Muscle of the Upper Leg

u. Gluteus maximus (glut, G: "the rump"; maximus, L: "largest")
- name indicates where it could be found and its size
- originates on the ilium and sacrum; inserts on the lateral side of the femur
- extends the thigh and rotates the thigh laterally
* The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the body in regard to mass.

v. gluteus medius (glut, G: "the rump"; medius, L: "middle")
- muscle associated with the rump and found between (in the middle of) the gluteus maximus and the gluteus minimus
- originates on the ilium; inserts on the femur
- abducts the thigh at the hip and rotates the thigh medially
* The gluteus medius is a common site for intramuscular injections

w. gluteus minimus (glut, G: "the rump"; minimus, L: "smallest")
- this is the smallest of the muscles associated with the rump
- originates from the lateral surface of the ilium; inserts on the upper and outer portion of the femur
- abducts the thigh and rotates the thigh medially

x. rectus femoris (rectus, L: "straight"; femoris, L: "thigh")
- name describes where it can be found and the direction that its fibers run
- originates on the ilium; inserts on the upper portion of the tibia
- flexes the upper leg (thigh) at the hip and extends the leg at the knee

y. vastus lateralis (vastus, L: "huge"; lateralis, L: "the side")
- this muscle is a very large muscle found on the lateral side of the thigh
- originates on the upper lateral portion of the femur; inserts on the upper portion of the tibia
- extends the lower leg at the knee

z. vastus medialis (vastus, L: "huge"; medialis, "middle")
- this muscle is a large muscle found on the medial (middle) portion of the thigh
- originates on the medial side of the femur; inserts on the upper portion of the tibia
- extends the lower leg at the knee

aa. vastus intermedius (vastus, L: "huge"; inter, L: "among"; medius, L: "middle")
- found between the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis
- originates on the lower medial side of the femur; inserts on the upper portion of the tibia
- extends the lower leg at the knee
* The rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius collectively make up the quadriceps muscle (quadr, L: "four"; cep, L: "head").

bb. biceps femoris (bi, L: "two"; ceps L: "head"; femoris, L: "thigh")
- has two points of origin and is associated with the thigh
- originates on the ischium and femur; inserts on the upper posterior portion of the tibia
- extends the thigh at the hip and flexes the lower leg at the knee

cc. semitendinosus (semi, L: "half"; tendin, L: "tendon")
- this muscle gets its name from the fact that it becomes tendon-like in the middle of the thigh
- originates from the ischium; inserts on the upper posterior surface of the tibia
- extends the thigh at the hip and flexes the lower leg at the knee

dd. semimembranosus (semi, L: "half"; membran, L: "a membrane")
- obtains its name from its thin, membranous appearance
- originates from the ischium; inserts on the upper posterior portion of the tibia
- extends the thigh at the hip and flexes the lower leg at the knee
* The biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus make up the hamstrings. The hamstrings are so named because butchers use the tendons of the muscles to hang "hams" to be smoked.

ee. adductor magnus (ad, L: "to or toward"; duct, L: "lead"; magnus, L: "great or large")
- name describes its action on the thigh and its size
- originates from the ischium; inserts on the medial surface of the femur
- adducts the thigh at the hip
* Damage or tearing of theadductor magnus muscle is often referred to as a "pulled groin muscle".

ff. gracilis (gracil, L: "slender")
- named for its slender appearance
- originates on the pubis and ischium; inserts on the medial surface of the tibia
- adducts the thigh at the hip and flexes the lower leg at the knee

gg. sartorius (sartori, L: "a tailor")
- received its name from the fact that this muscle is used to cross the legs, and at one time, tailors would sit cross-legged while they sewed.
- originates on the ilium; inserts on the upper medial portion of the tibia
- flexes the lower leg at the knee and rotates the thigh laterally
* The sartorius is the longest muscle in the human body.

hh. gastrocnemius (gastro, G: "belly"; cnem, G: "the part between knee and ankle")
- also known as the calf muscle, is the largest muscle between the knee and the ankle and thus its name.
- originates on the posterior portion of the lower tibia; inserts on the heel via the Achilles tendon
- flexes the lower leg at the knee and extends the foot at the ankle
* The gastrocnemius is also called the toe dancer's muscle as it is needed to contract in order for one to stand on his/her toes.

ii. peroneus longus (peron, G: "fibula"; longus, L: "long")
- name refers to the bone that it covers and its length
- originates on the lateral side of the tibia and upper portion of the fibula; inserts on the outer most metatarsal
- extends the foot downward and rotates it outward

jj. tibialis anterior (tibialis, L: "shin bone") (anterior, L: "in front of")
- named due to its association with anterior surface of the tibia
- originates on the upper portion of the tibia; inserts on the first metatarsal
- flexes the foot upward

kk. flexor hallucis longus (flex, L: " to bend"; hallucis, L: "great toe"; longus, L: "long")
- named for its association with the big toe, its action on the toe, and that it is the longest of the flexor muscles of the toe
- originates from the back portion of the fibula; inserts on the big toe
- flexes the big toe