Muscles In The Anterior Compartment Of The Thigh

Question 1

What nerve innervates the anterior muscles of the thigh? What is its nerve root?

Answer 1

Femoral nerve (L2-L4)

Question 2

What two muscles make up the iliopsoas?

Answer 2

Psoas major and iliacus

Question 3

What is are the attachments of the iliopsoas muscle of the thigh?

Answer 3

Psoas muscle- originates from the lumbar vertebrae

Iliacus - originates form the iliac fossa of the pelvis

Insert together onto the lesser trochanter of the femur

Question 4

What is the action of the iliopsoas muscle of the thigh?

Answer 4

Flexes the lower limb at the hip and assists in lateral rotation at the hip

Question 5

How is the iliopsoas muscle of the thigh innervated?

Answer 5

Psoas major- anterior rami of L1-3

Iliacus- femoral nerve

Question 6

What 4 muscles make up the quadriceps femoris?

Answer 6

Vastus lateralis
Vastus intermedius
Vastus medialis
Rectus femoris

Question 7

What is the main function of the quadriceps femoris?

Answer 7

Extension of the knee

Question 8

How is the quadricep femoris attached to the tibia indirectly?

Answer 8

All the muscles unite proximal to the knee and distally attach to the patella via the Patella tendon. The patella attaches to the tibia by the patella ligament.

Question 9

What is the attachment of the vastus lateralis of the quadricep femoris in the thigh?

Answer 9

Originates from the greater trochanter and the lateral lip of linea aspera

Attached to the patella via the patella tendon

Question 10

What is the attachment of the vastus intermedius of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 10

Originates from the anterior and lateral surfaces of the femoral shaft

Attached to the patella via the patella tendon

Question 11

What is the attachment for the vastus medialis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 11

Originates from the intertrochanteric line and medial lip of the linea aspera

Attached to the patella via the patella tendon

Question 12

What is the attachment of the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 12

Originates from the ilium (just superior to the acetabulum)

Runs straight down leg and attaches to the patella by the quadriceps femoris tendon

Question 13

What is the action of the vastus lateralis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 13

Extends the knee joint and stabilised the patella

Question 14

What is the action of the vastus intermedius of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 14

Extends the knee joint and stabilised the patella

Question 15

What is the action of the vastus medialis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh? What makes it so good at its function?

Answer 15

Extends the knee joint and stabilised the patella, particularly due to its horizontal fibres at the distal end

Question 16

What is the action of the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 16

It flexes the leg at the hip joint and extends at the knee joint (it is the only muscle of the quadriceps to cross both the hip and knee joints)

Question 17

What nerve innervates vastus lateralis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 17

Femoral nerve

Question 18

What nerve innervates the vastus intermedius of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 18

Femoral nerve

Question 19

What nerve innervates the vastus medialis of the quadricep femoris of the thigh?

Answer 19

Femoral nerve

Question 20

What nerve innervates the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?

Answer 20

Femoral nerve

Question 21

Where in the thigh is the sartorius?

Answer 21

Long and thin, running across the thigh in a inferomedial direction. Positioned more superficially than the other muscles

Question 22

What are the attachments of the sartorius muscle of the thigh?

Answer 22

Originates from the anterior superior iliac spine and attaches to the superior, medial surface of the tibia

Question 23

What is the action of the sartorius muscle of the thigh?

Answer 23

At the hip joint, it is a flexor, abductor and lateral rotator

At the knee joint, it is a flexor

Question 24

What nerve innervates the sartorius muscle of the thigh?

Answer 24

Femoral nerve

Question 25

What does the pectineus muscle form the base of?

Answer 25

Femoral triangle

Question 26

What are the attachments of the pectineus muscle of the thigh?

Answer 26

Originates from the pectineal line on the anterior surface of the pelvis

Attcahes to the pectineal line on the posterior side of the femur, just inferior to the lesser trochanter.

Question 27

What is the action of the pectineus muscle of the thigh?

Answer 27

Adduction and flexion at the hip

Question 28

What nerve innervates the pectineus muscle of the thigh?

Answer 28

Femoral

May also receive a branch form obturator nerve

Question 29

How can the quadriceps femoris be used clinically?

Answer 29

To check the femoral nerve in case of suspected nerve palsy.

Patient needs to extend knee against resistance

Question 30

Damage to which nerve root would effect the femoral nerve?

Answer 30

L3.