Thigh muscles: Anterior group

Muscles of the thigh: Anterior groupAnatomy, function, blood supply and innervation of muscles of the thigh
~ 3 min

In this pdf-note, we’ll start with the borders of the lower limb:

  • The posterior border passes through the coccyx and the lateral margins of the sacrum

  • The lateral border is the iliac crest

  • The anterior border passes through the inguinal ligament and the pubic symphysis

Borders of the lower limb
Borders of the lower limb
Borders of the lower limb
Borders of the lower limb

There are several regions within the lower limb:

  1. Gluteal region (regio glutealis)

  2. Femoral region (regio femoralis)

  3. Knee region (regio genus)

  4. Leg region (regio cruralis)

  5. Ankle region (regio talocruralis)

  6. Foot region (regio pedis)

Regions within the lower limb
Regions within the lower limb
Regions within the lower limb
Regions within the lower limb

Within these areas, the muscles of the lower limb are located.

These include:

  • Pelvic girdle muscles

  • Muscles of the free part of lower limb

    The muscles of the free part of the lower limb are divided into:

  • Thigh muscles

  • Leg muscles

  • Foot muscles

    The thigh muscles form three groups:

  • The anterior group consists of the thigh flexors and the leg extensors

  • The posterior group consists of the thigh extensors and the leg flexors

  • The medial group consists of the thigh adductor muscles The anterior group includes the following muscles:

  • Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)

    Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)
    Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)
    Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)
    Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)
    Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)
    Sartorius muscle (m. sartorius)
    Sartorius muscle
    (m. sartorius)

    Origin: anterior superior iliac spine

    Insertion: tibial tuberosity. Together with the tendons of the gracilis and semitendinosus muscles, it forms pes anserinus superficialis (pes anserinus superficialis)

    Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint), supinates the thigh, pronates the leg when the knee joint is flexed. It also has a specific function of “throwing” a leg over a leg

    Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)

    Blood supply: lateral circumflex femoral artery, descending genicular artery

  • Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris) – consists of four heads (which are essentially separate muscles):

Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris)
Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris)
Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris)
Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris)
Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris)
Quadriceps femoris muscle (m. quadriceps femoris)

Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)

Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)
Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)
Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)
Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)
Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)
Rectus femoris muscle (m. rectus femoris)
Rectus femoris muscle
(m. rectus femoris)

Origin: anterior inferior iliac spine, external surface of the ilium

Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)

Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)

Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)

Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh

Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)

Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)
Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)
Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)
Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)
Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)
Vastus lateralis muscle (m. vastus lateralis)
Vastus lateralis muscle
(m. vastus lateralis)

Origin: intertrochanteric line of the femur, greater trochanter of the femur, lateral lip of the linea aspera of the femur

Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)

Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)

Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)

Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh

Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)

Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)
Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)
Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)
Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)
Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)
Vastus medialis muscle (m. vastus medialis)
Vastus medialis muscle
(m. vastus medialis)

Origin: intertrochanteric line of the femur, medial lip of the linea aspera of the femur

Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)

Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)

Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)

Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh

Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)

Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)
Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)
Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)
Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)
Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)
Vastus intermedius (m. vastus intermedius)
Vastus intermedius
(m. vastus intermedius)

Origin: anterior and lateral surfaces of the body of the femur, lateral lip of the linea aspera of the femur

Insertion: passes into the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which inserts into the tuberosity of the tibia and to the edges of the patella, forming the patellar ligament (lig. pattellae)

Function: flexes the thigh (at the hip joint), extends the leg (at the knee joint)

Innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)

Blood supply: femoral artery, deep artery of the thigh

Dictionary

Muscles of the thigh

Gluteal region
regio glutealis
Femoral region
regio femoralis
Knee region
regio genus
Leg region
regio cruralis
Ankle region
regio talocruralis
Foot region
regio pedis
Sartorius muscle
m. sartorius
Quadriceps femoris muscle
m. quadriceps femoris
Rectus femoris muscle
m. rectus femoris
Vastus lateralis muscle
m. vastus lateralis
Vastus medialis muscle
m. vastus medialis
Vastus intermedius muscle
m. vastus intermedius
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