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Thigh and Lower Leg Muscle Anatomy
Oct 16, 2024
Lecture Notes: Muscles of the Thigh and Lower Leg
Anterior Thigh Muscles
Superficial Muscles
Sartorius
Location: Lateral aspect of the thigh
Characteristics: Broad, band-like (thin in humans)
Actions: Lateral knee rotation, knee flexion
Gracilis
Location: Medial aspect of the thigh
Actions: Knee flexion
Deep Muscles
Tensor Fasciae Latae
Associated with the IT band (iliotibial tract)
Actions: Stabilizes the thigh, assists in knee stabilization
Quadriceps Group
Rectus Femoris
Vastus Lateralis
Vastus Medialis
Vastus Intermedius
(deepest muscle)
Actions: Knee extension, aids in trunk flexion
Medial Aspect Muscles
Adductor Femoris
(cat) /
Adductor Magnus
(human)
Actions: Adducts thigh
Adductor Longus
Actions: Adducts thigh, medially rotates femur
Pectineus
Actions: Adducts thigh
Iliopsoas
Actions: Thigh flexion, aids in trunk flexion
Crural Region Muscles
Gastrocnemius
Location: Superficial muscle of the calf
Actions: Plantar flexes foot, connects to calcaneus via calcaneal tendon
Soleus
Actions: Synergist to gastrocnemius, plantar flexes foot
Fibularis Longus (Peroneus Longus)
Actions: Everts the foot
Extensor Digitorum Longus
Actions: Extends digits
Tibialis Anterior
Actions: Dorsiflexes the foot, antagonist to gastrocnemius and soleus
Posterior Thigh Muscles (Hamstring Group)
Biceps Femoris
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Actions: Flex the knee (opposes quadriceps group)
Note: Sciatic nerve located deep to these muscles
Key Points
Clear distinction between cat and human muscles (e.g., Adductor Femoris vs. Adductor Magnus)
Importance of learning the muscle groups and their primary actions for both identification and understanding of movement mechanics.
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