Which muscle in the anterior hip flexes the hip to bring the leg forward?

The iliopsoas is the primary muscle responsible for flexing the hip and bringing the leg forward. This muscle is a combination of two muscles: the psoas major and the iliacus. Together, they play a crucial role in hip flexion, which is the movement of bringing the thigh closer to the torso. When the iliopsoas contracts, it pulls the femur upward into the hip joint, enabling activities such as walking, running, and climbing.

While the gluteus maximus plays a critical role in hip extension and stabilization, it does not contribute primarily to hip flexion. The rectus femoris, part of the quadriceps group, also assists in hip flexion but is mainly involved in knee extension. The psoas major, as one part of the iliopsoas, also contributes to hip flexion, but it is the iliopsoas as a whole that is classically noted for this action when referring to anterior muscles specifically. Therefore, identifying the iliopsoas as the muscle that flexes the hip to bring the leg forward captures a broader understanding of the primary action occurring at the hip joint.