Last update:

Iliacus Muscle

image descriptionIliacus Muscle (Musculus iliacus)

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus (highlighted in green), Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Adductor Longus and Gracilis.
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus (highlighted in green), Pectineus, Adductor Longus, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Medialis, Gracilis.
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus (highlighted in green), Pectineus, Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus.
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Iliacus.
1
2
3
4

image descriptionAttachments of Iliacus Muscle

Origin (proximal attachment):
a. Iliac fossa of os coxa.

Insertion (distal attachment):
a. Lesser trochanter of femur.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus (highlighted in green), Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Adductor Longus and Gracilis.
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Iliacus.
Anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of Iliacus at the iliac fossa of os coxa and the insertion at the lesser trochanter of femur.
1
2
3

Actions of Iliacus on the thigh (femur):

a.  image descriptionFlexes the thigh at hip.

Want a faster and more efficient way to learn the actions, innovations and attachments of the leg muscles? Look no further than these 3D muscle videos.

b. image descriptionLaterally rotates thigh at hip.

c. image descriptionFlexes trunk & pelvis on thigh (if origin & insertion are reversed).

Nerve to muscle and its spinal segment:

Femoral nerve (L2-L3).

An Overview of the Anterior Muscles of the Thigh

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9 and the answers are concealed.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Rectus Femoris 7. Vastus Lateralis 8. Sartorius 9. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 8. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Rectus Femoris 7. Vastus Lateralis 7. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 8. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Vastus Lateralis 7. Vastus Medialis 8. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Vastus Medialis 7. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Vastus Intermedius 6. Vastus Medialis 7. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 6. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Vastus Intermedius 6. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Adductor Brevis 4. Adductor Longus 5. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Adductor Brevis 4. Adductor Magnus 5. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 4. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Adductor Brevis 4. Adductor Magnus.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 3. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Adductor Magnus.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 2. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only muscle labelled 1 is Iliacus.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of Iliacus at the iliac fossa of os coxa and the insertion at the lesser trochanter of femur.
Test yourself while observing the Iliacus muscle
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Related Articles
Featured image showing two views on the anterior thigh. The image on the left shows the bony elements and the muscles of the anterior thigh, the image on the right shows the bony elements and the isolated Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle.
Tensor Fasciae Latae

An interactive tutorial teaching location, attachments and actions of Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle using beautiful anatomical illustrations.
Gracilis-Featured-image
Rectus Femoris Muscle

An interactive tutorial teaching the position, actions, innervation and attachments of the Rectus Femoris muscle with the aid of anatomical illustrations.
Image showing anterior muscles of the thigh, isolated Psoas Major muscle and attachments of Psoas Major
Psoas Major Muscle

A tutorial on Psoas Major muscle origin, insertion, action and innervation with the aid of interactive illustrations, animations and a quiz.