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Anterior Thigh
The thigh is the region
between the hip and
knee joints
Hip Joint
Knee Joint
Thigh
The region below the
knee joint is the leg
Hip Joint
Knee Joint
Thigh
Leg
The thigh is divided into 3 functional compartments
The thigh is divided into 3 functional compartments
1. Anterior or Extensor compartment
1. Medial or Adductor compartment
1. Posterior or Flexor compartment
The thigh is divided into 3 functional compartments
The anterior and posterior compartments
are separated by the medial and lateral
intermuscular septa
The adductor muscles do not have a fascial
boundary, but are continuous with the
posterior compartment
Skin
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right
mid-thigh looking
towards hip joint
Septa
SeptaSubcutaneous Fat
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right
mid-thigh looking
towards hip joint
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right
mid-thigh looking
towards hip joint
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right
mid-thigh looking
towards hip joint
medial intermuscular
septum
lateral intermuscular
septum
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right
mid-thigh looking
towards hip joint
Posterior / Flexor
compartment
Medial / Adductor
compartment
Anterior / Extensor
compartment
Muscles of the Anterior Compartment of the Thigh
Sartorius
Quadriceps Femoris
- Rectus Femoris
- Vastus Lateralis
- Vastus Intermedius
- Vastus Medialis
Muscles of the Anterior Compartment of the Thigh
Sartorius
Quadriceps Femoris
- Rectus Femoris
- Vastus Lateralis
- Vastus Intermedius
- Vastus Medialis
Adductor Longus and Pectineus are sometimes
considered to be part of both the anterior and adductor
compartments
Muscles of the Anterior Compartment of the Thigh
Sartorius
Quadriceps Femoris
- Rectus Femoris
- Vastus Lateralis
- Vastus Intermedius
- Vastus Medialis
Adductor Longus and Pectineus will be discussed in
the adductor compartment section
Sartorius
Arises from
Anterior Superior Iliac Spine
Inserts onto
Tibia (upper medial surface)
Sartorius
Flexes, abducts and laterally
rotates thigh at hip joint
Flexes, medially rotates leg at
knee joint
The medial border of
Sartorius forms the
lateral boundary of the
Femoral Triangle
Patella
Sartorius
Anterior Superior Iliac
Spine
Femoral Triangle
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right mid-
thigh looking
towards hip joint
Posterior / Flexor
compartment
Medial / Adductor
compartment
sartorius
The predominant muscle of the
Anterior Compartment is
Quadriceps Femoris
a powerful extensor of the
knee joint
The anterior muscle of Quadriceps
Rectus Femoris
It is the only member of Quadriceps
that attaches to the hip bone
Arises from two heads
Straight head
Anterior inferior iliac spine
Reflected head
just superior to the acetabulum
Rectus Femoris
Inserts onto the Patella
via the Quadriceps
tendon
Patella
Rectus Femoris
Rectus Femoris
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right mid-
thigh looking
towards hip joint
Posterior / Flexor
compartment
Medial / Adductor
compartment
sartorius
rectus
femoris
Vastus Medialis
Lies under Rectus Femoris
Arises from posterior Femur
- Linea Aspera
- Medial Supracondylar Ridge
Posterior Femur
Vastus Medialis
It wraps itself around the
medial aspect of the Femur
Linea
Aspera
Medial
Supracondylar
Ridge
Vastus
Medialis
Patella
Inserts onto the
Patella via the
Quadriceps
tendon
Posterior Femur
Rectus
Femoris
Vastus Medialis
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right mid-
thigh looking
towards hip joint
Posterior / Flexor
compartment
Medial / Adductor
compartment
sartorius
rectus
femoris
vastus
medialis
Arises from posterior Femur
- Linea Apsera
- Lateral Supracondylar
Ridge
Posterior Femur
Vastus Lateralis
It wraps itself around the lateral
aspect of the Femoral shaft
Linea
Aspera
Lateral
Supracondylar
Ridge
Vastus
Lateralis
Patella
It inserts onto the
lateral border of the
Patella and blends
with the
Quadriceps tendon
Posterior Femur
Vastus Lateralis
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right mid-
thigh looking
towards hip joint
Posterior / Flexor
compartment
Medial / Adductor
compartment
sartorius
rectus
femoris
vastus
medialis
vastus
lateralis
Vastus Intermedius
Is very deeply placed
Arises from
anterior and lateral surfaces of
Femur
Its fibres end in a superficial
aponeurosis which forms the deep
part of the Quadriceps tendon
Femur
Septa
Septa
Thigh compartments
mediallateral
posterior
anterior
Cross section
through right mid-
thigh looking
towards hip joint
Posterior / Flexor
compartment
Medial / Adductor
compartment
sartorius
rectus
femoris
vastus
medialis
vastus
lateralis
vastus
intermedius
Nerve Supply
Sartorius is innervated
by the
Femoral Nerve
an important branch of
the Lumbar Plexus
Sartorius
Lumbar Plexus
Femoral Nerve
Each head of
Quadriceps Femoris
receives its nerve supply from
a separate branch of the
Femoral Nerve
Femoral Nerve
Quadriceps
Femoris
Summary of muscles of
anterior compartment of the thigh
Sartorius
Origin Anterior superior iliac spine
Insertion Superior aspect of the medial
surface of the tibial shaft near the
tibial tuberosity
Action Flexes and laterally rotates the hip
joint and flexes the knee
Nerve Supply Femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Blood Supply Femoral artery
Anterior Thigh
Anterior Thigh
Rectus Femoris
Origin Straight head from anterior inferior
iliac spine;
Reflected head from groove just
above acetabulum
Insertion Base of patella to form the more
central portion of the quadriceps
femoris tendon
Action Extends the knee
Nerve Supply femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Blood Supply Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Vastus Medialis
Origin Inferior intertrochanteric line,
spiral line, medial lip linea aspera,
superior medial supracondylar
ridge of femur, medial
intermuscular septum
Insertion Medial base and border of patella;
medial patellar retinaculum, medial
side of quadriceps femoris tendon
Action Extends the knee
Nerve Supply femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Blood Supply Femoral artery, profunda femoris
artery, and superior medial
genicular branch of popliteal artery
Anterior Thigh
Vastus Lateralis
Origin Superior intertrochanteric line,
anterior and inferior borders of
greater trochanter, superior
portion of lateral lip of linea
aspera, and lateral portion of
gluteal tuberosity of femur
Insertion Lateral base and border of patella
lateral patellar retinaculum and
lateral quadriceps femoris tendon
Action Extends the knee
Nerve Supply femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Blood Supply Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Anterior Thigh
Anterior Thigh
Vastus Intermedius
Origin Superior 2/3 of anterior and lateral
surfaces of femur; also from lateral
intermuscular septum of thigh
Insertion Lateral border of patella; also forms
the deep portion of the quadriceps
tendon
Action Extends the knee
Nerve Supply femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Blood Supply Lateral circumflex femoral artery

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