Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Lower Limb > Muscles of the Thigh > Flashcards

Muscles of the Thigh Flashcards

1
Q

Muscle compartments of the thigh

A
  • Anterior compartment
  • Medial compartment
  • Posterior compartment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Anterior compartment muscles

A
  • Sartorius
  • Quadriceps femoris (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermidus)
  • Articularis genu
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Medial compartment of the thigh

A 
o	Gracilis 
o	Pectineus 
o	Adductor longus 
o	Adductor brevis 
o	Adductor magnus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Posterior compartment of the thigh

A

Hamstring muscles:

  • Biceps femoris
  • Semitendinosus
  • Semimembranosus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Sartorius

A

Anterior compartment

  • Longest muscle in the body
  • Descends across the thigh (lateral to its medial position)
  • Forms the roof of the adductor (subsartorial) canal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Sartorius origin

A

ASIS and notch below it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Sartorius insertion

A

Proximal part of medial surface of body of tibia (same as gracilis and semitendinosus) – It extends obliquely from lateral to medial across the upper thigh, then descends nearly vertically to its insertion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Sartorius nerve supply

A

Femoral nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sartorius function

A

Flexes, abducts and laterally rotates at the hip

Also, flexes the knee and medially rotates the leg from flexed position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Variation in sartorius muscle

A

May be absent or may be split into two parts

- May have accessory sites of origin on the inguinal ligament, notch of the ilium, iliopectineal line or pubis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Quadriceps femoris group

A
  • Four muscles of the thigh are collectively called the quadriceps femoris
  • Rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius
  • Each muscle converges at a common insertion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Quadriceps femoris origin

A

Unique to each individual muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Quadriceps femoris insertion

A

Entire group  Tibial tuberosity via patellar ligament

  • Depends on how you view the patella
  • If patella is regarded as a sesamoid bone in the quadriceps tendon, then the proper tendon of insertion is the so-called patellar ligament, which continues to the tibial tuberosity
  • If patella is not considered a sesamoid, the muscle can properly be thought of as inserting into the patella
  • Regardless of how you see it, the primary function of the quadriceps femoris is extension of the knee, so the ultimate insertion must be the tibial tuberosity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Quadriceps femoris nerve supply

A

Femoral nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Quadriceps femoris function

A
  • Extension of the knee

- Rectus femoris also assists in flexion of the hip

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Rectus femoris origin

A

Two tendons

  • Straight (anterior) tendon –> from AIIS
  • Reflected (posterior) tendon –> from groove above acetabulum

The tendons merge to form a broad aponeurosis on the ventral surface of the muscle, so fibers of the muscle actually arise from this aponeurosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Rectus femoris insertion

A

The base (superior border) of the patella, via a thick aponeurotic tendon then via the patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Vastus lateralis origin

A

Four origins:

  • Lateral lip of linea aspera
  • Lateral lip of gluteal tuberosity
  • Anterior and inferior borders of greater trochanter
  • Proximal intertrochanteric line
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Vastus lateralis insertion

A

Lateral border of patella and tendon of quadriceps femoris then via the patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Vastus medialis origin

A

Five origins:

  • Distal intertrochanteric line
  • Medial intermuscular septum
  • Tendons of adductor longus and magnus
  • Proximal medial supracondylar line
  • Medial lip of linea aspera
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Vastus medialis insertion

A

Medial border of patella and tendon of quadriceps femoris then via the patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Vastus intermedius origin

A

Proximal two thirds of the anterior and lateral surfaces of the femur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Vastus intermedius insertion

A

The quadriceps tendon then via the patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Articularis genu origin

A

Anterior surface of distal femur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Articularis genu insertion

A

Into the synovial membrane of the knee joint

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Articularis genu innervation

A

Femoral nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Articularis genu fnction

A

To draw the synovium proximally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Articularis genu notes

A

Small muscle located deep to the vastus intermedius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Articularis genu variation

A

May be blended with the vastus intermedius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Medial compartment of the thigh

A
  • Gracilis
  • Pectineus
  • Adductor longus
  • Adductor brevis
  • Adductor magnus
31
Q

Gracilis notes

A

Thin muscle located superficially on the medial thigh

32
Q

Gracilis origin

A

Three origins:

  • Inferior ½ of the pubic symphysis
  • Pubic body
  • Superior ½ of the pubic arch (inferior pubic ramus)
33
Q

Gracilis insertion

A

Passes distally posterior to the medial condyle of the tibia to insert on the proximal part of the medial surface of the tibia (same as sartorius and semitendinosus)

34
Q

Gracilis nerve supply

A

Anterior division of the obturator nerve

35
Q

Gracilis function

A
  • Adductor and medial rotator at the hip

- Flexor at the knee

36
Q

Pectineus origin

A

Three origins:

  • Pecten pubis
  • Bone anterior to pecten pubis between the pubic tubercle
  • Iliopectineal eminence
37
Q

Pectineus insertion

A

Pectineal line (line between lesser trochanter and linea aspera)

38
Q

Pectineus nerve supply

A

Femoral nerve

  • If accessory obturator nerve is present, it gives a branch to pectineus
  • The obturator nerve may also provide a branch
39
Q

Pectineus function

A

Flexion, adduction and medial rotation of the hip

40
Q

Pectineus variation

A

May have two strata, either completely or incompletely separated

  • When present, the dorsal stratum is innervated by the femoral nerve or accessory obturator (when present)
  • Obturator nerve supplies ventral stratum when present
41
Q

Adductor longus notes

A

Most anterior of the adductor muscles

42
Q

Adductor longus origin

A

Front of the body of the pubis

43
Q

Adductor longus insertion

A

Medial lip of linea aspera (btw attach. of vastus medialis & adductor magnus)

44
Q

Adductor longus nerve supply

A

Anterior branch of obturator nerve

45
Q

Adductor longus function

A

Flexor and adduction of the hip

46
Q

Adductor longus variation

A

May be doubled, fused with pectineus, or descend as far down as the knee

47
Q

Adductor brevis notes

A
  • Just posterior to the adductor longus is the adductor brevis
  • Divisions (ant./post.) of obturator nerve divide to surround muscle
48
Q

Adductor brevis origin

A

Pubic body and inferior pubic ramus between gracilis and obturator externus

49
Q

Adductor brevis insertion

A

Proximal part of linea aspera

50
Q

Adductor brevis nerve supply

A

Obturator nerve (anterior division, usually)

51
Q

Adductor brevis function

A

Adductor and flexor of the hip

52
Q

Adductor brevis variation

A

May have two or three parts, or may be fused with adductor magnus

53
Q

Adductor magnus notes

A

The largest of the adductors

  • Lies deep to the adductor brevis
  • Upper fibers run nearly horizontally while its lower fibers are nearly vertical in orientation
  • There are usually five openings in the muscle, four for the passage of perforating branches of the deep femoral artery
  • The most distal opening is the adductor hiatus (hiatus tendineus) which allows passage of the femoral vessels to the popliteal fossa
54
Q

Adductor magnus origin

A

Three origins:

  • Inferior pubic ramus
  • Ramus of the ischium
  • Ischial tuberosity (triangular region)
55
Q

Adductor magnus insertion

A

Four insertions:

  • Gluteal tuberosity (line)
  • Linea aspera
  • Medial supracondylar line
  • Adductor tubercle of the femur
56
Q

Adductor magnus nerve supply

A

Posterior division of obturator nerve and tibial portion of sciatic nerve

57
Q

Adductor magnus function

A

Adductor, flexor and extensor of the hip

- All of these functions are possible because of the different fiber orientations in the muscle

58
Q

Adductor magnus variation

A

May be fused with quadratus femoris or with either the adductor longus or brevis

59
Q

Posterior compartment of the thigh - Hamstring muscles

A
  • Three components
    o Biceps femoris (found laterally in the posterior compartment and has 2 heads)
    o Semitendinosus (found medially in the posterior compartment)
    o Semimembranosus (found medially in the posterior compartment)
60
Q

Biceps femoris origin

A

Long head

  • Posterior part of ischial tuberosity below oblique line (by a common tendon with the semitendinosus)
  • Sacrotuberous ligament

Short head

  • Lateral lip of linea aspera (between the adductor magnus and vastus lateralis muscles)
  • Lateral supracondylar line of femur
  • Lateral intermuscular septum
61
Q

Biceps femoris insertion

A

Long head

  • Pass laterally in an oblique course across sciatic nerve
  • Ends in an aponeurosis which overlies the muscles and is also the insertion of the short head

Combined aponeurosis
- Aponeurosis narrows to a tendon, which is inserted into…
o Lateral side of the styloid process of the head of the fibula
o Lateral condyle of the tibia
- Tendon surrounds the fibular collateral ligament and the common fibular nerve runs along its medial border

62
Q

Biceps femoris nerve supply

A

Long head
- Tibial portion of the sciatic nerve

Short head
- Common fibular portion of the sciatic nerve

63
Q

Biceps femoris function

A

Both heads

  • Flex the knee
  • Laterally rotate the knee from the flexed position

Long head
- Extends and laterally rotates the hip

64
Q

Biceps femoris variation

A

Short head
- May be absent or there may be accessory heads arising from the ischial tuberosity, linea aspera or the medial supracondylar ridge of the femur

An extension of the biceps femoris may attach to the gastrocnemius muscle

65
Q

Semitendinosus origin

A

Originates with the long head of the biceps femoris from the…

  • Posterior ischial tuberosity below the oblique line
  • Aponeurosis which connects the two muscles for about 8 cm from their origin
66
Q

Semitendinosus insertion

A

Semitendinosus ends in a tendon at the middle of the thigh

  • Long tendon lies along medial border of popliteal fossa then curves around medial condyle of tibia and over tibial collateral ligament (there is usually an intervening bursa)
  • Then inserts into the proximal part of the medial surface of the tibia
67
Q

Semitendinosus nerve supply

A

Tibial portion of sciatic nerve

68
Q

Semitendinosus function

A
  • Flexes at the knee and medially rotates from full extension
  • Also extends the hip
69
Q

Semimembranosus origin

A

Two origins:

  • Upper outer (lateral) position of the oblique line of the ischial tuberosity above the semitendinosus and biceps femoris
  • Aponeurotic expansion of the tendon of origin
70
Q

Semimembranosus insertion

A

Three insertions:

  • Groove on the medial surface of the medial condyle of the tibia
  • Posterior surface of the lateral condyle of the femur

Gives rise to fibers that proceed superolaterally to form a popliteal ligament
- This forms the 3rd insertion into the fascia which covers the popliteus muscle

71
Q

Semimembranosus nerve supply

A

Tibial portion of sciatic nerve

72
Q

Semimembranosus function

A
  • Flexor at the knee and a medial rotator from full extension
  • Also extends the thigh
73
Q

Semimembranosus variation

A

May be absent or doubled

Lower Limb (24 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions