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

SeptaSeptaSubcutaneous Fat

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right

mid-thigh looking towards hip joint

Femur

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right

mid-thigh looking towards hip joint

Femur

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right

mid-thigh looking towards hip joint

medial intermuscular septum

lateral intermuscular septum

Femur

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right

mid-thigh looking towards hip joint

Posterior / Flexor compartment

Medial / Adductorcompartment

Anterior / Extensorcompartment

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 TrianglePatella

Sartorius

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine

Femoral Triangle

Femur

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right mid-

thigh looking towards hip joint

Posterior / Flexor compartment

Medial / Adductorcompartment

sartorius

The predominant muscle of the Anterior Compartment

is

Quadriceps Femorisa 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 headAnterior inferior iliac spine

Reflected headjust superior to the acetabulum

Rectus Femoris

Inserts onto the Patella via the Quadriceps

tendon

Patella

Rectus Femoris

Rectus Femoris

Femur

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right mid-

thigh looking towards hip joint

Posterior / Flexor compartment

Medial / Adductorcompartment

sartoriusrectus 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 Supracondyl

ar Ridge

Vastus Medialis

Patella

Inserts onto the Patella via the Quadriceps

tendon

Posterior Femur

Rectus Femoris

Vastus Medialis

Femur

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right mid-

thigh looking towards hip joint

Posterior / Flexor compartment

Medial / Adductorcompartment

sartoriusrectus 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 Supracondyl

ar Ridge

Vastus Lateralis

Patella

It inserts onto the lateral border of the Patella and blends with the

Quadriceps tendon

Posterior Femur

Vastus Lateralis

Femur

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right mid-

thigh looking towards hip joint

Posterior / Flexor compartment

Medial / Adductorcompartment

sartoriusrectus 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

SeptaSepta

Thigh compartments

mediallateral

posterior

anterior

Cross section through right mid-

thigh looking towards hip joint

Posterior / Flexor compartment

Medial / Adductorcompartment

sartoriusrectus 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

SartoriusOrigin 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 FemorisOrigin 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 MedialisOrigin 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 LateralisOrigin 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 IntermediusOrigin 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