- Physical Examination
- Surgical Examination
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Skills
- Orthopedics
- Surgery Videos
- Laparoscopy
- Pediatrics
- Funny Videos
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Nursing Videos
- Plastic Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Histology and Histopathology
- Neurosurgery
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
- Dentistry
- Oncology and Cancers
- Anatomy Videos
- Health and Fitness
- Radiology
- Anaesthesia
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacology
- Interventional Radiology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Emergency Medicine
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Childbirth Videos
- General Medical Videos
- Nephrology
- Physiology
- Diet and Food Health
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Neurology
- Women Health
- Osteoporosis
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Hematology
- Rheumatology
- Toxicology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Disease
- Reproductive Health
- Burns and Wound Healing
- Kidney Zone Podcast
- Other
Hip & Thigh Muscles
The hip flexors (iliopsoas), the gluteal muscles that extend and steady the pelvis, the deep lateral rotators, and the three thigh compartments: quadriceps in front, hamstrings behind, and the adductor group on the inner side.
This page lists all 34 of them in the reference. Open any muscle for its origin, insertion, actions, nerve supply and clinical pearl.
| Muscle | Main actions | Nerve supply |
|---|---|---|
| Adductor Brevis | Brings the thigh toward the midline (adduction); Helps flex the thigh | Obturator nerve (L2–L4) |
| Adductor Group (Thigh, Overview) | Bring the thighs together (adduction); Stabilise the pelvis in walking | Obturator nerve (L2–L4) |
| Adductor Longus | Brings the thigh toward the midline (adduction); Helps flex the thigh | Obturator nerve (L2–L4) |
| Adductor Magnus | Brings the thigh toward the midline (adduction); Hamstring part extends the thigh | Obturator nerve (adductor part) and sciatic nerve, tibial division (hamstring part) |
| Articularis Genus | Pulls the knee joint's synovial pouch upward during extension so it is not trapped | Femoral nerve (L2–L4) |
| Biceps Femoris | Bends the knee (flexion); Rotates the leg outward when the knee is bent | Sciatic nerve: tibial division (long head) and common fibular division (short head) |
| Biceps Femoris — Short Head | Bends the knee (flexion); Rotates the leg outward when the knee is bent | Sciatic nerve, common fibular division (L5–S2) |
| Deep Lateral Rotators (Group) | Rotate the thigh outward; Hold the femoral head in the socket | Sacral plexus branches (L5–S2) and obturator nerve |
| Femoral Triangle Floor (Group) | Flex and adduct the thigh | Femoral and obturator nerves (L2–L4) |
| Gemellus Inferior | Rotates the thigh outward | Nerve to quadratus femoris (L4–S1) |
| Gemellus Superior | Rotates the thigh outward | Nerve to obturator internus (L5–S2) |
| Gluteus Maximus | Extends the thigh (rising from sitting, climbing stairs); Rotates the thigh outward | Inferior gluteal nerve (L5–S2) |
| Gluteus Medius | Moves the thigh away from the midline (abduction); Keeps the pelvis level when standing on one leg | Superior gluteal nerve (L4–S1) |
| Gluteus Minimus | Moves the thigh away from the midline (abduction); Rotates the thigh inward | Superior gluteal nerve (L4–S1) |
| Gracilis | Brings the thigh toward the midline (adduction); Flexes the knee and rotates the leg inward | Obturator nerve (L2–L4) |
| Hamstring Group (Overview) | Bend the knee; Extend the thigh (as in the backswing of walking and running) | Sciatic nerve, mainly tibial division (L5–S2) |
| Iliacus | Flexes the thigh at the hip (principal hip flexor, with psoas major) | Femoral nerve (L2–L4) |
| Iliopsoas (Group) | Flex the thigh at the hip — the strongest hip flexor; Flexes the trunk when rising from lying | Ventral rami L1–L3 (psoas) and femoral nerve (iliacus) |
| Obturator Externus | Rotates the thigh outward; Steadies the femoral head in its socket | Obturator nerve (L3–L4) |
| Obturator Internus | Rotates the thigh outward; Steadies the femoral head in its socket | Nerve to obturator internus (L5–S2) |
| Pectineus | Brings the thigh toward the midline (adduction); Flexes the thigh | Femoral nerve (L2–L4), sometimes obturator nerve |
| Piriformis | Rotates the thigh outward; Moves the thigh away from the midline when the hip is flexed | Nerve to piriformis (S1–S2) |
| Quadratus Femoris | Rotates the thigh outward; Steadies the femoral head in its socket | Nerve to quadratus femoris (L4–S1) |
| Quadriceps Femoris (Group Overview) | Straighten the knee — the body's main anti-gravity extensor for standing and walking | Femoral nerve (L2–L4) |
| Rectus Femoris | Straightens the knee (extension); Flexes the thigh at the hip | Femoral nerve (L2–L4) |
| Sartorius | Flexes the thigh and the knee; Moves the thigh outward and rotates it outward (sitting cross-legged) | Femoral nerve (L2–L3) |
| Semimembranosus | Bends the knee (flexion); Extends the thigh | Sciatic nerve, tibial division (L5–S2) |
| Semitendinosus | Bends the knee (flexion); Extends the thigh | Sciatic nerve, tibial division (L5–S2) |
| Subsartorial (Adductor) Canal Contents — Sartorius Roof | Covers the adductor canal carrying the femoral vessels mid-thigh | Femoral nerve (L2–L3) |
| Tensor Fasciae Latae | Flexes the thigh; Moves the thigh away from the midline | Superior gluteal nerve (L4–L5) |
| Tensor of the Iliotibial Tract (Fascia Lata) | Braces the extended knee from the side | Superior gluteal nerve (via tensor fasciae latae, L4–L5) |
| Vastus Intermedius | Straightens the knee (extension) | Femoral nerve (L2–L4) |
| Vastus Lateralis | Straightens the knee (extension) | Femoral nerve (L2–L4) |
| Vastus Medialis | Straightens the knee (extension); Its lowest fibres (VMO) hold the patella in line during the last degrees of extension | Femoral nerve (L2–L4) |
Please note: This page is an anatomy education summary for students and curious readers, not medical advice. Attachment points are given in their classic short form; individual anatomy varies, and detailed dissection-level descriptions belong in an anatomy atlas.