Final-Pilates Exam Prep-Actions,
Origins and Insertions of Muscles
Questions All Answered Correctly.
Gastrocnemius - Answer A: plantarflexes and inverts foot at ankle, O:femoral condyles
I: Calcaneus via achilles tendon
Soleus - Answer A: plantarflexes and inverts foot at ankle
O: Upper 1/3 of fibia
I: Calcaneus via achilles tendon
Tibialis Anterior - Answer A: Dorsiflexes and inverts foot at ankle
O: Lateral condyle of tibia
I: plantar surface of first metatarsal and cuneiform
Tibialis Posterior - Answer A: Inverts and plantarflexes the foot at ankle. Medial ankle
stabilizer.
O: Lateral part of posterior surface of tibia, proximal 2/3 of medial surface of fibula.
I: Tuberosity of navicular, with branches to sustenaculum tali of calcaneus, plantar surfaces of all
3 cuneiforms, cuboid, and bases of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal bones.
Popliteus - Answer A: Rotates tibia medially on the femur, or femur laterally on tibia. Brings
knee out of full extension. Helps with posterior stability of knee
O: Lateral condyle of the femur
I: Posterior surface of tibia above soleal line.
Plantaris - Answer A: plantar flexes and inverts the foot at the ankle, flexes the leg at the
knee.
O: Lower part of lateral supracondylar line of femur, and oblique popliteal ligament of knee.
I: Posterior part of the calcaneus medial to the achilles tendon.
Peroneus Longus - Answer A: Eversion and plantar flexion of foot at ankle. Gives lateral
stability to the ankle.
O: Head and proximal 2/3 of lateral tibia
I: Lateral margin of plantar surface of 1st cuneiform and metatarsal.
,Peroneus Brevis - Answer A: Eversion and plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle. Gives
lateral stability to the ankle.
O: Distal 2/3 of the lateral fibula.
I: Tuberosity on lateral side of 5th metatarsal
Peroneus Tertius - Answer A: Dorsiflexes and everts the foot at the ankle.
O: Distal 1/3 of anterior surface of fibula.
I: Dorsal surface of 5th metatarsal.
Extensor Hallucis Longus - Answer A: Extends distal phalanx of big toe. Continued action
extends proximal phalanx and dorsiflexes and inverts the foot at the ankle.
O: Middle 1/2 of the anterior surface of fibula,
I: Dorsal surface of base of distal phalanx of hallux (big toe)
Extensor Digitorum Longus - Answer A: Extends the lateral 4 toes. Dorsiflexes and everts foot
at the ankle.
O: Lateral condyle of tibia, head and proximal 3/4 of the anterior surface of fibula.
I: Divides into 4 tendons after passing under extensor retinaculum to insert on dorsal surfaces of
bases of middle and distal phalanges of the 2nd-5th toes.
Flexor Hallucis Longus - Answer Action:
Flexion of great toe
Plantar flexion of foot
Inversion of foot
Origin:
Fibula (posterior shaft)
Interosseous membrane
Insertion:
Distal phalanx of great toe
Comment:
Powerful muscle for "push-off" of foot during walking and running
Flexor Digitorum Longus - Answer Action:
Flexion of toes 2-5
Plantar flexion of foot
Inversion of foot
, Origin:
Tibia (posterior middle shaft)
Insertion:
Distal phalanges of toes 2-5
Comment:
Tendon provides attachment for quadratus plantae (insertion) and lumbrical (origin) muscles
Vastus Medialis - Answer A: Extends leg at knee and draws patella medially. O: Lower 1/2 of
intertrochanteric line, tendons of adductor magnus and adductor longus
I: Medial border of the patella and through the ligamentum patallae into tibial tuberosity
Vastus Intermedius - Answer A: Extends leg at the knee
O: Proximal 2/3 of anterolateral surface of femur, upper part of lateral supracondylar line
I: by tendons of the rectus and vasti muscles into the superior border of patella and through
patellar ligament into tibial tuberosity.
Vastus Lateralis - Answer A: Extends leg at the knee and draws patella laterally
O: Upper part of intertrocheanteric line, anterior and lower borders of greater trochanter,
tendon of gluteus maximus
I: Lateral border of the patella and through the patellar ligament into the tibial tuberosity
Rectus Femoris - Answer A: Extension of leg at knee. Flexion of thigh at hip
O: Straight head: anterior inferior iliac spine
Reflected head: Groove on upper brim of acetabulum
I: Upper border of patella and through patellar ligament into tibial tuberosity
Semimembranosus - Answer A: Flexes and Medially rotates the leg at the knee. Extends,
adducts and medially rotates the thigh at the hip.
O: Upper and lateral aspect of ischial tuberosity
I: Posterior surface of medial condyle of the tibia
Semitendinosus - Answer A: Flexes and medially rotates the leg at the knee. Extends,
adducts and medially rotates the thigh at the hip.
O: Ischial tuberosity with tendon of the long head of the biceps femoris.
I: Anterior and medial surface of the shaft of the tibia just below the condyle.
Origins and Insertions of Muscles
Questions All Answered Correctly.
Gastrocnemius - Answer A: plantarflexes and inverts foot at ankle, O:femoral condyles
I: Calcaneus via achilles tendon
Soleus - Answer A: plantarflexes and inverts foot at ankle
O: Upper 1/3 of fibia
I: Calcaneus via achilles tendon
Tibialis Anterior - Answer A: Dorsiflexes and inverts foot at ankle
O: Lateral condyle of tibia
I: plantar surface of first metatarsal and cuneiform
Tibialis Posterior - Answer A: Inverts and plantarflexes the foot at ankle. Medial ankle
stabilizer.
O: Lateral part of posterior surface of tibia, proximal 2/3 of medial surface of fibula.
I: Tuberosity of navicular, with branches to sustenaculum tali of calcaneus, plantar surfaces of all
3 cuneiforms, cuboid, and bases of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal bones.
Popliteus - Answer A: Rotates tibia medially on the femur, or femur laterally on tibia. Brings
knee out of full extension. Helps with posterior stability of knee
O: Lateral condyle of the femur
I: Posterior surface of tibia above soleal line.
Plantaris - Answer A: plantar flexes and inverts the foot at the ankle, flexes the leg at the
knee.
O: Lower part of lateral supracondylar line of femur, and oblique popliteal ligament of knee.
I: Posterior part of the calcaneus medial to the achilles tendon.
Peroneus Longus - Answer A: Eversion and plantar flexion of foot at ankle. Gives lateral
stability to the ankle.
O: Head and proximal 2/3 of lateral tibia
I: Lateral margin of plantar surface of 1st cuneiform and metatarsal.
,Peroneus Brevis - Answer A: Eversion and plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle. Gives
lateral stability to the ankle.
O: Distal 2/3 of the lateral fibula.
I: Tuberosity on lateral side of 5th metatarsal
Peroneus Tertius - Answer A: Dorsiflexes and everts the foot at the ankle.
O: Distal 1/3 of anterior surface of fibula.
I: Dorsal surface of 5th metatarsal.
Extensor Hallucis Longus - Answer A: Extends distal phalanx of big toe. Continued action
extends proximal phalanx and dorsiflexes and inverts the foot at the ankle.
O: Middle 1/2 of the anterior surface of fibula,
I: Dorsal surface of base of distal phalanx of hallux (big toe)
Extensor Digitorum Longus - Answer A: Extends the lateral 4 toes. Dorsiflexes and everts foot
at the ankle.
O: Lateral condyle of tibia, head and proximal 3/4 of the anterior surface of fibula.
I: Divides into 4 tendons after passing under extensor retinaculum to insert on dorsal surfaces of
bases of middle and distal phalanges of the 2nd-5th toes.
Flexor Hallucis Longus - Answer Action:
Flexion of great toe
Plantar flexion of foot
Inversion of foot
Origin:
Fibula (posterior shaft)
Interosseous membrane
Insertion:
Distal phalanx of great toe
Comment:
Powerful muscle for "push-off" of foot during walking and running
Flexor Digitorum Longus - Answer Action:
Flexion of toes 2-5
Plantar flexion of foot
Inversion of foot
, Origin:
Tibia (posterior middle shaft)
Insertion:
Distal phalanges of toes 2-5
Comment:
Tendon provides attachment for quadratus plantae (insertion) and lumbrical (origin) muscles
Vastus Medialis - Answer A: Extends leg at knee and draws patella medially. O: Lower 1/2 of
intertrochanteric line, tendons of adductor magnus and adductor longus
I: Medial border of the patella and through the ligamentum patallae into tibial tuberosity
Vastus Intermedius - Answer A: Extends leg at the knee
O: Proximal 2/3 of anterolateral surface of femur, upper part of lateral supracondylar line
I: by tendons of the rectus and vasti muscles into the superior border of patella and through
patellar ligament into tibial tuberosity.
Vastus Lateralis - Answer A: Extends leg at the knee and draws patella laterally
O: Upper part of intertrocheanteric line, anterior and lower borders of greater trochanter,
tendon of gluteus maximus
I: Lateral border of the patella and through the patellar ligament into the tibial tuberosity
Rectus Femoris - Answer A: Extension of leg at knee. Flexion of thigh at hip
O: Straight head: anterior inferior iliac spine
Reflected head: Groove on upper brim of acetabulum
I: Upper border of patella and through patellar ligament into tibial tuberosity
Semimembranosus - Answer A: Flexes and Medially rotates the leg at the knee. Extends,
adducts and medially rotates the thigh at the hip.
O: Upper and lateral aspect of ischial tuberosity
I: Posterior surface of medial condyle of the tibia
Semitendinosus - Answer A: Flexes and medially rotates the leg at the knee. Extends,
adducts and medially rotates the thigh at the hip.
O: Ischial tuberosity with tendon of the long head of the biceps femoris.
I: Anterior and medial surface of the shaft of the tibia just below the condyle.
