The quadriceps femoris is a muscle complex in the anterior compartment of the thigh. It consists of four individual muscles – vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis and the rectus femoris.
- Attachments:
- Arises from the anterior superior iliac spine, the ilium, and the femur.
- The fibres converge into a thick tendon, which inserts onto the base of the patella.
- It inserts onto the patella via the quadriceps femoris tendon.
- The patella is then attached to the tibial tuberosity by the patella ligament.
- Actions: Extension of the knee joint. Contributes to flexion at the hip joint through the action of the rectus femoris.
- Innervation: Femoral nerve.
- Blood Supply: Femoral artery.
