Anterior compartment of thigh - it is divided in to

two groups
1. Muscle acting on both hip & knee
Tensor fascia lata
Sartorius
Rectus femoris
2. Muscle acting on only knee
Vastus lateralies
Vastus medialis
Vastus intermedialis
Articularis genu
Rectus femoris & three vastus are considered as
one muscle i.e. quadriceps femoris
1. Tensor fascia lata - situated in upper &
lateral aspect of thigh bet gluteal region &
thigh
Origin – behind ASIS
Insertion - iliotibial tract
Nerve supply – superior gluteal nerve
Action -
Through iliotibial tract – extension of knee
Abduction & medial rotation of thigh
2. Sartorius - it is longest muscle of body it
forms lateral boundary of femoral triangle
Origin - ASIS
Insertion - upper part of medial surface of tibia
Nerve - anterior division of femoral L234
Action - it is tailors muscle i.e. flexion of thigh &
leg & abduction & lateral rotation of thigh
3. Quadriceps femoris - it is strong extensor
muscle of leg it consists of 4 muscles
a) Vastus medialis
b) Vastus intermedialis
c) Vastus lateralis
d) Rectus femoris
1.Rectus femoris = it is bipennate muscle it has
two heads
Straight - anterior inferior iliac spine
Reflected - above the acetabulum
Insertion - base of patella
Nerve – posterior division of femoral
Action - extension of leg
2. Vastus lateralis -
Origin - upper part of intertrochantric line
Greater trochanter
Lateral lip of linea aspera
Insertion - lateral border of patella & lateral part of
base of patella
Nerve supply - posterior division of femoral nerve
Action – extension of knee
3. Vastus medialis
Origin – lower part of intertrochantric line
Medial lip of linea aspera
Insertion – medial part of base of patella & medial
border of patella
Nerve - posterior division of femoral
Action - extension of knee & prevent the lateral
displacement of patella
4. Vastus intermedialis
Origin - anterior & lateral surface of femur
Insertion - base of patella & lateral border of
patella & lateral condyle of tibia
Nerve - posterior division of femoral
Action - extension of leg
5. Articularis genu
Origin - it is a small muscle lower part of anterior
surface of shaft of femur
Insertion - in synovial membrane of knee
Nerve - nerve to vastus intermedialis
Action - it pulls up the capsule of knee during
extension of knee to prevent folding of capsular
ligament