Module 6.1: Muscles of the Anterior Fascial Compartment of the Thigh

Sartorius Origin

Anterior superior iliac spine

Sartorius Insertion

Upper medial surface of shaft of tibia

Sartorius Innervation

Femoral nerve

Sartorius Action

Flexes, abducts, laterally rotates thigh at hip joint; flexes and medially rotates leg at knee joint

Iliacus Origin

Iliac fossa of hip bone

Iliacus Insertion

With psoas into lesser trochanter of femur

Iliacus Innervation

Femoral nerve

Iliacus Action

Flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh is fixed, it flexes the trunk on the thigh as in sitting up from lying down

Psoas Origin

Transverse processes, bodies, and intervertebral discs of the 12th thoracic and five lumbar vertebrae

Psoas Insertion

With iliacus into lesser trochanter of femur

Psoas Innnervation

Lumbar plexus

Psoas Action

Flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh is fixed, it flexes the trunk on thigh as in sitting up from lying down

Pectineus Origin

Superior ramus of pubis

Pectineus Insertion

Upper end of linea aspera of shaft of femur

Pectineus Innervation

Femoral nerve

Pectineus Action

Flexes and adducts thigh at hip joint

Rectus femoris Origin

Straight head: anterior inferior iliac spine; Reflected head: ilium above acetabulum

Rectus femoris Insertion

Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia

Rectus femoris Innervation

Femoral nerve

Rectus femoris Action

Extension of leg at knee joint; flexes thigh at hip joint

Vastus lateralis Origin

Upper end and shaft of femur

Vastus lateralis Insertion

Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia

Vastus lateralis Innervation

Femoral nerve

Vastus lateralis Action

Extension of leg at knee joint

Vastus medialis Origin

Upper end and shaft of femur

Vastus medialis Insertion

Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia

Vastus medialis Innervation

Femoral nerve

Vastus medialis Action

Extension of leg at knee joint; stabilizes patella

Vastus intermedius Origin

Anterior and lateral surfaces of shaft of femur

Vastus intermedius Insertion

Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia

Vastus intermedius Innervation

Femoral nerve

Vastus intermedius Action

Extension of leg at knee joint; articularis genus retracts synovial membrane