Principle Skeletal Muscle-2

Muscles of the Lower Limb

The lower limb muscles have the following characteristics:

• The joints in the hip, knee, and foot are moved by these muscles.
• They are among the body's biggest and strongest muscles.
• These muscles are essential for walking and maintaining bodily balance.

Muscles Causing Movement at the Hip Joint:

• Gluteus maximus muscle: 
  • The buttocks are shaped by this surface hip muscle. The powerful hip extensor gluteus maximus is in charge of bringing the thigh to a straight line.
• Gluteus medius muscle: 
  • This muscle is the hip abductor. In order to keep the pelvis stable during walking, the gluteus medius muscle is crucial. The gluteus medius muscle is used when administering more than 5 cc of medicine intramuscularly. The major sciatic nerve lies over the medial portion of each buttock, so this area must be utilized with caution. The fleshy gluteus maximus would be a superior option for this reason. The nurse should mentally divide the buttocks into four equal portions when the gluteus medius is used for intramuscular injection. An IM injection can be given quite safely in the upper outer quadrant.
• Iliopsoas: 
  • The iliacus and psoas major muscles make up this muscle. In addition to being a major contributor to hip flexion, the iliopsoas prevents the upper body from sagging backwards when a person is standing straight.
• Adductor muscles: 
  • These muscles squeeze the thighs together, as their name suggests. However, because gravity does the majority of the work for them, these muscles can easily get saggy.

Muscles causing Movement at the Knee Joint:

• Hamstring group: 
  • The posterior thigh's muscle mass is made up of these muscles. The biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles make up this group.
• Sartorius: 
  • Being a fairly weak thigh flexor, this tiny, strap-like muscle is not very important. But this muscle is the thigh's most superficial muscle. The sartorius muscle, which works in conjunction with other muscles to produce the cross-legged posture that old-time tailors are frequently seen in, is frequently referred to as the tailor's muscle.
• Quadriceps group:
  • This muscle group is made up of four muscles. Specifically, the three vastus muscles and the rectus femoris. These muscles give the front of the thigh structure. The quadriceps group helps to powerfully extend the knee.

Muscles Causing Movement at the Ankle and Foot:

• Tibialis anterior: 
  • This anterior leg superficial muscle does the dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot.
• Extensor digitorum longus: 
  • The phalanges of toes two through five receive this muscle. It is a key player in toe extension and a foot dorsiflexor.
• Fibularis muscles: 
  • The longus, brevis, and tertius are the three fibularis muscles. The plantar flexion and eversion of the foot are caused by a collection of muscles that are located on the lateral side of the leg.
• Gastrocnemius: 
  • The curled portion of the back leg is created by this muscle. It is the main force behind the foot's plantar flexion.
• Soleus: 
  • The gastrocnemius is deep to this muscle. It is a string plantar flexor of the foot, however it has little impact on knee movement.
• Levator ani: 
  • The anterior pelvic floor is made up of a pair of large, fatty muscles. They start at the genuine pelvis' inner surface and come together in the middle.
• Coccygeus: 
  • The paired triangular sheet of muscle known as the coccygeus inserts into the sacrum and the coccyx and is located behind the levator ani. It originates from the medial surface of the ischium.