leg

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Posterior anatomical illustration of the human lower limb showing muscles and tendons of the hip, thigh, and lower leg, with labels identifying structures such as the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and major nerves.

Posterior anatomical illustration of the right leg showing muscles and the sciatic nerve branching from the sacral plexus, with labeled nerves, muscles, and tendons throughout the thigh and calf.

Diagram showing the anterior view of human leg muscles, highlighting the rectus femoris muscle as a bipennate fibred muscle, the extensor digitorum longus as a unipennate fibred muscle, and the tibialis anterior muscle as a parallel fibred muscle, with muscle fibers and tendons labeled.

Anterior view diagram of a human femur showing labeled anatomical features, including the head, neck, greater and lesser trochanters, shaft, nutrient foramen, lateral and medial condyles, patellar surface, epiphyseal lines, and attachment lines for synovial membrane and fibrous capsule.

diagram of rigid skeletons worked by muscles

Illustration of the human leg from the front showing major muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the thigh and lower leg, each labeled for anatomical reference.

Anterior view illustration comparing the bones of the human forearm (radius and ulna) on the left and the lower leg (tibia and fibula) on the right, with major anatomical features labeled.

Side-by-side anatomical illustration comparing the right leg of a modern human and a gorilla, showing labeled skeletal structures and major muscles including pelvis, femur, tibia, fibula, and key thigh muscles.

leg: References & Edit History

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Modified link of Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Leg Bones.	Emily Rodriguez	Oct 23, 2026
	Add new Web site: OpenStax - Anatomy and Physiology 2e - Bones of the Lower Limb.	Gloria Lotha	Mar 28, 2026
	Add new Web site: Hospital for Special Surgery - A Guide to Your Leg Muscles, from the Ground Up.	Grace Young	Feb 06, 2026
	Add new Web site: The Royal Society of Publishing - Biology Letters - The functions of leg muscles, structures and mechanisms in running.	Gloria Lotha	Jun 11, 2025
	Add new Web site: PNAS - Leg length and bristle density, both necessary for water surface locomotion, are genetically correlated in water striders.	Gloria Lotha	Apr 15, 2025
	Add new Web site: Mustansiriyah University - Front of the Leg.	Grace Young	Aug 20, 2024
	Add new Web site: Teach Me Anatomy - Muscles of the Leg.	Aakanksha Gaur	Jan 23, 2024
	Media added.	Michele Metych	Dec 01, 2023
	Add new Web site: Innerbody - The Bones of the Leg and Foot.	Gloria Lotha	Nov 08, 2023
	Add new Web site: Cleveland Clinic - Leg Muscle.	Gloria Lotha	Apr 27, 2023
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Leg Bones.	Gloria Lotha	Oct 04, 2022
	Corrected display issue.	Adam Augustyn	Jan 31, 2020
	Added new Web site: Foottrainer.com - The Foot and Leg Muscle.	Dutta Promeet	May 19, 2009
	Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Healthguide - Leg Skeletal anatomy.	Dutta Promeet	May 19, 2009
	Added new Web site: Healthline - Leg Anatomy.	Dutta Promeet	May 19, 2009
	Added new Web site: The Whiteley Clinic - Anatomy of Leg Veins.	Dutta Promeet	May 19, 2009
	Media added.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Nov 13, 2007
	Media added.	Robert Curley	Oct 16, 2007
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	May 27, 1999