The vastus lateralis is a muscle in the anterior compartment of the thigh. It forms part of the quadriceps femoris muscle complex. Attachments: Originates from the greater trochanter and the lateral lip of linea aspera of the femur. 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. It has a secondary function of stabilising the patella. Innervation: Femoral nerve. Blood supply: Lateral circumflex femoral artery. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025) Fig 1The muscles of the anterior thigh. Pro Feature - 3D Model You've Discovered a Pro Feature Access our 3D Model Library Explore, cut, dissect, annotate and manipulate our 3D models to visualise anatomy in a dynamic, interactive way. Learn More Print Article Rate This Article