Vastus Lateralis

Description

Illustration of vastus lateralus

The different muscles in the quadriceps. The vastus intermedius is not visible from the front view. On the left: Original image is extracted from Gray and Lewis (1918). On the right: T1W MRI of a right leg from MUST dataset.

Origin

• Greater trochanter of femur, lateral lip of linea aspera, gluteal tuberosity

Insertion

• Patella via quadriceps tendon

Actions

• Extension of Knee

Vascular Supply

• Transverse circumflex femoral artery
• Lateral circumflex femoral artery
• Perforating arteries of deep femoral artery

Innervation

• Femoral Nerve

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Clinical Significance

Part of the Quadriceps Femoris

• Rectus Femoris
• Vastus Lateralis
• Vastus Intermedius
• Vastus Medialis

Pathology

• Quad Strain
• Quad Tendinitis
• Quad Contusion
• Acute Compartment Syndrome

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See Also

• Thigh Anatomy Main
• Hip Pain Main
• Knee Pain Main

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