Vastus lateralis muscle
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View Henry Knipe's current disclosures- Vastus lateralis (VL)
The vastus lateralis is the largest of the four quadriceps muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh.
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Summary
origin: proximal femur
-
insertion
lateral margin of the patella
action: extends the leg at the knee joint
arterial supply: lateral circumflex femoral and deep femoral arteries
innervation: femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Gross anatomy
Relations
The vastus lateralis muscle lies superficial to the biceps femoris muscle, with its lateral side covered by the tensor fasciae lata. The muscle lies medial to the gluteus maximus and lateral to the vastus intermedius muscle 1-3.
Origin
The vastus lateralis originates from the femur at the anterior inferior greater trochanter, upper part of the intertrochanteric line, superior aspect of the lateral lip of the linea aspera and lateral lip of the gluteal tuberosity 1-4.
Insertion
Along with other muscles of the quadriceps femoris, the vastus lateralis inserts on the tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament. Also, it attaches to the lateral aspect of the patella 1-3.
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Action
The vastus lateralis provides the extension of the leg at the knee joint 1-3.
Innervation
The vastus lateralis is innervated by the muscular branches of the femoral nerve (L2-L4) that arises from the lumbar plexus 1-3.
Arterial supply
The vastus lateralis receives arterial blood supply from the ascending, transverse and descending branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and the lateral artery, a perforating branch of the deep femoral artery 1-3.
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Gray's Anatomy for Students: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access, 3e. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:0702051314. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Last's Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:0702033944. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Becker I, Woodley S, Baxter G. Gross Morphology of the Vastus Lateralis Muscle: An Anatomical Review. Clin Anat. 2009;22(4):436-50. doi:10.1002/ca.20792 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Vastus medialis muscle
- Lateral patellar retinaculum
- Skeletal muscle
- Femoral nerve
- Anterior compartment of the thigh
- Trochanteric bursa
- Femoroacetabular joint
- Patellar tendon-lateral femoral condyle friction syndrome
- Muscles of the lower limb
- Linea aspera
- Superior lateral genicular artery
- Gluteofemoral bursa
- Undulating fascia sign
- Vastus intermedius muscle
- Quadriceps muscles
- Patella
- Quadriceps tendon
- Prepatellar quadriceps continuation
- Rectus femoris muscle
- Hip joint
- Intramuscular lipoma - vastus lateralis
- Intramuscular haematoma - thigh
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
- Chondroblastic osteosarcoma
- Lymphatic malformation
- Transient lateral patellar dislocation
- Retained surgical gauze - soft tissue
- Nondisplaced incomplete intertrochanteric fracture
- Intramuscular myxoma
- Hydatid cyst within vastus lateralis muscle
- MRI knee - axial (anatomy quiz)
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hip joint
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