Which muscles cause extension and abduction of the hip?

The muscles responsible for extension and abduction of the hip include the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, along with support from the hamstrings to some extent. The gluteus medius and minimus are primarily engaged in abducting the thigh, moving it away from the midline of the body. These muscles are also active during hip extension when the leg is moving backward during activities like walking or running.

While the hamstrings are mainly known for hip extension, their role is more limited compared to the gluteus muscles in the context of abduction. The hamstrings do not perform significant abduction of the hip, but they assist in the extension of the hip joint. This makes option B particularly relevant because it correctly identifies the contribution of both the gluteus medius and minimus for abduction while acknowledging the hamstrings’ role in extension.

The other options incorrectly associate different muscles with these movements. For instance, the iliopsoas is primarily involved in hip flexion, not extension or abduction. The quadriceps are responsible for knee extension rather than significantly contributing to hip movements. Therefore, the identified muscles in option B accurately represent the primary movers for both hip extension and abduction.