Muscle Origins, Insertions and Actions Flashcards
(49 cards)
Gracilis (hip adductors)
- most vertical, slender and superficial of hip adductors
- only adductor to cross the knee and insert on to tibia = produces movement in both these joints
- origin: ischiopubic ramis
- insertion: medial surface of the tibia
- action: adduction of the hip and flexion of the knee
pectineus (hip adductors)
- most anterior of hip adductor muscles
- anterior location enables it to assist the hip flexors
- origin: anterior surface of the pubis
- insertion: upper surface of the femur
- action: adduction and flexion of the hip
tenor fascia latae (hip abductors)
- small muscle with very long tendon called IT band
- it also assists in hip flexion and knee extension
- only abductor to cross both hip and knee
- origin: anterior surface of the iliac crest
- insertion: lateral surface of the tibia via the iliotibial band
- action: flexion and abduction of the hip. when the hip in flexion, this muscle can also medially rotate the hip joint
gluteus medius (hip abductors)
- second largest of the gluteal 3 muscles that lies slightly anterior and deep to gluteus maximus
- they both abducting and medially rotate the hip
- has an important role in controlling the level of the pelvis. when weak it can cause pelvis on opposite side to drop
- origin: lateral and posterior surface of ilium
- insertion: posterior and lateral surface of the upper femur
- action: abduction and medial rotation of hip
gluteus minimus (hip abductors)
- smallest and deepest of 3 gluteus muscles, located directly beneath gluteus medius
- plays crucial role in stabilising the hip, especially during single leg stance
- origin: lateral surface of the ilium
- insertion: anterior surface of the upper femur
- action: abduction and medial rotation of the hip
piriformis (hip abductors)
- located deep to gluteus maximus
- has role in stabilising the hip by helping to secure the head of the femur in the acetabulum of the pelvis
- origin: anterior surface of the sacrum
- insertion: superior surface of the upper femur
- action: abduction and lateral rotation of the hip joint
gluteus maximus (hip extensors)
- largest and most superficial of 3 gluteal muscles and forms convex shape of the booty
- plays crucial role in both stability and movement
- acting inferiorly it creates strong powerful movement of the hip
- acting superiorly it stabilises the pelvis at the sacroiliac point
- origin: iliac crest, sacrum and coccyx
- insertion: upper posterior femur and IT band
- action: extension and lateral rotation of the hip
iliacus and psoas (iliopsoas) (hip flexors)
- iliopsoas is the most powerful hip flexors and consists of 2 distinct muscles - iliac and psoas
- psoas is much longer than iliacus which gives it greater mechanical advantage when generating movement through a larger range
- iliacus is a strong hip flexor that works in close collab with psoas
- iliacus acts when the femur is positioned below hip and is important for both movement and stabilisation of the hip and pelvic region
- origin: lumbar spine (psoas) and iliac fossa and anterior-inferior iliac spine (iliacus)
- insertion: lesser trochanter of the femur
- action: both muscles flex the hip to approx 90 degrees. once past 90 degrees, the psoas becomes more dominant than iliacus because its spinal attachment are higher than the iliac crest.
- when feet/legs are fixed, iliacus also may assist other muscles to pull the pelvis into an anterior tilt. this pair of muscles are able to assist other muscles in this region to flex the spine
sartorius (hip flexors)
- longest skeletal muscle in the body and spans the anterior surfaces of both knee and hip joint
- origin: anterior superior iliac spine
- insertion: medial condyle of the tibia
- action: acting at the hip, this muscle can assist in hip flexion, lateral rotation and abduction. Also has the ability to assist the hamstrings and gastrocnemius in flexing and medially rotating the knee
rectus femoris (knee extensors - quadriceps)
- only one of the 4 muscles to cross both both the hip and knee joints
- located towards middle of the front of the thigh
- origin: anterior inferior iliac spine
- insertion: tibial tuberosity via the patella
- action: extension of the knee and flexion of the hip
vastus medialis (knee extensors - quadriceps)
- most medial quadricep
- important in taking the knee through its final 20 degrees of extension and ensures patella is correctly tracked.
- muscles only cross the knee
- origin: medial surface of the femur
- insertion: tibial tuberosity via the patella
- action: extension of the knee, especially in the last 20 degrees of movement
vastus lateralis (knee extensors - quadriceps)
- the most outer/lateral of quadricep muscle
- only crosses the knee so can only facilitate movement at this point
- origin: upper lateral surface of the femur
- insertion: tibial tuberosity via the patella
- action: extension of the knee
vastus intermedius (knee extensors - quadriceps)
- deepest and most central of 4 quad muscles
- located deep to rectus femoris
- lies largely in central position but some of its fibres are located on the lateral aspect of the thigh
bicep femoris (knee flexors - hamstrings)
- located to the back of the thigh
- only hamstring muscle to attach the tibia laterally
- it has 2 attachment points/heads
- origin: ischial tuberosity and posterior surface of the femur
- insertion: head of the fibula and lateral condyle of the tibia
- action: flexion of the knee and extension of the hip
- could equally be listed as a hip extensor
semitendinosus (knee extensors - hamstrings)
- shares attachment points with semimembranosus but is considered to be more superficial
- plays significant role in counteracting forward flexion from hip during most standing activities
- origin: ischial tuberosity
- insertion: medial condyle of the tibia
- action: extension of the hip and flexion of the knee
semimembranosus (knee extensors - hamstrings)
- most medial of the hamstring group
- wider, flatter and deeper than semitendinosus, which it shares very close points of attachment
- origin: ischial tuberosity
- insertion: medial condyle of the tibia
- action: extension of the hip and flexion of the knee
gastrocnemius (ankle extensor)
- situated on the rear surface of the lower leg
- more superficial of 2 muscles that make up the calf group
- as it crosses the knee and the ankle, it creates movement at both these joints
- origin: posterior medial and lateral condyle of the femur
- insertion: calcaneus
- action: flexion of the knee and plantarflexion of the ankle
soleus (ankle extensors)
- deep to gastrocnemius muscle and attaches below the knee
- only crosses the ankle and is more dominant when knee is flexed at an angle of 90 degrees or less.
- origin: upper posterior surface of tibia and fibula
- insertion: calcaneus
- action: assists gastrocnemius in plantarflexion at the ankle from standing positions. when knee is flexed, soleus becomes the dominant plantarflexor
tibialis posterior (ankle extensors)
- deepest muscle of the lower leg
- posterior to tibia
- the distal tendon passes behind the medial malleolus of the ankle/tibia, attaching to underside of foot
- this muscle is main inverter of foot, working in conjunction with tibialis anterior
- origin: posterior upper surfaces of tibia and fibula
- insertion: planter surface of tarsals and 2nd-4th metatarsals
- action: plantarflexion of the ankle and inversion of the foot at the sub-talar joint
tibialis anterior (ankle flexor)
- long sheet of muscle situated to the front of the tibia bone and is important for stabilisation of the ankle
- works eccentrically during ground contact phase of a stride and concentrically during swing through phase
- origin: lateral surface of the tibia
- insertion: plantar surface of the medial tarsal and first metatarsal
- action: dorsiflexion of the ankle and inversion of the sub-talar joint
erector spinae (spinal extensors)
- large group of 3 muscles (illiocostalis, longissimus and spinalis) that originates at the sacrum and lower spine
- divided into 3 distinct segments that run vertically along the length of the spine
- some sections of this muscle also assist in spinal rotation
- origin: along the length of the vertebral column, ribs and pelvis
- insertion: vertebral column and ribs
- action: extend the spine and assist in maintaining an upright posture. also can tilt pelvis anteriorly
multifidus (spinal extensors)
- long, thin spinal muscle that runs parallel to the vertebral column
- located deep in spinal area
- spans from sacrum to base of the neck
- fibres arranged diagonally
- predominantly formed of type 1 fibres that enable it to maintain an upright posture over long periods of time
- origin: sacrum and lumbar vertebrae
- insertion: every second vertebra until the second cervical
- action: spinal extension
can also assist with spinal rotation
quadratus lumborum (spinal extensors)
- quadrilateral shaped muscle located deep on posterior surface of lower back, connecting ribs to pelvis
- origin: iliac crest
- insertion: 12th rib and L1-L4
- action: when acting bilaterally, spinal extension.
when acting unilaterally, lateral flexion of the spine.
also works with diaphragm to depress the last rib during forced expiration
rectus abdominis (spinal flexors)
- most superficial of ab muscles
- located on anterior surface of ab wall
- formed by vertical segments of muscle
- rectus means straight
- origin: pubic symphysis and pubic rest
- insertion: Xiphoid process of the sternum and 5th, 6th and 7th ribs
- action: flexes the thoracic and lumbar spine to approx 35 degrees, posteriorly rotates the pelvis by approx 10 degrees, and increases intra-abdominal pressure in conjunction with the obliques and transverse abdominis