Thigh
Rectus Femoris The structure indicated is the rectus femoris of the quadriceps group of thigh muscles. The rectus femoris is one of the muscles that makes up the quadriceps femoris, and is contained in the anterior compartment of the thigh. The muscles of the anterior compartment are all innervated by the femoral nerve and serve generally to extend the leg at the knee joint. The four muscles that make up the quadriceps femoris are the: Rectus femoris Vastus lateralis Vastus medialis Vastus intermedius In addition to the quadriceps muscles, the Sartorius muscle is also located in the anterior compartment together …
Pectineus
Pectineus The structure indicated is the pectineus muscle. The pectineus muscle is one of six muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. The thigh consists of three muscular compartments: Anterior Medial Posterior The medial compartments consists of the following muscles: Gracilis Pectineus Adductor longus Adductor brevis Adductor magnus Obturator externus All the muscles of the medial compartment are innervated by the obturator nerve except for the pectineus (femoral nerve) and the hamstring part of the adductor magnus (tibial division of sciatic). The muscles of the medial compartment generally serve to adduct the thigh at the hip joint. Due to …
Lateral Femoral Condyle
Lateral Femoral Condyle The structure indicated is the lateral femoral condyle. The distal end of the femur forms two rounded condyles which articulate with the tibia below and the patella anteriorly – the medial condyle and the lateral condyle. The linea aspera is a roughened crest of bone on the posterior aspect of the femur. Distally the linea aspera forms two ridges known as the lateral supracondylar line and the medial supracondylar line which as the name suggests, terminate just superiorly to the lateral and medial femoral condyles respectively. At the end of the medial supracondylar line is a tubercle …
Semimembranosus
Semimembranosus The structure indicated is the semimembranosus muscle. The semimembranosus muscle is one of three muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh. The other muscles are the semitendinosus, and the biceps femoris. The muscles in the posterior compartment are often referred to as the “hamstrings” muscles. Collectively, these muscles are responsible for extending the hip joint, and flexing the knee joint. The biceps femoris lies laterally, and the semitendinosus and semimembranosus lie medially. The semitendinosus gets its name from its structure which is comprised of a muscle belly which tapers into a long tendon that extends to insert onto …
Neck of Femur
Neck of Femur The structure indicated is the neck of the femur. The proximal femur consists of the following key features: Head of femur: articulates with acetabulum. Facet for attachment of ligament of head. Neck of femur: connects head to shaft Greater trochanter: site of attachment for several muscles, including gluteus minimus and medius Lesser trochanter: iliacus and psoas insert Trochanteric fossa Intertrochanteric line Intertrochanteric crest Quadrate tubercle Fractures of the neck of femur are very common injuries which mainly occur in elderly females with osteoporotic bones. The classical clinical finding is that of an externally rotated shortened leg. A …
Obturator Externus
Obturator Externus The muscle indicated is the obturator externus muscle. The obturator externus is one of six muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. The thigh consists of three muscular compartments: Anterior Medial Posterior The medial compartments consists of the following muscles: Gracilis Pectineus Adductor longus Adductor brevis Adductor magnus Obturator externus All the muscles of the medial compartment are innervated by the obturator nerve except for the pectineus (femoral nerve) and the hamstring part of the adductor magnus (tibial division of sciatic). The muscles of the medial compartment generally serve to adduct the thigh at the hip joint. …
Adductor Brevis
Adductor Brevis The structure indicated is the adductor brevis muscle. The muscle indicated is the adductor brevis muscle of the thigh. The adductor brevis is one of six muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. The thigh consists of three muscular compartments: Anterior Medial Posterior The medial compartments consists of the following muscles: Gracilis Pectineus Adductor longus Adductor brevis Adductor magnus Obturator externus All the muscles of the medial compartment are innervated by the obturator nerve except for the pectineus (femoral nerve) and the hamstring part of the adductor magnus (tibial division of sciatic). The muscles of the medial …
Lesser Trochanter
Lesser Trochanter The structure indicated is the lesser trochanter of the femur. The lesser trochanter is a small protuberance of bone that projects from the posterior aspect of the femur, inferomedially at the base of the femoral neck. Two muscles insert onto the lesser trochanter: Psoas major Iliacus Learn more about the anatomy of the femur in this anatomy tutorial.
Adductor Tubercle
Adductor Tubercle The structure indicated is the adductor tubercle of the distal femur. The adductor tubercle is found distally on the femur and is formed from the termination of the medial supracondylar line. The adductor tubercle serves as the point of attachment for the adductor magnus muscle. Learn more about the anatomy of the femur in this tutorial.
Adductor Longus
Adductor Longus The muscle indicated is the adductor longus muscle of the thigh. The adductor longus is one of six muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. The thigh consists of three muscular compartments: Anterior Medial Posterior The medial compartments consists of the following muscles: Gracilis Pectineus Adductor longus Adductor brevis Adductor magnus Obturator externus All the muscles of the medial compartment are innervated by the obturator nerve except for the pectineus (femoral nerve) and the hamstring part of the adductor magnus (tibial division of sciatic). The muscles of the medial compartment generally serve to adduct the thigh at …