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Muscle Groups
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Leg Muscles
The main leg muscles are: the gluteal muscles, the iliopsoas or hip flexors, the quadriceps, the hamstrings and the adductors. The lower leg muscles are the the tibialis anterior or shin muscle, the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
The muscles that allow movement of the thigh are attached to the pelvic girdle and connect to the femur (the thigh bone). The main leg muscles are:
The iliopsoas or hip flexors which connect the lower part of the spine to the thigh.
The quadriceps which are found at the front of the thigh and which allow the straightening of the leg and flexing of the knee.
The hamstrings which are found at the back of the thigh and work as the antagonists to the quadriceps to flex the leg.
The addutors - muscles of the inner thigh attached to the pelvis and the femur that enable you to pull your legs together.
In the lower leg:
The tibialis anterior or shin muscle allows the movement that points the foot upwards.
The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, found in the calves and allow the foot to point downwards.
