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| The lateral superficial thigh,hip, & leg. Hip muscles work at positioning the femur and creating a mobile yet stable connection between body and locomotor limb. A patch of connective tissue may be seen running down the lateral side of the leg. This is part of the iliotibial fascia or "band" used in stabilizing the knee and positioning it under the body. |
| Superficial medial thigh. The sartorius muscle is the first of several muscles connecting pelvis with leg just below the knee. This gives continuity to the leg as a stabile unit. The gracilis can also be seen. These two muscles cover groupings of large adductor and extensor muscles. However, the rectus femoris, a member of the quadriceps grouping, can be seen here attaching to the patellar tendon for leg extension. |
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 | A posterior view of the superficial leg and thigh muscles. This allows us to readily see the position of the biceps femoris laterally on the thigh and the semitendinosus medially. The semimembranosis can also be seen. On the leg, the superficial gastrocnemius can be seen along with the slightly deeper soleus, both of which insert on the achilles tendon. Notice the popliteal fossa formed at the back of the knee by the junction of gastrocnemius, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris. |
| Deep structures of the medial thigh. This view enables us to see the large adductor and extensor muscles of the thigh. These work to extend the leg and to pull the knees toward the centerplane of the body. This combination confers a stability to the legs as a unit along with the more obvious locomotor actions. |
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 | Superficial anterior leg. There is not much to see here. The patellar tendon crosses the knee to insert on the tibia and the tibialis anterior can be seen. This tibialis muscle dorsiflexes the foot. Part of th biceps has been cut and some fascia removed to clarify structure. In life, the anterior leg is bound in heavy layers of fascia which support but confine the muscles of the leg. |
| A view of deep structures of the posterior leg. The plantaris works to plantar flex the foot. The peroneus longus muscle is interesting because it not only everts the foot, but it is connected to the middle of the foot's arch through a tendon that passes under the lateral side of the arch. This allows a leg muscle to pull up and create a suspension system to support the arch along with the muscles of the foot, plantar tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Quite remarkable, really. |
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