/tibial
tuberosity

Extend leg

Vastus medialis

Femoral shaft

Patella/tibial
tuberosity

Extend leg

Vastus
intermedius

Femoral shaft

Patella/tibial
tuberosity

Extend leg

Rectus femoris

AIIS

Patella/tibial
tuberosity

Extend leg and

flex thigh

1.

Semitendinosus

2.

Biceps Femoris

3.

Caudofemoralis

4.

Gluteus Maximus

5.

Gluteus Medius

6.

Tensor Fascia Lata

7.

Sartorius

 The rectus femoris cross two joints, therefore it has

actions on the two joints involved.
The patella is articulates with the FEMUR, not the tibia.
The patella is attached to the femur and tibia by the
PATELLAR LIGAMENT. When this ligament is pulled,
the patella is lifted superiorly and brings the leg into an
extended position.
In the posterior leg, the GASTROCNEMIUS muscle is
responsible for plantarflexion. It originates at the femur
and inserts on the posterior surface of the calcaneus. It
crosses two joints so it can flex the knee and plantarflex
(extend) the foot. It is innervated by the tibial nerve.

Motor Branches of the

L2

Femoral Nerve

L3
L4

Rectus
femoris
iliopsoas
pectineus

sartorius
Vastus
lateralis

Vastus

Vastus
intermedius medialis

Motor Branches of the

Obturator Nerve

Adductor
brevis
Adductor
longus

gracilis

Adductus magnus

Motor Branches of the

L4
L5
S1

Sciatic Nerve

S2

Hamstrings

S3

Semitendinosis
Biceps femoris
semimembranosus

Tibial
nerve
Gastrocnemius
and posterior
compartment of
the leg and foot

Common
peroneal
nerve
Superficial peroneal
nerve

Lateral
compartment of leg

Deep peroneal
nerve
Anterior
compartment of
leg

The Foot
navicular

Medial, intermediate, and

lateral cuneiforms

talus

calcaneus

cuboid

metatarsals

phalanges

Anterior Leg Structures - Superficial

Identify the Following:

Tibialis Anterior
Peroneus Longs
Peroneus Brevis
Extensor Digitorum Longus
Patellar Tendon
Patella
Tibia
Peroneus Tertius
Extensor Hallucis Longus
Popliteus Tendon
Sartorius Tendon

Posterior Leg Structures Superficial

Identify the Following:

Femur
Tibia
Fibula
Soleus
Achilles Tendon
Plantaris
Popliteus
Calcaneus

Posterior Leg Structures Deep

Identify the Following:

Achilles Tendon
Flexor Hallucis Longus
Flexor Digitorum Longus
Calcaneus
Talus
Tibia
Fibula
Femur

Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot

These muscles all originate and insert on
foot bones.
They help to flex, extend, abduct, or
adduct the toes.
All the intrinsic muscles of the foot are
found on the plantar surface (except the
one on the dorsal aspect).
The plantar muscles are arranged in 4
layers, from superficial to deep.

Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot

Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Action

Layer

Extensor
Digitorum Brevis
(deep fibular
nerve)

Anterior part of
calcaneus

Base of proximal
phalanx 1,
extensor
expansions of
toes 2-4

Extend the MPJ

Only one on
dorsum of foot

Flexor Digitorum
Brevis
(medial plantar
nerve)

Calcaneal tuber

Middle phalanx
of toes 2-4

Flex toes

Abductor
Hallucis
(medial plantar
nerve)

Tuber calcanei
and flexor
retinaculum

Proximal
phalanx of hallux

Abducts hallux

Abductor digiti
minimi
(lateral plantar
nerve)

Tuber calcanei

Lateral side base Abducts little toe

of little toe
proximal phalanx

Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Action

Layer

Quadratus Plantae
(lateral plantar
nerve)

calcaneus

Tendon on FDL

Straightens the pull

of FDL

Lumbricales
(medial and lateral
plantar nerve)

Tendons of FDL

Extensor expansion
of proximal phalanx
of toes 2-5 on
medial side

Flex at MPJ and

extend at IPJ

Flexor Hallucis
Brevis
(medial plantar
nerve)

Lateral cuneiform
and cuboid bones

Base of proximal
phalanx of hallux.
Each tendon of this
muscle has an
associated
sesamoid bone

Flex hallux at MPJ

Adductor Hallucis
(lateral plantar
nerve)

Bases of
metatarsals 2-4,

Base of proximal
phalanx of great toe

Weak adductor of
great toe

Flexor Digiti Minimi

Brevis
(lateral plantar
nerve)

Base of 5th
metatarsal

Base of 5th toe

proximal phalanx

Flexes little toe

Plantar and Dorsal

Interossei
(lateral plantar
nerve)

Same as interossei
of hand

Same as interossei
of hand

Same as interossei
of hand