Medial Hind Leg Muscles

The Gracilis is a thin muscle on the posterior medial side of the hind limb. This muscle adducts the hind limb. It must be removed from the leg to reach the muscles beneath. To do this you must rip it off of the hind leg by removing the connective tissue fibers.

Gracilis

Tibialis Anterior

The tibialis anterior lies upon the tibia. This muscle flexes the ankle. To isolate it you must use the blunt probe to remove the connective tissue and fat. You will then be able to lift it up with the probe.

Gastrocnemius

The gastrocnemius originates at the femur and goes to the calcaneous bone of the ankle. It extends the muscle and flexes the knee. To isolate it you must break the connective tissue and remove the fat with the blunt probe.

Soleus

This muscle is found close to the gastrocnemius. Use the blunt probe to separate the soleus from the gastrocnemius muscle and the tibia bone. This muscle extends the ankle and is known as a plantar flexion.

Extensor Digitorum Longus

The extensor digitorum longus is shaped as a thin muscle and its end is a long tendon. It connects to the digits. Its function is to extend the big toe and assists in the dorisflexion of the foot at the ankle. To isolate use the blunt probe to remove connective tissue and separate it from the tibialis anterior.

Vastus Medialis

  The vastus medialis is caudal to the rectus femoris on the medial side of the hind leg. It extends from the femor. Use the blunt probe to find the separation between the rectus femoris and this muscle.

Saritorius

The saritorius is located anterior to the adductor magnus. It is thin and triangular coming from the iliac fascia. It flexes the hip and adducts the thigh. To isolate this you must use the blunt probe to remove connective tissue and fat to then separate this muscle from the others.

Adductor Magnus

The adductor magnus is a triangular muscle that originates from the pubis and inserts into the femur along the medial side. This muscle acts to adduct the thigh. Use the blunt probe to find a weak point to separate this from the semimembranosus.

Peroneous Tertius

Peroneous Longus

These two deeper muscles of the lower hind leg act to move the ankle. They originate from the tibia and go to the femur. To isolate use the blunt probe to separate them from each other and the surrounding muscles.