![]() The strongest muscle in the shin, the Tibialis Anterior, sits to the side of the shinbone. These muscles all start at the shinbone and attach to the toes. In the Anterior (front) Compartment, three muscles in the lower leg help rotate the foot at the ankle joint and extend the toes. They can be split into three categories: anterior compartment, posterior compartment and lateral compartment. Muscles that generate movement at the ankle are generally found in the lower leg. These muscles extend the hip and bend the lower leg at the knee. They all start at the pelvis and then attach to the lower leg bones. ![]() They are the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus. The back of the thigh has three key muscles, which we often call the hamstrings. ![]() These four muscles help us bend and extend our lower leg at the knee joint and also stabilize and protect our kneecap. The rectus femoris starts at the pelvis and also attaches to the kneecap. The vastus muscles start at the thigh bone and attach at the kneecap. The Quadriceps Femoris is actually composed of four muscles: three deep-lying vastus muscles are covered by a fourth muscle, the rectus femoris. Its main function is to help us flex (bend) and extend (straighten) the hip and the knee. It stretches from the pelvis to the shinbone, starting on the outside of the pelvis and crossing over the thigh. As you might expect based on what we know of the thigh bone, the Sartorius is the body’s longest muscle. The front of the thigh is made up of the Sartorius and the quadriceps femoris. Even just covering these major muscles, you will begin to understand how complex our leg structure is. We are going stick to the major muscles that support the functions of the legs. The shinbone supports the body’s weight in the lower leg, while the calf bone is primarily responsible for supporting the muscles that help you balance in the lower leg and ankle. On the outside of the lower leg, the calf bone (fibula) is connected to both ends of the shinbone by ligaments. The second longest bone in the body, the shinbone (tibia) connects to the knee at its top and to the ankle at its bottom. It also protects the knee joint from damage. The kneecap (patella) is the front of the knee joint. The rest of the leg bones aren’t as big as the femur, but they each play important roles. At its top end, it helps create the hip joint, and at its lower end, it forms a part of the knee joint. The largest, longest, strongest bone in the body, the thigh bone can support up to 30 times the weight of the body. ![]() Starting at the top of the leg, the hip joint connects the pelvis to the thigh bone (femur). Human legs are comprised of several strong bones and joints that connect to provide a solid foundation for the body. Our legs – with their bones, muscles and joints – have to work together to help us stand, walk, run and jump while also supporting our weight and maintaining balance. Let’s get through the anatomy lesson first, shall we?! Basic Skeletal Leg Structure And we close the article with some exercises and stretches. We’ll go into some details related to the bones and muscles in the legs. Given that we human animals mostly enjoy farmed food and eat with our hands, this article will focus on how the legs’ structure supports the body and helps us move. We hope you find this series informative and useful in ways that help you get a better understanding of the importance of fitness and exercise for maintaining an active life and optimal mobility whatever your age.įun fact: the Encyclopedia Britannica defines the leg as the “limb or appendage of an animal, used to support the body, provide locomotion, and, in modified form, assist in capturing and eating prey”. Some of what follows you might remember from high school or college biology classes, and we will go into some detail. Live Vibrantly - JanuAnatomy Lesson: The Legs, Our Base for Support & MotionĪs part of our ongoing anatomy series, we move from the foot and ankle ( our foundation for balance) to look at the leg. ![]()
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