Anatomy study note · Lower limb

Quadriceps femoris

The large four-headed extensor of the knee: rectus femoris and vastus lateralis, medialis and intermedius, inserting through the patella and ligamentum patellae into the tibial tuberosity.

Key points

• Rectus femoris (AIIS) + 3 vasti (femur).
• All → patella → ligamentum patellae → tibial tuberosity.
• Femoral nerve L2–4; knee jerk.
• Rectus femoris crosses the hip too (hip flexion).
• Vastus medialis stops lateral patellar dislocation.
• Limb muscles: in situ from limb-bud mesenchyme.
• Upper limb bud C4–T2; lower limb bud L2–S2.
• Skeletal muscle: multinucleated, peripheral nuclei, striated.
• Epimysium → perimysium → endomysium.

The full note in the atlas also covers

Origin · Insertion · Action · Nerve supply · Histology · Development · Clinical notes

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 11, PDF pp. 1301–1308, 1459
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 7, PDF p. 109; ch. 10, PDF pp. 142–145
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 8, PDF pp. 135–144

More from the lower limb

• Retinacula of the ankle
• Saphenous nerve
• Sartorius
• Sciatic nerve
• Semimembranosus
• Semitendinosus
• Short lateral rotators of the hip
• Small saphenous vein
• Sole muscles: first layer
• Sole muscles: second layer
• Sole muscles: third layer
• Soleus

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