DIS-TANZ DIARY #19

MUSCLES OF THE LOWER LIMB

May 14, 2021 in DIS-TANZ-SOLO

After examining the different types of movement at our joints in DIS-TANZ DIARY #18, this time we’ll take a closer look at the muscles of the lower limb and their function in relation to these different types of movement.

For knee and ankle we will focus on the main movements of these joints in order to keep this overview from becoming too extensive. So while the knee allows a small degree of medial and lateral rotation when flexed, we will focus on the muscles involved in knee flexion and extension. For the ankle, we will focus on plantar flexion and dorsiflexion since eversion / inversion and abduction / adduction are produced at the subtalar and more distal joints of the foot.

Let’s start with a few illustrations that show us how the muscles responsible for movements at the hip, knee, and ankle are arranged in the body, and then we’ll take another look at the corresponding muscles organized by their function.

Overview

I. Muscles that Cause Movement at the Hip Joint

Hip Flexors

Primary muscles

– Iliopsoas (Psoas major, Iliacus)
– Sartorius
– Tensor fasciae latae
– Rectus femoris
– Adductor longus
– Pectineus

Secondary muscles

– Adductor brevis
– Gracilis
– Gluteus minimus (Anterior fibers)

Hip Extensors

Primary muscles

– Gluteus maximus
– Hamstrings (Long head of the Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus)
– Posterior head of the Adductor magnus

Secondary muscles

– Gluteus medius (Middle and posterior fibers)
– Anterior head of the Adductor magnus

Hip Abductors

Primary muscles

– Gluteus medius
– Gluteus minimus
– Tensor fasciae latae

Secondary muscles

– Piriformis
– Sartorius
– Rectus femoris

Hip Adductors

Primary muscles

– Pectineus
– Adductor longus
– Gracilis
– Adductor brevis
– Adductor magnus

Secondary muscles

– Long head of the Biceps femoris
– Gluteus maximus (posterior fibers)
– Quadratus femoris
– Obturator externus

Hip External Rotators

Primary muscles

– Gluteus Maximus
– Piriformis
– Obdurator internus
– Gemellus superior
– Gemellus inferior
– Quadratus femoris

Secondary muscles

– Gluteus medius (Anterior fibers)
– Gluteus minimus (Anterior fibers)
– Obturator externus
– Sartorius
– Long head of the Biceps femoris

Hip Internal Rotators

Strange as it may sound, we have no primary hip internal rotation muscles. Unlike the external rotators, no muscle that has the potential to rotate the hip inward lies even close to the horizontal plane. Therefore, from the anatomical location, it is difficult to assign any muscle as the primary internal rotator of the hip.

Secondary muscles

– Gluteus minimus (Anterior fibers)
– Gluteus medius (Anterior fibers)
– Tensor fasciae latae
– Adductor longus
– Adductor brevis
– Pectineus
– Adductor magnus

II. Muscles that Cause Movement at the Knee Joint

Knee Flexors

Primary muscles

–Hamstrings (Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus)

Secondary muscles

– Gracilis
– Sartorius
– Gastrocnemius
– Plantarisy
– Popliteus

Knee Extensors

Primary muscles

– Quadriceps femoris (Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis, Vastus intermedius, Vastus medialis)

Secondary muscles

– Tensor Fasciae Latae

III. Muscles that Cause Movement at the Ankle Joint

Plantar Flexors

Primary muscles

– Triceps surae (Gastrocnemius, Soleus)

Secondary muscles

– Plantaris
– Tibialis posterior
– Peroneus longus & brevis
– Flexor hallucis longus
– Flexor digitorum longus

Dorsiflexors

Primary muscles

– Tibialis anterior

Secondary muscles

– Extensor hallucis longus
– Extensor digitorum longus
– Peroneus tertius

Recommended Books

Kinesiology of the Muscoloskeletal System Book Cover

KINESIOLOGY OF THE MUSCOLOSKELETAL SYSTEM
By Donald A. Neumann

Publisher: Mosby (Elsevier)
Language: English
Hardcover: 784 pages
ISBN-10: 0323287530
ISBN-13: 978-0323287531
Dimensions: 21.34 x 3.56 x 27.94 cm

With its focus on the normal and abnormal mechanical interactions between the muscles and joints of the body, Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation, 3rd Edition provides a foundation for the practice of physical rehabilitation. This comprehensive, research-based core text presents kinesiology as it relates to physical rehabilitation in a clinically relevant and accessible manner. It provides students and clinicians with the language of human movement — and acts as a bridge between basic science and clinical management. Full-color anatomic and kinesiologic illustrations clearly demonstrate the anatomy, functional movement, and biomechanical principles underlying movement; and dynamic new video clips help you interpret new concepts with visual demonstration.

The Physiology of the Joints Book Cover

THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE JOINTS - VOLUME 2: THE LOWER LIMB
By Adalbert I. Kapandji

Publisher: Handspring Publishing
Language: English
Paperback: 323 pages
ISBN-10: 1912085607
ISBN-13: 978-1912085606

The Physiology of the Joints, conceived and written more than forty years ago by Dr. A. I. Kapandji, deals with biomechanics, a subject until then mentioned only incidentally in textbooks of anatomy. Following his lead, every anatomy textbook nowadays has a large component devoted to the functional aspect of the locomotor system, which has become an essential scientific subject. This book is intended for medical and physical therapy students; and for practising physicians and surgeons wishing to increase their knowledge of the functional anatomy of the locomotor system.

Further reading

Journal of Dance Medicine and Science Cover

Clinical Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Ankle in Dance

by Jeffrey A. Russell, Islay McEwan, Yiannis Koutedakis & Matthew A. Wyon
(Journal of Dance Medicine & Science 12/3, September 2008)

The ankle is an important joint to understand in the context of dance because it is the connection between the leg and the foot that establishes lower extremity stability. Its function coordinates with the leg and foot and, thus, it is crucial to the dancer's ability to perform. Furthermore, the ankle is one of the most commonly injured body regions in dance. An understanding of ankle anatomy and biomechanics is not only important for healthcare providers working with dancers, but for dance scientists, dance instructors, and dancers themselves. The bony architecture, the soft tissue restraints, and the locomotive structures all integrate to allow the athletic artistry of dance. Yet, there is still much research to be carried out in order to more completely understand the ankle of the dancer.

View PDF

ournal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy Cover

Kinesiology of the Hip: A Focus on Muscular Actions

by Donald A. Neumann
(Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 40/2, February 2010)

The 21 muscles that cross the hip provide both triplanar movement and stability between the femur and acetabulum. The primary intent of this clinical commentary is to review and discuss the current understanding of the specific actions of the hip muscles. Analysis of their actions is based primarily on the spatial orientation of the muscles relative to the axes of rotation at the hip. The discussion of muscle actions is organized according to the 3 cardinal planes of motion. Actions are considered from both femoral-on-pelvic and pelvic-on-femoral perspectives, with particular attention to the role of coactivation of trunk muscles. Additional attention is paid to the biomechanical variables that alter the effectiveness, force, and torque of a given muscle action. The role of certain muscles in generating compression force at the hip is also presented. Throughout the commentary, the kinesiology of the muscles of the hip are considered primarily from normal but also pathological perspectives, supplemented with several clinically relevant scenarios. This overview should serve as a foundation for understanding the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal impairments that involve not only the hip, but also the adjacent low back and knee regions.

View PDF

Header photo by Matej Kastelic on Shutterstock, Edited by Michael Loehr
Anatomical illustrations by SciencePro on Shutterstock, Edited by Michael Loehr

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Gefördert durch die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien im Programm NEUSTART KULTUR, Hilfsprogramm DIS-TANZEN des Dachverband Tanz Deutschland.