Quadriceps femoris muscle

The quadriceps femoris muscle (/ˈkwɒdrɪsɛps ˈfɛmərɪs/, also called the quadriceps extensor, quadriceps or quads) is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh.

Not to be confused with quadratus femoris.
"quads" redirects here. For the poker term, see List of poker hands § Four of a kind.
Quadriceps femoris muscle
Quadriceps femoris, with different muscles in different colors.
rectus femoris - blue
vastus lateralis - yellow
vastus intermedius - green
vastus medialis - red
Details
OriginCombined rectus femoris and vastus muscles
InsertionTibial tuberosity
ArteryFemoral artery
NerveFemoral nerve
ActionsKnee extension; Hip flexion (Rectus femoris only)
Identifiers
LatinMusculus quadriceps femoris
MeSHD052097
TA98A04.7.02.017
TA22613
FMA22428
Anatomical terms of muscle

It is the great extensor muscle of the knee, forming a large fleshy mass which covers the front and sides of the femur. The name derives from Latin four-headed muscle of the femur.

Structure
The quadriceps consists of four separate muscles

Parts

The quadriceps femoris muscle is subdivided into four separate muscles (the 'heads'),[1][2] with the first superficial to the other three over the femur (from the trochanters to the condyles):

  • Rectus femoris occupies the middle of the thigh, covering most of the other three quadriceps muscles.[1] It originates on the ilium. It is named from its straight course.
    • Vastus lateralis is on the lateral side of the femur (i.e. on the outer side of the thigh).[1]
    • Vastus medialis is on the medial side of the femur (i.e. on the inner part thigh).[1]
    • Vastus intermedius lies between vastus lateralis and vastus medialis on the front of the femur (i.e. on the top or front of the thigh), but deep to the rectus femoris. Typically, it cannot be seen without dissection of the rectus femoris.[1]

Attachments

The rectus femoris arises from the anterior inferior iliac spine and from the superior edge of the acetabulum.[1] It is thus a biarticular muscle. The other parts of the quadriceps arise from the surface of the femur. All four parts of the quadriceps muscle ultimately insert into the tuberosity of the tibia via the patella, where the quadriceps tendon becomes the patellar ligament.[1]

Other muscles

There is a small fifth muscle of the quadriceps complex called the articularis genus that is not often included.

In addition, cadaver studies have confirmed the presence of a sixth muscle, the tensor vastus intermedius.[3] While the muscle has variable presentations, it consistently originates at the proximal femur, runs between the vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius muscles, and inserts distally at the medial aspect of the patellar base.[3] Historically considered a part of the vastus lateralis, the tensor vastus intermedius muscle is innervated by an independent branch of the femoral nerve and its tendinous belly can be separated from the vasti lateralis and intermedius muscles in most cases.[3]

Innervation

The quadriceps femoris is innervated by the femoral nerve, which originates from L2, L3, L4.[1][4]

Function

All four quadriceps are powerful extensors of the knee joint.[1][4] They are crucial in walking, running, jumping and squatting. Because the rectus femoris attaches to the ilium, it is also a flexor of the hip.[1][4] This action is also crucial to walking or running, as it swings the leg forward into the ensuing step. The quadriceps, specifically the vastus medialis, play the important role of stabilizing the patella and the knee joint during gait.[5]

Clinical significance

The quadriceps femoris muscle is a target for manual therapy and physical therapy from repetitive strain injuries, such as from skiing.[6]

The quadriceps femoris muscle is the most common site of myositis ossificans.[7]

Society and culture

Training
The leg extension is an isolation exercise.

In strength training, the quadriceps are trained by several leg exercises. Effective exercises include the squat and leg press. The isolation movement (i.e. targeting solely the quadriceps) is the leg extension.

Etymology

The proper Latin plural form of the adjective quadriceps would be quadricipites. In modern English usage, quadriceps is used in both singular and plural. The singular form quadricep, produced by back-formation, is frequently used.

Additional images
  • The quadriceps tendon connects to the top part of the kneecap (patella)
  • Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.
  • The quadriceps forms the bulk of front part of the thigh.

See also
This article uses anatomical terminology.

References
  1. Bakkum, Barclay W.; Cramer, Gregory D. (2014-01-01), Cramer, Gregory D.; Darby, Susan A. (eds.), "Chapter 4 - Muscles That Influence the Spine", Clinical Anatomy of the Spine, Spinal Cord, and Ans (Third Edition), Saint Louis: Mosby, pp. 98–134, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-07954-9.00004-9, ISBN 978-0-323-07954-9, retrieved 2020-12-23
  2. Chaitow, Leon; DeLany, Judith (2011-01-01), Chaitow, Leon; DeLany, Judith (eds.), "Chapter 13 - The knee", Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques, Volume 2 (Second Edition), Oxford: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 447–501, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-06815-7.00013-9, ISBN 978-0-443-06815-7, retrieved 2020-12-23
  3. Grob, K; Ackland, T; Kuster, MS; Manestar, M; Filgueira, L (6 January 2016). "A newly discovered muscle: The tensor of the vastus intermedius" (PDF). Clinical Anatomy. 29 (2): 256–263. doi:10.1002/ca.22680. PMID 26732825. S2CID 38157592.
  4. Felten, David L.; O'Banion, M. Kerry; Maida, Mary Summo (2016-01-01), Felten, David L.; O'Banion, M. Kerry; Maida, Mary Summo (eds.), "9 - Peripheral Nervous System", Netter's Atlas of Neuroscience (Third Edition), Philadelphia: Elsevier, pp. 153–231, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-26511-9.00009-6, ISBN 978-0-323-26511-9, retrieved 2020-12-23
  5. Therapeutic Exercises, Carolyn Kisner & Lynn A. Colby, 5th ed. (2002) 692-93.
  6. Jelvéus, Anders (2011-01-01), Jelvéus, Anders (ed.), "5 - Sports massage applications for different sports", Integrated Sports Massage Therapy, Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 61–73, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-10126-7.00005-8, ISBN 978-0-443-10126-7, retrieved 2020-12-23
  7. Landes, Caren J. (2011-01-01), Allan, Paul L.; Baxter, Grant M.; Weston, Michael J. (eds.), "CHAPTER 73 - Paediatric musculoskeletal imaging", Clinical Ultrasound (Third Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 1497–1513, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-3131-1.00073-0, ISBN 978-0-7020-3131-1, retrieved 2020-12-23
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