Anterior Thigh

Question 1

Pectineus

Answer 1

Origin:
Superior Pubic Ramus

Insertion:
Pectineal line of Femur, inferior to lesser trochanter

Innervation:
Femoral Nerve (L2, L3); may receive branch from obturator nerve

Action:
Adducts and flexes hip joint; assists with medial rotation of hip joint.

Question 2

Rectus Femoris

Answer 2

Origin:
Anterior inferior iliac spine and ilium superior to the acetabulum

Insertion:
Via common tendinous (quadricep tendon) and independent attachments to base of patella; indirectly via patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity.

Innervation:
Femoral Nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Action:
Extends knee joint; rectus femoris also stabilizes (helps fix in position) hip joint and helps iliopsoas flex hip joint.

Question 3

Vastus Lateralis

Answer 3

Origin:
Greater trochanter and Lateral lip of Linea aspera

Insertion:
Via common tendinous (quadricep tendon) and independent attachments to base of patella; indirectly via patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity. Vastus medialis and lateralis also attach to tibia and patella via aponeuroses (medial and lateral patella retinacula)

Innervation:
Femoral Nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Action:
Extends knee joint

Question 4

Vastus Intermedius

Answer 4

Origin:
Anterior and lateral surfaces of shaft of femur

Insertion:
Via common tendinous (quadricep tendon) and independent attachments to base of patella; indirectly via patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity.
Innervation:
Femoral Nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Action:
Extends knee joint

Question 5

Vastus Medialis

Answer 5

Origin:
Intertrochanteric line and medial lip of linea aspera

Insertion:
Via common tendinous (quadricep tendon) and independent attachments to base of patella; indirectly via patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity. Vastus medialis and lateralis also attach to tibia and patella via aponeuroses (medial and lateral patella retinacula)

Innervation:
Femoral Nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Action:
Extends knee joint

Question 6

Sartorius

Answer 6

Origin:
Anterior Superior Iliac Spine and Superior part of notch inferior to it

Insertion:
Superior part of medial surface of tibia

Innervation:
Femoral nerve (L2, L3)

Action:
Flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates hip joint; flexes knee joint

Question 7

Obturator Externus

Answer 7

Origin:
Margins of obturator foramen and obturator membrane

Insertion:
Trochanteric fossa of femur

Innervation:
Obturator Nerve (L3, L4)

Action:
Laterally rotates hip joint; pulls head of femur into acetabulum holding pelvis steady

Question 8

Adductor Longus

Answer 8

Origin:
Body of pubis inferior to pubic crest

Insertion:
Middle third of linea aspera of femur

Innervation:
Obturator Nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Action:
Adduct hip joint

Question 9

Adductor Brevis

Answer 9

Origin:
Body and inferior ramus of pubis

Insertion:
Pectineal line and proximal part of linea aspera of femur

Innervation:
Obturator Nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Action:
Adducts hip joint; its adductor part also flexes hip joint, and its hamstring part extends it.

Question 10

Adductor Magnus

Answer 10

Origin:
Adductor part: Inferior ramus of pubis, ramus of ischium

Hamstring part: Ischial tuberosity

Insertion:
Adductor part: Gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, medial supracondylar line

Hamstring part: adductor tubercle of femur

Innervation:
Adductor Part: Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4)

Hamstring Part: Tibial part of Sciatic nerve (L4)

Action:
Adducts hip joint; its adductor part also flexes hip joint, and its hamstring part extends it

Question 11

Gracilis

Answer 11

Origin:
Body and inferior ramus of pubis

Insertion:
Superior part of medial surface of tibia

Innervation:
Obturator Nerve (L2, L3)

Action:
Adducts hip joint; flexes knee joint and helps rotate it medially