Iliacus Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Oct 6th, 2022

The iliacus muscle is an important hip flexor that stretches from the hip bone down to the femur.

Iliacus 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.

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Attachments 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.

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Actions of Iliacus on the thigh (femur):

a. Flexes 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.

Slide 1 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 2 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 3 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 4 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 5 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

b. Laterally rotates thigh at hip.

Slide 1 of the animation showing lateral rotation of the thigh.

Slide 2 of the animation showing lateral rotation of the thigh.

Slide 3 of the animation showing lateral rotation of the thigh.

Slide 4 of the animation showing lateral rotation of the thigh.

Slide 5 of the animation showing lateral rotation of the thigh.

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

Slide 1 of the animation showing flexion of the vertebral column (torso).

Slide 2 of the animation showing flexion of the vertebral column (torso).

Slide 3 of the animation showing flexion of the vertebral column (torso).

Slide 4 of the animation showing flexion of the vertebral column (torso).

Slide 5 of the animation showing flexion of the vertebral column (torso).

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

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