Quadriceps femoris
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The quadriceps muscle of the femur (m.quadriceps femoris) is strong, has the largest mass among all muscles. It consists of 4 muscles forming its head: the straight, lateral, medial and intermediate wide hip muscles that adhere to the femur almost from all sides. In the distal third of the thigh, all 4 heads form a common tendon that attaches to the tuberosity of the ribs and also to the apex and lateral edges of the patella. Distal from the apex of the patella, the middle part of the tendon continues into the patellar ligament (lig. Patellae).
The straight muscle of the thigh (m.rectus femoris) begins on the inferior anterior iliac spine and on the ileum above the acetabulum. Between the bone and the beginning of the muscle there is a synovial bag. Then the muscle passes down in front from the hip joint, goes to the surface of the thigh between the muscle of the broad fascia and the sartorius muscle, located in front of the intermediate wide thigh muscle. The straight muscle ends with a tendon that attaches to the base of the patella. The muscle has a pinnate structure.
Lateral thigh muscle (m.vastus lateralis) is the largest of all 4 heads of the quadriceps femoris. It begins with tendon and muscle tufts on the interstitial line, the lower part of the large trochanter, on the gluteal tuberosity and the upper half of the rough thigh line, and also on the lateral intermuscular septum of the thigh. It is attached to the tendon of the rectus muscle of the thigh, the upper-lateral part of the patella and to the tuberosity of the tibia. Part of the tendon bundles continues into the lateral supporting patellar ligament (retinaculum patellae laterale).
The medial broad thigh muscle (m.vastus medialis) has a vast origin on the lower half of the interstitial 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 a medial supporting patellar ligament (retinaculum patellae mediate).
The intermediate wide thigh muscle (m.vastus intermedius) begins with muscle tufts throughout the upper two thirds of the anterior and lateral surfaces of the femur, on the lower part of the lateral lip of the rough thigh line and the lateral intermuscular septum. It is attached to the base of the patella and along with the tendons of the straight, lateral and medial broad muscles the femur participates in the formation of the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle.
Function of the quadriceps femoris: the quadriceps femoris muscle is a powerful extender of the lower leg in the knee joint; the straight muscle flexes the thigh.
Innervation of the quadriceps femoris: femoral nerve (LII-LIV).
Blood supply to the quadriceps femoris: femoral artery, deep thigh artery.
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