Knowra Human leg Human leg The human leg is the lower limb extending from the hip to the foot. Its bones, joints, muscles, and nerves support weight and enable standing and locomotion.
Femur : The femur is the thigh bone, extending from the hip to the knee and forming the body's longest bone. It carries loads between the hip and knee.
Quadriceps femoris : The quadriceps femoris is a group of four muscles on the front of the thigh that extends the knee. Its force straightens the knee during standing, walking, and rising.
Walking : Walking is a bipedal form of locomotion in which the body advances through alternating steps. The legs alternately support body weight and swing forward.
Lower limb : The lower limb is the anatomical region from the hip to the toes, including the thigh, leg, and foot. It is the broader anatomical term; in strict anatomy, “leg” means knee to ankle.
Patella : The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the tendon of the quadriceps muscle at the front of the knee. It protects the knee and improves the quadriceps' leverage.
Hamstring : The hamstrings are muscles at the back of the thigh that flex the knee and extend the hip. Their actions oppose the quadriceps and help control limb motion.
Running : Running is a gait in which each step includes a period when neither foot touches the ground. Legs absorb impact and produce propulsion at greater forces than walking.
Thigh : The thigh is the part of the lower limb between the hip and knee. It names the upper segment often included in everyday use of “leg.”
Tibia : The tibia is the larger, medial bone of the lower leg, bearing most of its weight-bearing load. It transmits body weight from the knee toward the ankle.
Gluteus maximus : The gluteus maximus is a large buttock muscle that extends and externally rotates the hip. It generates hip extension for climbing, rising, and forceful propulsion.
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