Pictured above is one of the quadriceps, the vastus medialis oblique -- otherwise known as the VMO. The leg on the right has the VMO labeled. The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross your thigh in the region of the VMO. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.
Take a close look at the above image. Certain muscles attach between each joint in the body and some muscles cross one or more joints in the body. The muscles attached to or crossing a joint can definitely influence that joint's movement and your comfort with that movement.
To learn more about the muscles in a specific area of the body or to learn which muscles cross a certain joint, click the appropriate link below. The following list includes most of the muscles for which you should regularly practice stretching and SMR. (any inactive links will be live soon)
Head & neck (includes parts of the chest, neck & upper back)
The following muscles attach across or to the vertebrae of the neck. Click the appropriate link for your interest. Muscles that attach to the head (mastoid or other skull bone) and the neck (cervical vertebrae) and/or head & the torso (thoracic vertebrae and/or ribs)
Shoulder (includes parts of the chest, upper back & neck) The following muscles attach across the shoulder joint, to the shoulder blade (scapula) & the ribs, or to the shoulder blade & the upper arm (humerus). Click the appropriate link for your interest. Click here to see the all the muscles that attach to the shoulder blade or cross the shoulder joint. Muscles that cross the shoulder joint (attach somewhere in the torso and to the upper arm)
Upper Arm, Elbow & Wrist The following muscles attach across the elbow joint, to the upper arm (humerus) & the arm (radius or ulna), or to the arm & the wrist/hand (one or more of the numerous bones in the wrist & hand). Click the appropriate link for your interest.
Click here to see the biceps muscles as a group. Click here to view all of the forearm extensors. Click here to view all of the forearm flexors. Muscles that cross the elbow joint (attach to the scapula or upper arm and radius or ulna)
Hip & Lower Back
The following muscle attaches across the middle & lower back to the bottom four ribs and the last two thoracic vertebrae and the top two lumbar vertebrae:
The following muscles attach across the hip & lower back, or to the hip from above (the spine and/or ribs) or below (the thigh).
Click the appropriate link for your interest. Click here to see the hip flexors as a muscle group. Click here to see the adductors as a group. Muscle that crosses the hip/lower back joint and crosses the hip/thigh joint. (attaches to the spine and the femur)
Thigh
The following muscles attach to the thigh bone (femur) across the hip joint, from the thigh to knee joint, or cross the knee joint from the thigh or hip and cross the thigh.
Click the appropriate link for your interest. Click here to see the quadriceps as a muscle group. Click here to see the adductors as a group. Muscles that attach to the thigh bone from either the spine or hip bone above (attached anywhere on the femur)
Muscles in the bottom of the foot Click here for an overview of the muscles in the bottom of the foot.
Flexor Digitorum Brevis
Abductor Hallucis
Abductor Digiti Minimi
Flexor Hallucis Brevis
Quadratus Planatae
Lumbricals
Adductor Hallucis
Flexor Digitorum Minimi Brevis
Plantar Interossei
Muscles in the top of the foot
Extensor Digitorum Brevis
Extensor Hallucis Brevis
Dorsal Interossei
**All information is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your doctor before attempting any exercises you read on this page or any page on this website.**
Pictured above are the adductors. The leg on the right has each muscle labeled. The muscles are also layered just like in your thigh, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others.
The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross the front of your thigh in addition to the adductors. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.
Adductor Magnus
Pictured above is the adductor magnus. This huge muscle on the inside of your thigh pulls your knee inward toward your hip. This muscle is too tight if your knees bow inward when you squat or during the landing of a jump. In addition, this strong muscle can act as a pseudo hamstring muscle that pulls your leg back and inward as it contracts. So a healthy adductor magnus helps LOTS of hip & thigh functions.
The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross the inside front of your thigh in addition to the adductor longus. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others. You can access individual muscle detail for the quads and all the other muscles in the body with our Coach membership. Click here for a list of all the muscles.
Adductor Longus
Pictured above is the adductor longus.
The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross the inside front of your thigh in addition to the adductor longus. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others. You can access individual muscle detail for the quads and all the other muscles in the body with our Coach membership.
Adductor Brevis
Pictured above is the adductor brevis.
The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross the inside front of your thigh in addition to the adductor brevis. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.
Pictured above are the quadriceps. The leg on the right has each muscle labeled. The muscles are also layered just like in your thigh, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others.
The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross the front of your thigh in addition to the quads. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.
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