Lower Limb

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Irfan Dotani

General Structures	Bones	List of Muscles	Joints and Ligaments	Arteries	Veins	Nerves
Hip	Ilium, Ischium, Pubic Bone, Acetabulum, Foramen obturatum	Piriformis, Superior gemellus, Inferior gemellus, Tensor fasciae latae, Sartorius, Gluteus medius, Gluteus minimus	Iliofemoral ligament, Pubofemoral ligament, Ischiofemoral ligament, Hip joint capsule	Gluteal artery, Pudendal artery, Perforating arteries, Femoral artery, Obturator artery	Great saphenous vein, Femoral vein	Saphenous nerve, Obturator nerve, Femoral nerve, Clunial nerve, Sciatic nerve, Cutaneous nerve, Gluteal nerve, Pudendal nerve
Knee	Femur, Tibia, Patella	Quadriceps femoris muscle, Hamstring, Gastrocnemius muscle, Vastus mediali, Vastus lateralis muscle, Popliteus muscle, Soleus muscle, Articularis genus muscle	Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), Medial collateral ligament (MCL), Lateral collateral ligament (LCL), patellofemoral joint, tibiofemoral joint	Genicular artery, Popliteal artery, Tibial artery	Varicose veins, Femoral veins	Sciatic nerve, Tibial nerve, Peroneal nerve,
Ankle	Fibula, Tibula, Talus, Medial malleolus, Lateral malleolus	Anterior tibial, Posterior tibial, Peroneal tibial, Extensors, Flexors	Tibiofibular ligament, Deltoid ligament, Tibiofibular Syndesmosis joint, Motrise Joint, Plantar fascia	Anterior tibial artery, Peroneal (fibular) artery, Anterior medial malieolar artery, plantar artery, communicating branch	Popliteal vein, saphenous vein, femoral vein, Tributaries of LSV	Peroneal vein, Sural nerve, Tibial nerve, Fibular nerve
Thigh	Femur, Tibia, Fibula	Quadriceps femoris muscle, Hamstring, Biceps femoris muscle, Vastus medialis, Adductor longus muscle, Vastus lateralis muscle, Sartorius muscle, Semitendinosus muscle, Semimembranosus muscle, Gracilis muscle, Adductor magnus muscle, Pectineus muscle, Adductor brevis muscle, Illiopsoas, Illiacus muscle, Tensor fasciae latae muscle, External obturator muscle, Quadratus femoris muscle, Articularis genus muscle	Hip joint capsule, Iliofemoral ligament, Pubofemoral ligament, Ischiofemoral ligament	Gluteal artery, Pudendal artery, Perforating arteries, Femoral artery, Obturator artery\	Great saphenous vein, Femoral vein	Saphenous nerve, Obturator nerve, Femoral nerve, Clunial nerve, Sciatic nerve, Cutaneous nerve, Gluteal nerve, Pudendal nerve
Foot	Phalanges, Metatarsals, Cuneiform bones, Cuboid bone, Navicular bone	Abductor hallucis muscle, Extensor digitorum brevis muscle, Flexor digitorum brevis muscle, Tibialis anterior muscle, Extensor hallucis longus muscle, Flexor hallucis brevis muscle, Plantar interossei muscles, Quadratus plantae muscle, Abductor digiti minimi muscle of foot, Lumbricals of the hand, Dorsal interossei of the foot, Extensor hallucis brevis muscle	Inferior (Distal) Tibiofibular Joint, Talocalcaneal Joint, Talocalcaneonavicular Joint, Calcaneocuboid Joint, Naviculocuneiform Joint, Cuboideonavicular Joint, Intercuneiform And Cuneocuboid Joints, Tarsometatarsal Joints, Intermetatarsal Joints, Metatarsophalangeal Joints, Interphalangeal Joints, Cuboideonavicular ligament, Intercuneiform ligament, Metatarsal ligament	Dorsalis pedis artery, Posterior tibial artery, Anterior tibial artery, Arcuate artery of the foot, Medial plantar artery, Plantar arc, Deep plantar artery, Plantar metatarsal arteries, Medial tarsal arteries, Proper plantar digital arteries	Superficial dorsal vein, Lateral plantar vein, Saphenous vein, Posterior tibial vein	Lateral plantar nerve, Tibial nerve, Medial plantar nerve, Plantar digital nerves

Lower limb bony structures

	Parts	Function	Image
Hip	Ilium	The ilium forms the sacroiliac joint with the sacrum along its medial side and forms the superior end of the hip joint at the acetabulum. The sacroiliac joint is a planar joint that allows a slight degree of gliding between the pelvis and the spinal column. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that permits the thigh to have a free range of motion.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Ischium	Forms the lower and back part of the hip bone.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Pubic Bone	The ventral and anterior of the three parts that come together to create the pelvic bone.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Acetabulum	A cup-shaped opening on each side of the pelvic girdle formed where the ischium, ilium, and pubis all meet, and into which the head of the femur inserts.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Foramen obturatum	The large opening created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis through which nerves and blood vessels pass.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>

	Parts	Function	Image
Knee	Femur	Supports the weight of the body and allowing motion of the leg. The femur articulates proximally with the acetabulum of the pelvis forming the hip joint, and distally with the tibia and patella to form the knee joint.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Tibia	It forms the knee joint with the femur and the ankle joint with the fibula and tarsus.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Patella	The patella increases the leverage that the quadriceps tendon can exert on the femur by increasing the angle at which it acts. Also acts as protection for the muscles underneath the patella.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>

	Parts	Function	Image
Ankle	Fibula	Long, thin and lateral bone of the lower leg. It runs parallel to the tibia, or shin bone, and plays a significant role in stabilizing the ankle and supporting the muscles of the lower leg.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Tibula	Known as the shinbone and is the second largest bone in the body. Helps with weight-bearing and stabilization.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Talus	The talus bone forms the primary connection between the lower leg and foot and is vital for mobility. In fact, the structure of the talus bone is so unique it can form the connection between numerous other bones such as the tibia, fibula, calcaneus (heel) and navicular or tarsal bones found in the foot.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Medial malleolus	The medial malleolus is the prominence on the inner side of the ankle, formed by the lower end of the tibia.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Lateral malleolus	The lateral malleolus is the prominence on the outer side of the ankle, formed by the lower end of the tibia.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>

	Parts	Function	Image
Thigh	Femur	Supports the weight of the body and allowing motion of the leg. The femur articulates proximally with the acetabulum of the pelvis forming the hip joint, and distally with the tibia and patella to form the knee joint.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Tibia	It forms the knee joint with the femur and the ankle joint with the fibula and tarsus.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Fibula	Long, thin and lateral bone of the lower leg. It runs parallel to the tibia, or shin bone, and plays a significant role in stabilizing the ankle and supporting the muscles of the lower leg.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>

	Parts	Function	Image
Foot	Phalanges	The phalanges of the foot help us balance, walk, and run.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Metatarsals	Metatarsals are convex in shape (arch upward), are long bones, and give the foot its arch. They work with connective tissues, ligaments, and tendons to provide movement in the foot	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Cuneiform bones	This bone is cube-shaped and connects the foot and the ankle. It also provides stability to the foot.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Cuboid bone	The cuboid bone is one of the seven tarsal bones located on the lateral (outer) side of the foot. This bone is cube-shaped and connects the foot and the ankle. It also provides stability to the foot.	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Navicular bone	The navicular is a boat-shaped bone located in the top inner side of the foot, just above the transverse. It helps connect the talus, or anklebone, to the cuneiform bones of the foot	<figure-inline><figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>

Lower limb muscles

	Muscle	Function	Insertion/Arise	Innervation	Blood supply	Image
Hip	Piriformis	Part of the lateral rotators of the hip, along with the quadratus femoris, gemellus inferior, gemellus superior, obturator externus, and obturator internus The piriformis laterally rotates the femur with hip extension and abducts the femur with hip flexion	Arise: The front of the sacrum by three fleshy digitations Attached to the portions of bone between the first, second, third, and fourth anterior sacral foramina, and to the grooves leading from the foramina A few fibers also arise from the margin of the greater sciatic foramen, and from the anterior surface of the sacrotuberous ligament. Insertion: The muscle passes out of the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, the upper part of which it fills It is inserted by a rounded tendon into the upper border of the greater trochanter behind, but often partly blended with, the common tendon of the obturator internus and superior and inferior gemellus muscles.	Piriformis nerve: Arise from posterior division of the ventral rami of the first and second sacral nerves	Branches of the internal iliac artery: Inferior gluteal Superior gluteal Internal pudendal arteries	<figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Superior gemellus	Help to steady the femoral head in the acetabulum. Help to laterally rotate the extended thigh and abduct the flexed thigh at the hip.	Insertion: Medial surface of greater trochanter of femur, in common with obturator internus. Arise: The Gemellus inferior arises from the upper part of the tuberosity of the ischium, immediately below the groove for the Obturator internus tendon.	Innervation: Nerve to the obturator internus or nerve to quadratus femoris or both (L4-S1)	Arterial supply: Inferior gluteal artery	<figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Inferior gemellus	Help to laterally rotate the extended thigh and abduct the flexed thigh at the hip.	Insertion: Medial surface of greater trochanter of femur, in common with obturator internus. Arise: Arises from the outer (gluteal) surface of the spine of the ischium, blends with the upper part of the tendon of the Obturator internus.	Innervation: Nerve to the quadratus femoris or nerve to the obturator internus or both (L4-S1).	Arterial supply: Inferior gluteal artery	<figure-inline></figure-inline>
	Tensor fasciae latae
	Sartorius
	Gluteus medius
	Gluteus minimus
	Gluteus minimus