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Muscles that Move the Leg

Muscles that Move the Leg

The movement of the legs is facilitated by numerous muscles located within the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments of the thigh.
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed...

Muscles that Move the Thigh

Muscles that Move the Thigh

The thigh's motion is primarily governed by muscles originating in the pelvic girdle and inserted into the femur. One crucial muscle, the iliopsoas, is a combination of the psoas major and the iliacus muscles, sharing a common insertion point on the lesser trochanter of the femur.
Three other significant muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus originates from the posterior surface of the ilium, sacrum, and coccyx, and the thoracolumbar...

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes

The human leg comprises an intricate system of muscles that facilitate the movement of feet and toes. Within this system, the muscles are categorized into the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartments, each with a unique set of muscles carrying out specific functions.
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment includes muscles that contribute to the dorsiflexion of the foot. This compartment houses the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles....

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

A Positive Quadriceps Active Test, without the Quadriceps Being Active.

D C Kieser¹, E Savage¹, P Sharplin¹

¹Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Case Reports in Orthopedics

|January 21, 2020

Summary

A positive quadriceps active test in a patient with a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury can indicate posterior tibial subluxation. Hamstring and gastrocnemius muscle actions can influence tibial translation, impacting knee stability.

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Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients

Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients

Published on: April 12, 2011

Area of Science:

Orthopedic surgery
Sports medicine
Biomechanics

Background:

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries can lead to chronic knee instability.
The quadriceps active test is used to assess PCL integrity, but its interpretation can be complex in chronic injuries.

Observation:

A 55-year-old male with a chronic, isolated grade 3 PCL injury presented with a positive quadriceps active test.
Crucially, the patient could not actively contract his quadriceps musculature during the test.

Findings:

Gravity and hamstring contraction contribute to posterior tibial translation, causing subluxation.
Gastrocnemius contraction in knee flexion can lead to anterior tibial translation due to its mass, the "bowstring" effect, and its anatomical origin relative to the tibia.

Implications:

This case highlights the complex interplay of muscle forces and tibial translation in PCL-deficient knees.
Understanding these biomechanical principles is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management of chronic PCL injuries.