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Rectus Femoris Muscle

Rectus Femoris Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Nov 2nd, 2022

The rectus femoris muscle is one of the four quadriceps muscles of the leg, and is the strongest extensor of the knee.

Rectus Femoris Muscle (Musculus rectus femoris)

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris (highlighted in green), Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Adductor Longus and Gracilis.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Adductor Longus, Vastus Lateralis, Rectus Femoris (highlighted in green) and Gracilis.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Adductor Brevis, Rectus Femoris (highlighted in green), Adductor Magnus and Gracilis.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Rectus Femoris

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Attachments of Rectus Femoris: Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal attachment)

a. Anterior inferior iliac spine and ilium above the acetabulum.

Insertion (distal attachment)

a. Quadriceps tendon to base of patella and onto tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris (highlighted in green), Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Adductor Longus and Gracilis.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Rectus Femoris

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of Rectus Femoris at the anterior inferior iliac spine and ilium above the acetabulum and insertion at quadriceps tendon to base of patella and onto tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament.

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Difficult to remember all the muscle details? Try these muscle cheat sheets.

Actions of Rectus Femoris on the thigh (femur):

a. Flexes thigh at hip; (also extends leg at knee; part of quadriceps group).

Slide 1 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 2 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 3 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 4 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 5 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Nerve to Rectus Femoris muscle and its spinal segment:

Femoral nerve (L2-L4).

Ever wondered what the 9 most difficult to pronounce lower limb muscles are? Learn them in this video:

An Overview of the Anterior Thigh Muscles

Muscles That Act On The Anterior Leg (From The Thigh)

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9 and the answers are concealed.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Rectus Femoris 7. Vastus Lateralis 8. Sartorius 9. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 8. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Iliacus 2. Tensor Fasciae Latae 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Rectus Femoris 6. Vastus Lateralis 7. Sartorius 8. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Sartorius 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Vastus Medialis 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 6. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Rectus Femoris 4. Vastus Lateralis 5. Vastus Medialis 6. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 6. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Rectus Femoris 4. Vastus Intermedius 5. Vastus Medialis 6. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Rectus Femoris 4. Vastus Intermedius 5. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 4. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Rectus Femoris 4. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 3. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Longus 2. Rectus Femoris 3. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 4. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Brevis 2. Rectus Femoris 3. Adductor Magnus 4. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 3. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Brevis 2. Rectus Femoris 3. Adductor Magnus.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 2. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Rectus Femoris 2. Adductor Magnus.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only muscle labelled 1 is Rectus Femoris.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of Rectus Femoris at the anterior inferior iliac spine and ilium above the acetabulum and insertion at quadriceps tendon to base of patella and onto tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament.

Test yourself while observing the Adductor Magnus muscle

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