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The femur, or thighbone, is the largest and strongest bone in the human body. It acts as an attachment site for many muscles and ligaments, including those that power movement in the hip and knee joints. The muscles that move the femur include the hip flexors and extensors, knee extensors and flexors, and muscles that provide balance and rotation. These muscles are divided into three compartments: anterior, medial, and posterior. The anterior compartment includes the pectineus, iliopsoas, sartorius, and quadriceps muscles. The medial compartment contains the adductor magnus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, gracilis, and obturator externus muscles. The posterior compartment, often referred to as the hamstrings, includes the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Femur's location | Thigh |
| Thigh muscles | Pectineus, Iliopsoas, Sartorius, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Adductor Magnus, Adductor Longus, Adductor Brevis, Gracilis, Obturator Externus, Piriformis, Obturator Internus, Quadratus Femoris, Superior and Inferior Gemellus, Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius, Gluteus Minimus |
| Femur's compartments | Anterior, Medial, Posterior |
| Anterior compartment houses | Hip flexors and knee extensors |
| Medial compartment contains | Thigh adductors |
| Posterior compartment houses | Hip extensors and knee flexors |
| Hamstrings | Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, Biceps Femoris |
| Iliopsoas group | Iliacus, Psoas Major, Psoas Minor |
| Pectineus | Flat, square-shaped muscle |
| Sartorius | Longest muscle in the body |
| Quadriceps Femoris | One of the strongest muscles in the body |
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What You'll Learn
Hip flexors and knee extensors
The femur is the site of origin and attachment of many muscles and ligaments, including the hip flexors and knee extensors. The hip joint is created by the articulation of the femur's head with the pelvis's acetabulum. The hip flexors and knee extensors are housed in the anterior compartment of the femur, which is divided into three compartments: anterior, medial, and posterior.
The hip flexors include the pectineus, iliopsoas, and sartorius muscles. The pectineus is a flat, square muscle that extends from the pelvis to the femur, assisting in the medial rotation of the thigh. The iliopsoas is made up of the psoas major, psoas minor, and iliacus, which work together to flex and stabilise the hip joint. The sartorius is the longest muscle in the body, a long band-like muscle that runs from the hip to the knee, aiding in knee flexion and medial rotation of the leg.
The quadriceps femoris, a muscle group among the strongest in the body, is responsible for extending the leg at the knee joint. The knee extensors are crucial for achieving superior sprint performance, particularly in pre-adolescent boys, where increased step frequency during sprinting may be enhanced by greater knee extensor muscularity.
The hip flexors and knee extensors play a significant role in activities such as freestyle swimming, where they contribute to powerful and coordinated movements. Understanding the role of these muscles in swimming can improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
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Hip extensors and knee flexors
The femur is the long bone of the thigh and is the site of origin and attachment for many muscles and ligaments. The muscles that move the femur can be divided into three compartments: the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments.
The posterior compartment contains the hamstrings, which are the prime hip extensors and knee flexors. The hamstrings consist of the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris muscles. These muscles arise from the ischial tuberosity and the femur and insert into the tibia and fibula. The gluteus maximus is also considered a hip extensor.
The hip extensors are a group of muscles that produce the greatest torque across the hip compared to other hip muscle groups. They are responsible for extending the hip, which involves moving the leg backward or straightening the hip from a bent position.
Weak hip extensors can cause a person to take smaller steps and have a slower gait to maintain balance and stability. Activities such as cycling require good hip extensor strength.
The hip extensors work in conjunction with the knee flexors, which are responsible for bending the knee. The knee flexors include muscles such as the iliopsoas, pectineus, and sartorius. These muscles arise from the hip, spine, and femur, and work together to flex the hip and stabilise it during activities such as standing.
Overall, the hip extensors and knee flexors play crucial roles in movements such as walking, running, and other propulsive activities, contributing to balance and stability.
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Thigh adductors
The thigh adductors are a group of muscles located in the medial compartment of the thigh. These muscles are the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. The hip adductors are responsible for moving the thigh or lower extremity closer to the body's central axis. They also play a role in hip flexion and rotation.
The adductor longus is a large, flat muscle that partially covers the adductor brevis and magnus. It provides medial rotation and contributes to the flexion and extension of the thigh. The adductor brevis is a triangular muscle and the shortest of the adductors. It lies underneath the adductor longus and its main function is the adduction of the thigh. The adductor magnus is the largest muscle in the medial compartment and the most commonly injured. It lies posteriorly to the other muscles and consists of two parts: the adductor part and the ischiocondylar (hamstring) part. The adductor part is considered part of the medial thigh compartment, while the hamstring part functionally belongs to the posterior compartment of the thigh.
The gracilis is the most medial and most superficial muscle of the medial thigh compartment. It is the only muscle in this group that crosses two joints: the hip and the knee. It acts as a strong flexor and internal (medial) rotator of the leg at the knee joint. The pectineus muscle is a small, square muscle found in the superomedial area of the thigh. It originates from the superior pubic ramus and inserts on the pectineal line of the femur. The pectineus adducts, flexes, and assists in the medial rotation of the thigh.
The obturator externus is sometimes included as part of the hip adductors by some authorities. The hip adductors are innervated by the obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar plexus. They are supplied with blood mainly via the branches of the femoral and obturator arteries.
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Hamstrings
The hamstrings are the three posterior thigh muscles that run between the hip and the knee: the semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris. They are skeletal muscles that are under voluntary control and are located at the back of the thigh, starting at the pelvis and extending to the knee. The hamstring muscles contain thousands of long, elastic muscle fibres that help the leg muscles contract or tighten.
The hamstrings play a crucial role in many daily activities such as walking, running, jumping, and controlling some movement in the gluteus. They are also important in the complex gait cycle during walking, which includes the absorption of kinetic energy and protection of the knee and hip joints. During the swing phase of walking, the hamstrings decelerate the forward motion of the tibia. The hamstrings contract when the knee is bent and lengthen when the knee is extended, and when the hips are extended. The semitendinosus and semimembranosus extend the hip when the trunk is fixed; they also flex the knee and medially (inwardly) rotate the lower leg when the knee is bent. The biceps femoris is on the outside of the back of the thigh and is responsible for flexing the knee, extending the thigh at the hip, and rotating the lower leg from side to side when the knee is bent.
Hamstring muscles are very susceptible to injury, especially in athletes who run and sprint. A common hamstring injury is called a "pulled hamstring" or strain, which occurs when the muscle fibres are overstretched but not torn. This can cause mild hamstring muscle pain or swelling, but the leg is usually still usable. A partial tear of the hamstring muscles will result in pain and swelling that may prevent the use of the leg. A complete tear of the hamstring muscles will result in severe pain and swelling and the muscle tissue will completely tear away from the tendon or bone.
The femur acts as the site of origin and attachment of many muscles and ligaments. The femoral muscles are divided into three compartments: the anterior, medial, and posterior. The posterior compartment contains the hamstrings, which are the prime hip extensors and knee flexors.
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Gluteal muscles
The gluteal muscles, often called the "glutes", are a group of three muscles that make up the gluteal region, commonly referred to as the buttocks. These muscles include the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. The gluteal muscles are the biggest and closest to the surface of the buttocks. The gluteus maximus is the biggest and strongest muscle in the human body. It is used to generate force to move forward, such as when standing up, walking, running, or climbing. The gluteus maximus is passive except during certain forceful movements, such as standing up, running, or climbing. It also helps to keep the hips balanced and the trunk upright when sitting.
The gluteus medius and gluteus minimus work together to abduct the thigh (move it away from the trunk) and to rotate it inward and outward. They also stabilize the hips and pelvis when walking. The gluteus minimus is the smallest of the three gluteal muscles and is situated immediately beneath the gluteus medius. The gluteus medius is fan-shaped and lies between the gluteus maximus and the gluteus minimus. It is similar in shape and function to the gluteus minimus. The gluteal muscles play a significant role in stabilizing, balancing, and controlling lower body movements and posture.
The gluteal muscles are closely associated with the femur, or the thigh's long bone. The femur acts as the site of origin and attachment for many muscles and ligaments. The femur can be divided into three parts: proximal, shaft, and distal. The gluteal muscles attach to and overlie the pelvic bones, especially the ilium (the broad, concave bone on each side). The gluteal muscles originate from the ilium and sacrum and insert into the femur. The functions of these muscles include extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the hip joint.
The gluteal region can be broadly divided into two groups: superficial abductors and extensors, and deep lateral rotators. The superficial group includes the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fascia lata. This group of large muscles abducts and extends the femur. The deep lateral rotators are a group of smaller muscles that primarily laterally rotate the femur. This group includes the quadratus femoris, piriformis, gemellus superior, gemellus inferior, and obturator internus.
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Frequently asked questions
The femur acts as the site of origin and attachment of many muscles and ligaments. The thigh muscles are divided into the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments. The anterior compartment includes hip flexors and knee extensors such as the pectineus, iliopsoas, and sartorius. The medial compartment contains the thigh adductors, and the posterior compartment contains the hamstrings.
The pectineus is a flat, quadrangular-shaped muscle that contributes to the floor of the femoral triangle. It originates from the pectineal line of the pubis bone and inserts onto the pectineal line on the posterior aspect of the femur. The pectineus adducts, flexes, and assists in the medial rotation of the thigh.
The iliopsoas muscle group is made up of the iliacus, psoas major, and psoas minor. These muscles work together to flex the hip joint and stabilize it when standing. The psoas major and psoas minor also laterally flex the trunk, and the iliacus externally rotates the thigh.
The sartorius is a long band-like muscle that runs across the thigh. It is the longest muscle in the body. The sartorius flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint. It also aids in knee flexion and medial rotation of the leg.
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