Muscles of the hip and femur origin and insertion
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Here is a complete reference for the muscles of the hip and femur - their origins, insertions, actions, and innervations - sourced from the THIEME Atlas of General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System.
Muscles of the Hip and Femur: Origins & Insertions
The hip muscles are divided into three main groups: inner hip muscles, outer (gluteal) hip muscles, and the adductor group. The femur's own muscles (thigh muscles) are covered below as well.
Anatomical Overview
1. Inner Hip Muscles (Iliopsoas Group)
Iliopsoas (Psoas Major + Iliacus)
| Component | Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|---|
| Psoas major (superficial layer) | Lateral surfaces of T12-L4 vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs | Lesser trochanter of femur (common insertion as iliopsoas) |
| Psoas major (deep layer) | Costal processes of L1-L5 | Lesser trochanter of femur |
| Iliacus | Iliac fossa | Lesser trochanter of femur |
| Psoas minor | Lateral surfaces of T12-L1 vertebral bodies | Iliopectineal arch |
Action: Hip flexion and external rotation; trunk lateral flexion (unilateral), trunk raising from supine (bilateral)
Innervation: Femoral nerve (iliacus); direct lumbar plexus branches (psoas) - L1-L4
2. Outer Hip Muscles (Gluteal Group)
Gluteus Maximus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Gluteal surface of ilium (behind posterior gluteal line), sacrum and coccyx, sacrotuberous ligament | Gluteal tuberosity of femur (deep fibers); iliotibial tract (superficial fibers) |
Action: Extension and external rotation of the hip; abduction (upper fibers), adduction (lower fibers)
Innervation: Inferior gluteal nerve (L5-S2)
Gluteus Medius
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Gluteal surface of ilium, between anterior and posterior gluteal lines | Lateral surface of the greater trochanter of the femur |
Action: Entire muscle - abducts the hip, stabilizes the pelvis in the frontal plane; anterior fibers - flexion and internal rotation; posterior fibers - extension and external rotation
Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve (L4-S1)
Gluteus Minimus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Gluteal surface of ilium (below origin of gluteus medius) | Anterolateral surface of the greater trochanter of the femur |
Action: Abducts the hip, stabilizes the pelvis; anterior fibers - internal rotation; posterior fibers - external rotation
Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve (L4-S1)
Tensor Fasciae Latae
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and outer lip of iliac crest | Iliotibial tract (inserts on the lateral tibial condyle via the tract) |
Action: Flexion, abduction, and internal rotation of the hip; tenses the fascia lata
Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve (L4-S1)
Piriformis
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Pelvic surface of the sacrum (S2-S4), sacrotuberous ligament | Greater trochanter of the femur (apex) |
Action: External rotation and abduction of the hip
Innervation: Nerve to piriformis (S1-S2)
Obturator Internus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Inner surface of the obturator membrane and surrounding bone | Greater trochanter of femur (medial surface) |
Action: External rotation of the hip; stabilizes the femoral head
Innervation: Nerve to obturator internus (L5-S2)
Gemelli (Superior & Inferior)
| Muscle | Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|---|
| Gemellus superior | Ischial spine | Greater trochanter (with obturator internus tendon) |
| Gemellus inferior | Ischial tuberosity | Greater trochanter (with obturator internus tendon) |
Action: External rotation of the hip
Innervation: Superior - nerve to obturator internus (L5-S1); Inferior - nerve to quadratus femoris (L4-S1)
Quadratus Femoris
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Lateral border of the ischial tuberosity | Intertrochanteric crest of the femur |
Action: External rotation of the hip; adduction
Innervation: Nerve to quadratus femoris (L4-S1)
3. Adductor Group (Medial Hip Muscles)
Obturator Externus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Outer surface of the obturator membrane and surrounding pubis/ischium | Trochanteric fossa of the femur |
Action: External rotation of the hip
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L3-L4)
Pectineus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Pectineal line of the pubis (superior ramus) | Pectineal line of the femur (below lesser trochanter) |
Action: Adduction and flexion of the hip
Innervation: Femoral nerve and obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Adductor Longus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Body of pubis, below the pubic tubercle near the symphysis | Medial lip of the linea aspera (middle third of femur) |
Action: Adduction and flexion (up to 70°) of the hip; extends the hip past 80° of flexion
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Adductor Brevis
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Inferior pubic ramus | Medial lip of linea aspera (upper third of femur) |
Action: Adduction and flexion (up to 70°) of the hip
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Adductor Magnus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Inferior pubic ramus, ischial ramus, ischial tuberosity | Deep part (fleshy): medial lip of linea aspera; Superficial part (tendinous): adductor tubercle of the femur |
Action: Adduction, extension, and slight flexion of the hip; the tendinous part acts as a hip extensor
Innervation: Obturator nerve (adductor part, L2-L4); Tibial nerve (hamstring part, L4)
Adductor Minimus (upper division of adductor magnus)
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Inferior pubic ramus | Medial lip of the linea aspera |
Action: Adduction, external rotation, and slight flexion of the hip
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Gracilis
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Inferior pubic ramus and body of pubis | Medial surface of the tibia (pes anserinus) |
Action: Adduction of the hip; flexion and internal rotation of the knee
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L3)
4. Anterior Thigh Muscles (Acting on Hip/Femur)
Sartorius
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) | Medial surface of tibia near tuberosity (pes anserinus, with gracilis and semitendinosus) |
Action: Hip - flexion, abduction, external rotation; Knee - flexion and internal rotation
Innervation: Femoral nerve (L1-L4)
Quadriceps Femoris
| Head | Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|---|
| Rectus femoris | Anterior inferior iliac spine (straight head); acetabular roof of hip joint (reflected head) | Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament |
| Vastus medialis | Medial lip of linea aspera; distal intertrochanteric line | Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament |
| Vastus lateralis | Lateral lip of linea aspera; lateral surface of greater trochanter | Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament |
| Vastus intermedius | Anterior shaft of femur | Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament |
| Articularis genus | Anterior femoral shaft (suprapatellar level) | Suprapatellar recess of knee joint capsule |
Action: Knee extension (all parts); hip flexion (rectus femoris only)
Innervation: Femoral nerve (L1-L4)
5. Posterior Thigh Muscles (Hamstrings - Acting on Hip)
Biceps Femoris
| Head | Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|---|
| Long head | Ischial tuberosity, sacrotuberous ligament (common head with semitendinosus) | Head of fibula |
| Short head | Lateral lip of linea aspera (middle third of femur) | Head of fibula |
Action: Hip - adduction and extension (long head), pelvic stabilization in sagittal plane; Knee - flexion and external rotation
Innervation: Tibial nerve L5-S2 (long head); Common fibular nerve L5-S2 (short head)
Semimembranosus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Ischial tuberosity | Medial tibial condyle; oblique popliteal ligament; popliteus fascia |
Action: Hip - adduction and extension, pelvic stabilization; Knee - flexion and internal rotation
Innervation: Tibial nerve (L5-S2)
Semitendinosus
| Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|
| Ischial tuberosity (common head with biceps femoris long head) | Medial surface of tibia near tibial tuberosity (pes anserinus, with sartorius and gracilis) |
Action: Hip - adduction and extension, pelvic stabilization; Knee - flexion and internal rotation
Innervation: Tibial nerve (L5-S2)
Quick Reference Summary
| Group | Muscles | Key Bony Landmarks |
|---|---|---|
| Inner hip | Iliopsoas (psoas major + iliacus) | Lesser trochanter |
| Gluteal | Glut. max, med, min; TFL; piriformis; obturator int.; gemelli; quad. femoris | Greater trochanter, iliotibial tract, gluteal tuberosity |
| Adductors | Obturator ext., pectineus, add. longus/brevis/magnus/minimus, gracilis | Linea aspera, adductor tubercle, pectineal line |
| Anterior thigh | Sartorius, quadriceps (4 heads) | ASIS, AIIS, linea aspera, tibial tuberosity |
| Posterior thigh | Biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus | Ischial tuberosity, fibula head, medial tibia |
Source: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System - THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, sections 2.2-2.6
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