M U S C L E S & N E RV E S

OF
THE LOWER LIMB

Dr Khurram Saidal
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

B y t h e e n d o f t h i s s e s s i o n s , yo u w i l l b e a b l e t o
describe the;

❑M u s c l e s o f t h e l o w e r l i m b

❑N e r v e s o f t h e l o w e r l i m b
 MUSCLES
OF
THE LOWER LIMB
 REGIONS OF LOWER LIMB
Muscles of Lower Limb are studied in Four (04) Regions.

1. GLUTEAL REGION…. i) Deep (05 smaller) + ii) Superficial (04 larger)

2. THIGH
A. Anterior Compartment …. 05 muscles
B. Medial (Adductor) Compartment …. 06 muscles
C. Posterior (Hamstring) Compartment …. 04 muscles

3. LEG
A. Anterior Compartment …. 04 muscles
B. Lateral Compartment …. 02 muscles
C. Posterior Compartment ….
i) Superficial (03) + ii) Deep (04) muscles

4. SOLE
A. 1st layer …. 03 muscles
B. 2nd layer …. 04 muscles
C. 3rd layer …. 03 muscles
D. 4th layer …. 04 muscles
 1.GLUTEAL REGION MUSCLES…09
A) SUPERFICIAL GROUP

1. Gluteus maximus
2. Gluteus medius
3. Gluteus minimus
4. Tensor Fascia Latae

B) DEEP GROUP

1. Gemellus Superior
2. Gemellus Inferior

3. Obturator Internus

4. Piriformis
5. Quadratus Femoris
Superficial Group
Deep Group
 2. THIGH MUSCLES
ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT……05
1. Psoas Major
2. Iliacus
3. Sartorius PIQAS so
4. Quadriceps Femoris (picasso)
(a. Vastus M, b. V. Intermedius, c. V. Lateralis, d. Rectus Femoris)
5. Articular Genu

MEDIAL (ADDUCTOR) COMPARTMENT ……06

1. Adductor Longus Add3-GPO
2. Adductor Brevis
3. Adductor Magnus* (Adductor part)
4. Gracilis
5. Pectineus
6. Obturator Externus

POSTERIOR (HAMSTRING) COMPARTMENT ……04

1. Semitendinosus
2. Semimembranosus
3. Biceps Femoris
4. Adductor Magnus* (Hamstring part)
 2. THIGH MUSCLES

Medial
Anterior
 3. LEG MUSCLES
ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT……04
1. Tibialis Anterior
2. Extensor Hallucis Longus
3. Extensor Digitorum Longus
4. Peroneus Tertius
5. Extensor Digitorum Brevis

LATERAL COMPARTMENT ……02

1. Peroneus (Fibularis) Longus
2. Peroneus (Fibularis) Brevis

POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT ……03+04

1. Superficial Compartment….03 2. Deep Compartment….04

1. Tibialis Posterior
1. Gastrocnemius 2. Flexor Hallucis Longus
2. Plantaris GPS 3. Flexor Digitorum Longus
3. Soleus 4. Popliteus
3. LEG MUSCLES
Anterior
Lateral
 4. SOLE MUSCLES
➢ Deep to the plantar fascia, muscles of plantar foot exist in 4 layers.

❖ Extensor digitorum brevis makes dorsal layer of foot and

➢ Remaining 18 muscles and 4 tendons make the 4 layers of plantar aspect or

sole of foot.

IN GENERAL:
➢ Layer 1 and 3: 3 muscles each that contains intrinisc abductors, flexors
and adductors

➢ Layer 2 and 4: 2 muscles and 2 tendons that contains lumbricals and

interossei

Muscle tendons written in * Italic are Extrinsic,

i.e., these come from above the ankle joint
 4. SOLE MUSCLES
1ST LAYER ……03 Muscle tendons written in * Italic are Extrinsic,
1. Abducor Hallucis i.e., these come from above the ankle joint
2. Flexor Digitorum Brevis
3. Abductor Digiti Minimi Abs Flex Abs

2ND LAYER ……04 Quadratus Lumborum

1. Quadratus plantae OR
2. Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon You can also remember it with
3. Flexor Digitorum Longus Tendon Flexor digitorum longus
4. Lumbricals (1,2,3,4) (comparable to FDP of hand – deeper and attaches
to distal phalanx and the 2 muscles that attaches to
3RD LAYER ……03 FDL)
1. Flexor Hallucis Brevis
2. Adducor Hallucis ( (like in hand, it has 2 heads – transverse and oblique))
3. Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis Flex Add Flex
(Opposite of first layer)
4TH LAYER ……04
1. Dorsal Interossei (04)…. ABduct MTP joint
2. Palmar Interossei (03)…. ADduct MTP joint 4 D-AB & 3 P-AD
3. Peroneus Longus Tendon
4. Tibialis Posterior Tendon
 N E RV E S
OF
THE LOWER LIMB
 1.GLUTEAL REGION MUSCLES…09
A) SUPERFICIAL GROUP Nerves
1. Gluteus maximus Inferior Gluteal N. (1)
2. Gluteus medius
3. Gluteus minimus
4. Tensor Fascia Latae Superior Gluteal N. (2,3,9)
B) DEEP GROUP
Ventral Rami of L5, S1, S2
1. Piriformis

2. Gemellus Superior
3. Gemellus Inferior
N. to Obturator Internus (4,6)
4. Obturator Internus

5. Quadratus Femoris N. to Quadratus Femoris (5.8)

 2. THIGH MUSCLES
Nerves
ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT……05 ▪ Femoral N. (L2, L3, L4)
1. Psoas Major* (except Psoas major)
2. Iliacus
3. Sartorius PIQAS so ▪ Ventral rami of L1,L2,L3
4. Quadriceps Femoris (picasso)
(a. Vastus M, b. V. Intermedius, c. V. Lateralis, d. Rectus Femoris)
5. Articular Genu

MEDIAL (ADDUCTOR) COMPARTMENT ……06 ▪ Obturator N. (L2, L3)

1. Adductor Longus Add3-GPO (except Pectineus)
2. Adductor Brevis
3. Adductor Magnus* (Adductor part) ▪ Femoral N.
4. Gracilis
5. Pectineus*
6. Obturator Externus

POSTERIOR (HAMSTRING) COMPARTMENT ……04 Sciatic N. (L5, S1, S2)

1. Semitendinosus ▪ Tibial N.
2. Semimembranosus long head
3. Biceps Femoris short head ▪ Common Peroneal N.
4. Adductor Magnus* (Hamstring part)
 3. LEG MUSCLES
Nerves
ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT……04 ▪ Deep Peroneal N.
1. Tibialis Anterior (L5, S1)
2. Extensor Hallucis Longus
3. Extensor Digitorum Longus
4. Peroneus Tertius
5. Extensor Digitorum Brevis

LATERAL COMPARTMENT ……02 ▪ Superficial

1. Peroneus (Fibularis) Longus Peroneal N.
2. Peroneus (Fibularis) Brevis (L5, S1, S2)

POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT ……03+04 ▪ Tibial N.

1. Superficial Compartment….03 2. Deep Compartment….04

1. Gastrocnemius 1. Tibialis Posterior
2. Plantaris 2. Flexor Hallucis Longus
GPS
3. Soleus 3. Flexor Digitorum Longus
4. Popliteus
 4. SOLE MUSCLES
1ST LAYER ……03 Nerves
1. Abducor Hallucis
2. Flexor Digitorum Brevis ▪ Medial Plantar N.
Abs Flex Abs
3. Abductor Digiti Minimi (from Tibial N.)

2ND LAYER ……04 (only to 04 muscles)

1. Quadratus plantae
2. Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon
Quadratus Lumborum
3. Flexor Digitorum Longus Tendon
4. Lumbricals (1, 2, 3, 4)
▪ Lateral Plantar N.
3RD LAYER ……03 (from Tibial N.)
1. Flexor Hallucis Brevis
2. Adducor Hallucis Flex Add Flex (to all other muscles, except
3. Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis (Opposite of first layer) a- those supplied by MPN, &
b- those coming from leg)
4TH LAYER ……04
1. Dorsal Interossei*
2. Palmar Interossei 4 D-AB & 3 P-AD
3. Peroneus Longus Tendon ▪ *1st & 2nd Dorsal Interossei
4. Tibialis Posterior Tendon are also innervated by Deep
Peroneal N.
T H A N K YO U