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The thigh's motion is governed by muscles originating in the pelvic girdle and inserted into the femur. These muscles are prone to injury, especially in athletes, due to the strain that activities like running, jumping, and changing directions can put on them. The muscles that move the thigh include the iliopsoas, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and pectineus. The iliopsoas is a combination of the psoas major and iliacus muscles, which share a common insertion point on the lesser trochanter of the femur. The gluteus maximus is the largest of the gluteal muscles and acts as the chief extensor of the femur. The adductor muscles and pectineus are located medially on the thigh and contribute to thigh adduction and medial and lateral rotation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Motion governed by muscles originating in | Pelvic girdle |
| Inserted into | Femur |
| Crucial muscle | Iliopsoas |
| Iliopsoas is a combination of | Psoas major and iliacus muscles |
| Large and superficial muscles | Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae |
| Small and deep muscles | Piriformis, obturator internus, obturator externus, gemellus superior, gemellus inferior, and quadratus femoris |
| Adduction and medial and lateral rotation | Adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and pectineus muscles |
| Longest muscle in the body | Sartorius |
| Voluntary muscles | Quads |
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What You'll Learn
The Iliopsoas Muscle
The iliopsoas is a large compound muscle of the inner hip. It is composed of the iliacus and psoas major muscles, which are separate in the abdomen but usually merge in the thigh. The iliopsoas gets its name from the Latin "ile," meaning "groin," and the Ancient Greek "ψόᾱ," meaning "muscles of the loins." The iliopsoas muscle joins the femur at the lesser trochanter.
The psoas major is a thick and powerful muscle situated on the posterior abdominal wall, lateral to the vertebral column. It originates from the transverse processes of all the lumbar vertebrae, the anterolateral surfaces of the bodies of T12-L5 vertebrae, and the interposed intervertebral discs. The muscle passes inferiorly towards the pelvic brim. The lateral fibres of the psoas major join the fibres from the iliacus to form the large iliopsoas muscle. The psoas major is innervated by the anterior rami of the lumbar plexus at the levels of L1-L3.
The iliacus is a triangular-shaped muscle that arises from the superior two-thirds of the iliac fossa, the iliac crest, and the lateral aspect of the sacrum. The iliacus receives a tiny slip of muscle from the upper part of the hip joint capsule known as the iliocapsularis. The fibres of the iliacus merge with the most lateral fibres of the psoas major to form the iliopsoas muscle. The iliacus is innervated by branches of the femoral nerve (L2, L3, and L4).
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Hamstrings
Hamstring muscles are skeletal muscles located at the back of the thigh. They are responsible for various leg movements, including walking, climbing stairs, and performing squats. The three hamstring muscles are the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. These muscles are particularly susceptible to injury, especially among athletes who engage in running, jumping, and other rapid movements. Hamstring strains can range from mild cases of muscle fibres being overstretched to severe cases of complete tears, where the muscle tears away from the tendon or bone.
The hamstrings play a crucial role in the complex gait cycle during walking. They contract when the knee is bent and lengthen when the knee is extended, decelerating the forward motion of the tibia. This complex interplay between hamstrings and quadriceps contraction is essential for protecting the knee and hip joints.
The biceps femoris is located on the outside of the back of the thigh. It flexes the knee, extends the thigh at the hip, and enables the rotation of the lower leg from side to side when the knee is bent. The semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles, on the other hand, are responsible for flexing the knee, extending the hip, and medially rotating the lower leg when the knee is bent.
Athletes can reduce the risk of hamstring injuries by incorporating stretching and warming up into their routines. Additionally, it is important to not push through pain in the hip, knee, or leg. By taking these precautions, athletes can help maintain the health and functionality of their hamstring muscles.
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Adductors
The adductor longus is a large, flat muscle that originates from the pubic bone of the pelvis and attaches to the femur, forming the medial border of the femoral triangle. It provides adduction and medial rotation of the thigh. The adductor brevis is a short muscle that lies underneath the adductor longus, originating from the body of the pubis and attaching to the femur. It also provides adduction of the thigh.
The adductor magnus is the largest and most posterior muscle in the medial compartment. It has two parts: an adductor portion and a hamstring portion. The adductor portion makes up about 70% of the muscle and flexes the thigh, while the hamstring portion extends it. The adductor magnus is a powerful and complex muscle that helps to stabilise the femur and pelvis.
The gracilis is the most superficial and medial of the hip adductors. It crosses both the hip and knee joints, adducting the thigh at the hip and flexing the leg at the knee. It attaches to the tibia rather than the femur, which is unique among the adductor muscles.
Injuries to the adductor muscles are common in sports that involve explosive movements or extreme stretching, such as soccer. A strain of the adductor muscles is the underlying cause of a "groin strain", with the proximal part of the muscle most commonly affected.
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Quadriceps
The quadriceps femoris is innervated by the femoral nerve, which originates from L2, L3, and L4. All four quadriceps are powerful extensors of the knee joint. They are crucial in walking, running, jumping, and squatting. The rectus femoris attaches to the ilium, making it a flexor of the hip. This action is also crucial to walking or running, as it swings the leg forward into the ensuing step. The quadriceps, specifically the vastus medialis, play the important role of stabilizing the patella and the knee joint during gait.
The quadriceps femoris muscle is part of the anterior muscles of the thigh, along with the sartorius muscle. It is composed of five muscle bellies. It consists of the rectus femoris (RF) that originates from the anterior inferior iliac spine with the direct tendon and the upper rim of the acetabulum with the indirect tendon. The vastus lateralis (VL) originates from the lateral face of the great trochanter, the gluteal tuberosity, and the lateral lip of the linea aspera. The vastus medialis (VM) runs from the anatomical neck of the femur and the medial lip of the linea aspera.
The quadriceps are prone to injuries like strains, contusions, and tendonitis. Quadriceps contusions are usually the result of a direct blow to the front of the thigh. You may develop a bruise or a hematoma (when blood pools under your skin). Cuts (lacerations) can also damage the quad muscles or tendon.
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Sartorius, the longest muscle in the body
The sartorius muscle is the longest muscle in the human body. It is a long, thin, superficial muscle that runs down the length of the thigh in the anterior compartment. The sartorius muscle originates from the anterior superior iliac spine and part of the notch between the anterior superior iliac spine and the anterior inferior iliac spine. It runs obliquely across the upper and anterior part of the thigh in an inferomedial direction.
The sartorius muscle is innervated by the femoral nerve (L2 and L3). It may originate from the outer end of the inguinal ligament, the notch of the ilium, the ilio-pectineal line, or the pubis. The muscle may be split into two parts, and one part may be inserted into the fascia lata, the femur, the ligament of the patella, or the tendon of the semitendinosus. The tendon of insertion may end in the fascia lata, the capsule of the knee joint, or the fascia of the leg. The sartorius muscle is absent in some people.
The sartorius muscle crosses both the hip and knee joints, producing movements in both of them. At the hip joint, it is capable of flexion, external rotation, and abduction of the leg. The contraction of the sartorius muscle can also cause flexion of the knee joint and inward, or medial, rotation of the tibia against the femur. The combination of all these movements allows an individual to sit in a cross-legged position.
The sartorius muscle is susceptible to various conditions, such as pes anserine bursitis, an inflammatory condition of the medial portion of the knee. This condition typically affects athletes due to overuse and is characterised by pain, swelling, and tenderness. The name "sartorius" comes from the Latin word "sartor," meaning "tailor," and it is sometimes referred to as the "tailor's muscle." This name likely refers to the cross-legged position in which tailors traditionally sat.
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Frequently asked questions
The thigh's motion is governed by muscles originating in the pelvic girdle and inserted into the femur. These include the iliopsoas, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. The iliopsoas is a combination of the psoas major and iliacus muscles, which share a common insertion point on the femur.
The muscles that move the thigh enable various movements, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation of the thigh at the hip joint. For example, the gluteus maximus is the chief extensor of the femur, while the adductor longus and adductor magnus are responsible for adduction and medial and lateral rotation of the thigh.
Thigh muscles are skeletal muscles that attach to bones with tendons. They are made of bundles of muscle fibres containing blood vessels and nerve fibres. The thigh contains some of the body's largest muscles, including the quadriceps femoris, which is one of the most powerful muscles and consists of four individual muscles: the three vastus muscles and the rectus femoris.
