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Quadriceps femoris muscle
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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The quadriceps femoris is a strong muscle, with the largest mass of all muscles. It consists of 4 muscles that form its heads: the rectus, lateral, medial and intermediate broad muscles of the thigh, which are adjacent to the femur on almost all sides. In the distal third of the thigh, all 4 heads form a common tendon that is attached to the tuberosity of the tibia, as well as to the apex and lateral edges of the patella. Distally from the apex of the patella, the middle part of the tendon continues into the patellar ligament (lig. patellae).
The rectus femoris muscle (m.rectus femoris) begins on the inferior anterior iliac spine and on the ilium above the acetabulum. Between the bone and the origin of the muscle there is a synovial bursa. Then the muscle passes down in front of the hip joint, comes out on the surface of the thigh between the muscle - the tensor of the broad fascia and the sartorius muscle, located in front of the intermediate broad muscle of the thigh. The rectus muscle ends in a tendon that is attached to the base of the patella. The muscle has a pennate structure.
The lateral vastus muscle (m.vastus lateralis) is the largest of the 4 heads of the quadriceps femoris. It begins with tendon and muscle bundles on the intertrochanteric line, the lower part of the greater trochanter, on the gluteal tuberosity and the upper half of the rough line of the thigh, as well as on the lateral intermuscular septum of the thigh. It is attached to the tendon of the rectus femoris, the upper lateral part of the patella and to the tuberosity of the tibia. Some of the tendon bundles continue into the lateral suspensory ligament of the patella (retinaculum patellae laterale).
The medial vastus muscle of the thigh (m.vastus medialis) has a large origin on the lower half of the intertrochanteric line, on the medial lip of the rough line and the medial intermuscular septum of the thigh. It is attached to the upper edge of the base of the patella and to the anterior surface of the medial condyle of the tibia. The tendon of this muscle participates in the formation of the medial supporting ligament of the patella (retinaculum patellae mediate).
The intermediate vastus muscle of the thigh (m.vastus intermedius) begins with muscle bundles along the upper two-thirds of the anterior and lateral surfaces of the body of the femur, on the lower part of the lateral lip of the rough line of the thigh and the lateral intermuscular septum. It is attached to the base of the patella and, together with the tendons of the rectus, lateral and medial vastus muscles of the thigh, participates in the formation of the common tendon of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh.
Function of the quadriceps femoris: The quadriceps femoris is a powerful extensor of the leg at the knee joint; the rectus femoris flexes the thigh.
Innervation of the quadriceps femoris: femoral nerve (LII-LIV).
Blood supply of the quadriceps muscle: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh.
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