Tips and Tricks for Remembering Skeletal Muscles of the Lower Limbs

Introduction

• Presenter: Patrick
• Focus: Tips and tricks for remembering skeletal muscles of the lower limbs in anatomy class
• Approach: Presenting the muscle list in smaller, manageable chunks of 4-8
• Sections & Timestamps: Available in the video description

Key Muscles Overview

• Types of Muscles Covered: Biggest, longest, smallest, and some that not everyone has

Big Hip Muscles

• Iliopsoas Muscle:

  • Composed of the iliacus and psoas major
  • Iliacus: Originates on the ilium of the pelvis
  • Psoas Major: Originates on vertebral bodies, joins iliacus at femur insertion
  • Psoas Minor: Smaller, weaker, may help flex the spine

• Gluteal Muscles:

  • Gluteus Maximus: Largest muscle, inserts via IT band
  • Gluteus Medius and Minimus: Originate on the backside of the ilium, insert on femur; medius and minimus insert high up, maximus inserts lower

• Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL): Shares tendon with glute max, helps lateral movement

Smaller Hip Muscles

• Piriformis: Stretched in pigeon pose, located inferior to glute min.
• Gemellus Superior & Inferior: Located above and below obturator internus
• Obturator Internus: Originates at obturator foramen, located between gemellus muscles
• Obturator Externus: Outside the hip joint
• Quadratus Femoris: Square-shaped, attaches to femur

Memory Aid

• Mnemonic: Patched Goods Often Go On Quilts
  • Piriformis, Gemellus Superior, Obturator Internus, Gemellus Inferior, Obturator Externus, Quadratus Femoris

Thigh Muscles

• Sartorius: Longest muscle, aids in hip flexion, external rotation, and abduction
• Quadriceps: Four muscles extending the knee, rectus femoris also acts as a hip flexor
• Hamstrings: Three muscles, biceps femoris (lateral), semitendinosus, and semimembranosus (medial)
• Adductor Group: Five muscles contributing to thigh adduction
  • Mnemonic: MLB (Major League Baseball)
  • Adductor Magnus, Longus, Brevis: Size as name suggests (largest to smallest)
  • Gracilis: Long, thin, aids in adduction and knee flexion
  • Pectineus: Superior, near the buttocks

Lower Leg Muscles

Anterior Muscles

• Tibialis Anterior: Located in front of the tibia, aids in dorsiflexion
• Extensor Digitorum Longus: Extends toes
• Extensor Hallucis Longus: Extends big toe
• Fibularis Tertius: Helps dorsiflex on the fibula side

Medial, Posterior, and Lateral Muscles

• Fibularis (Peroneal) Group: Longus, brevis; aids in eversion
• Gastrocnemius: Helps in plantar flexion
• Soleus: Deep to gastrocnemius
• Plantaris: Tucked behind the knee, aids in plantar flexion
• Popliteus: Enables knee bending
• Tarsal Tunnel Muscles: Tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus (Mnemonic: "Tom, Dick, and Harry")

Foot Muscles

Dorsal Side

• Extensor Digitorum & Hallucis Brevis: Extends toes and big toe respectively
• Dorsal Interossei: Abduct the metatarsals

Plantar Side

• Abductor Hallucis: Abducts the big toe
• Adductor Hallucis: Adducts big toe, supports foot arches
• Flexor Digitorum Brevis: Bends toes except the big toe
• Abductor Digiti Minimi: Abducts the pinky toe, supports the arch

Additional Foot Muscles

• Quadratus Plantae: Square-shaped, found on the plantar side
• Flexor Hallucis Brevis: Small muscle bending the big toe
• Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis: Small muscle bending the pinky toe
• Lumbricals: Flex and adduct the toes

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Conclusion

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