Overview of Lower Limb - LO 2

2. Understand the details (attachments, actions, innervation, blood supply, etc.) regarding the compartments of the thigh and leg.

Click here to download the PDF version of all individual muscle tables. 

Click here to download the PDF of a comprehensive muscle table. 

*Students are only responsible for muscles discussed in the main text of the learning objectives and list of structures

Anterior compartment of thigh generalizations

• Muscles (follow links for specifics of each muscle; some of these muscles extend superior to thigh)

  • Iliopsoas m.

  • Sartorius m.

  • Rectus femoris m.

  • Vastus lateralis m.

  • Vastus medialis m.

  • Vastus intermedius m.

• Joints crossed

  • Hip and/or knee joints

• Innervation

  • Mostly femoral n.

• Blood supply

  • Femoral a.

• General actions

  • Flexion of hip joint

  • Extension of knee joint

Medial compartment of thigh generalizations

• Muscles

  • Gracilis m.

  • Adductor longus m.

  • Adductor brevis m.

  • Adductor magnus m.

• Joints crossed

  • Hip joint, mostly

• Innervation

  • Obturator n.

• Blood supply

  • Deep artery of thigh & obturator a.

• General actions

  • Adduction of hip joint

  • Synergist for gait & posture

Posterior compartment of thigh generalizations

• Muscles

  • Biceps femoris m.

  • Semimembranosus m.

  • Semitendinosus m.

• Joints crossed

  • Hip joint

  • Knee joint

• Innervation

  • Sciatic n., tibial division - mostly

• Blood supply

  • Deep artery of thigh

• Actions

  • Extension of hip joint

  • Flexion of knee joint

Anterior compartment of leg generalizations

• Muscles

  • Tibialis anterior m.

  • Extensor digitorum longus m.

  • Extensor hallucis longus m.

• Joints crossed

  • Talocrural joint

  • Subtalar and transverse tarsal joints

  • Interphalangeal joints

• Innervation

  • Deep fibular (peroneal) n.

• Blood supply

  • Anterior tibial a.

• Actions

  • Dorsiflexion of talocrural joint

  • Inversion of subtalar & transverse tarsal joints

  • Extension of interphalangeal joints

Lateral compartment of leg generalizations

• Muscles

  • Fibularis longus m.

  • Fibularis brevis m.

• Joints crossed

  • Talocrural joint

  • Subtalar & transverse tarsal joints

• Innervation

  • Superficial fibular (peroneal) n.

• Blood supply

  • Anterior tibial a.

• Actions

  • Eversion of subtalar & transverse tarsal joints

  • Plantarflexion of talocrural joint

Posterior compartment of leg generalizations

• Muscles

  • Superficial

    • Gastrocnemius m.

    • Soleus m.

  • Deep

    • Flexor hallucis longus, Flexor digitorum longus, Tibialis posterior (not discussed)

• Joints crossed

  • Talocrural

  • Knee joint

  • Deep muscles - foot joints

• Innervation

  • Tibial n.

• Blood supply

  • Posterior tibial a.

• Actions

  • Plantarflexion of talocrural joint