The lower limbs (legs) carry a fairly large load. Their tasks include providing mobility and support. The muscles of the lower extremities, the anatomy of which will be described in detail in the article, are considered the most powerful of all. Next, consider the muscles of the legs in more detail.
General information
The muscles of the lower extremities of a person are very well developed. They correct flexion, extension, adduction, abduction of the legs in the knee and hip joints, movement of the fingers and feet. The lower extremities include two muscle groups. The first includes fibers of the pelvic area. The second group consists of the muscles of the free lower limb. The muscles of the pelvic area begin from the pelvis, lumbar vertebrae and the sacral zone. The fibers are also fixed to the femur. The tasks of the muscles of this part of the leg include holding the body in an upright position, extension / flexion of the hip joint, and coordination of hip movements. The muscles of the free lower limb include segments of the thigh, foot, and lower leg.
Hip muscles
The muscles of the lower extremities of a person in this area are divided into three groups. So, distinguish the anterior, posterior and medial departments. The first includes the flexors, the second - extensors. The third group includes the muscles leading to the femoral part of the leg. With a significant mass and length, these muscles of the lower extremities of a person can develop greater strength. Their activity extends to the knee and hip joints. The hip muscles perform dynamic and static tasks while walking and standing. As well as segments of the pelvis, these fibers reach their maximum development in connection with the ability to upright.
Muscles of the lower extremities: anatomy. Anterior femur
It includes the tailor muscle. Fibers start from the anterior superior ilium. The segment crosses the femoral surface medially, obliquely from top to bottom. The attachment site is the tuberosity of the tibia and fascia of the tibia. At this point, the fibers form a tendon stretch. At the attachment site, it fuses with similar elements of the semi-tendon and thin muscles, forming a fibrous triangular plate - the "goose foot". Under her is her bag. This muscle of the lower extremities functions consists in turning outside the thigh, flexing it and bringing the lower leg.
Quadriceps
They form a strong and large muscle. It has a large mass. The quadriceps muscle includes four segments: the intermediate, medial, lateral and straight. From almost all sides, the fibers are adjacent to the femur. In the distal third of the 4 heads form one tendon. It is attached to the tibial tubercle, the lateral edges and the apex of the patella.
Straight fibers
They formed a muscle starting from the anterior lower ilium. A synovial bag is located between the fibers and the bone. The muscle runs down in front of the hip joint. Then it goes to the surface between the tailor segment and the fibers of the wide fascia. As a result, it occupies a position in front of the broad intermediate muscle. The segment ends with a tendon. It is fixed to the base of the patella. The rectus muscle is characterized by a feathery structure.
Lateral segment
This broad thigh muscle is considered the largest of four. It starts from the intertrochanteric line, the gluteal tuberosity, the greater trochanter, the upper part of the femoral rough line, the lateral septum. The fibers are fixed on the tendon of the rectus muscle of the lower extremity, the tubercle of the tibia, the upper lateral region of the patella. Part of the tendon bundles continues into the supporting lateral ligament.
Medial segment
This broad muscle has a fairly broad origin. It departs from the lower half of the intertrochanteric, medial lip of the rough line, as well as from the medial femoral septum. Fiber is fixed to the upper end of the base of the patella and the front side of the medial condyle on the tibia. The tendon formed by this muscle is involved in the formation of the supporting medial ligament of the patella.
Intermediate fibers
They form a broad muscle, starting from the upper two-thirds of the lateral and front sides of the body of the femur bone, from the lower part of the lateral lip of the rough line of the femur and from the lateral intermuscular septum. Attaches to the base of the patella and, together with the tendons of the rectus, lateral and medial broad muscles of the thigh, participates in the formation of the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris.
Shin Muscles
She, like other muscles of the lower extremity belt, is developed quite well. This is due to the tasks that it performs. These muscles of the lower limb are associated with dynamics, statics, and upright posture. The fibers begin extensively on the fascia, partitions, and bones. Their reduction coordinates the movement of the ankle and knee joints. The muscles of the lower limb in this part are divided into lateral, anterior and posterior groups. The latter includes long flexors of the fingers: the large and the rest, popliteal, soleus and calf segments. Also in this group there is a tibial back muscle. In the front section, there are long extensors of the fingers: large and others. There is also a tibial anterior muscle. In the lateral section, long and short fibular segments are distinguished.
Back group
The muscles of this department form deep and superficial layers. The greatest development is noted in the triceps muscle. It lies superficially and forms the characteristic roundness of the lower leg. The deep layer is formed by a small popliteal and three long muscles: flexors of the fingers: large and others, as well as the posterior tibial. They are separated by a plate of fascia of the lower leg from the soleus segment.
Lateral group
It is formed by the peroneal muscles of the lower extremity: short and long. They lie on the lateral side of the lower leg. These muscles are located between the intramuscular partitions (posterior and anterior) under the fascia.
Muscles of the foot
Together with the tendons of the leg segments that are fixed to the bones, which belong to the lateral, anterior and posterior groups, in the very lower part of the leg there are own (short) fibers. Their beginning and the site of attachment is on the skeleton of the foot. Short muscles have complex functional and anatomical and topographic relationships with those tendons of the leg muscles, the fixation points of which are also located on the bones of this part of the leg.
Muscles of the sole of the foot
In this area, the medial (in the thumb), lateral (in the little finger) and middle (intermediate) muscle groups are distinguished. On the sole, the first and second sections, unlike those on the hand, are represented by fewer fibers. In this case, the middle muscles on the foot are strengthened. In total, there are 14 short fibers on the sole. Three segments belong to the medial group, 2 form the lateral. The middle section contains 13 muscles: 7 interosseous and 4 vermiform, as well as a square and short flexor. In maintaining the arches, a significant role is given to the muscles of not only the foot itself, but also the lower leg. Due to this, the voltage of the ligamentous apparatus is significantly reduced.
Furrows and canals
They pass through the nerves and large vessels of the legs. In the femoral part they are between the medial and anterior groups, in the knee joint region - in the popliteal fossa, on the sole - between the middle and lateral, as well as between the middle medial sections, on the lower leg - between the muscles of the back surface.
Pelvic muscles of the lower extremities: table
This zone has a practically fixed joint with the sacral region of the spine. In this regard, the muscles that set it in motion are absent. However, the activity of the hip joint and spine is controlled precisely by these muscles of the lower extremities of a person. The table below summarizes all of this information.
Muscle name | Tasks |
Iliac-lumbar | Hip flexion, hip rotation outwards |
Small lumbar | Iliac fascia |
Gluteus maximus | Hip extension |
Gluteus Medium | Abduction of the thigh. With a reduction in the internal fibers - rotation inward, rear - out |
Gluteus maximus | Abduction of the thigh. With a contraction of the internal fibers, the thigh rotates inward, the rear - out |
Wide femoral fascia tensioner | Hip flexion and pronation, tension of the wide fascia |
Pear-shaped | Hips outward |
Internal locking |
Lower and upper twin |
Outdoor locking |
Pain in the legs
Soreness in the muscles can develop due to various pathologies. These include, in particular:
- Diseases of the spine (sciatica and sciatica, neuritis and neuralgia).
- Pathologies of bones, ligaments and joints (arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis, fascia, tendonitis, flat feet, fractures, tumors).
- Immediate muscle damage (ruptured ligaments, myositis, fibromyalgia, cramps, overwork and overstrain).
- Disorders in metabolic processes and fiber pathology (cellulite, obesity and others).
With parathenonitis and myoentesitis, pain of a pulling nature in the muscles appears. They arise due to inflammatory damage to the fibers and ligaments of the legs. The cause of the pathologies is muscle strain on the background of intense loads. The diseases are accompanied by the formation of microtrauma of muscles and ligaments. Subcooling, chronic pathologies, and general fatigue are additional risk factors.
Finally
As you know, muscles are actively involved in the outflow of blood through the veins. In the process of muscle training, an increase in the mass of the myocardium is simultaneously carried out. This allows you to carry significant loads. In the process of muscle activity in the body, biologically active compounds - endorphins - are secreted. They contribute to the adaptation of tissues and organs to a variety of negative influences and provoke a surge of energy and strength. Against the background of physical activity, the organs of the body's protective system are stimulated. In this regard, experts recommend regular sports, physical education, gymnastics, walks. These activities are especially important for the elderly. When playing sports in childhood, the correct posture is formed, the skeleton and muscles develop proportionally.