Anterior compartment of thigh
Encyclopedia
The anterior fascial compartment of thigh contains the knee
extensors and hip flexors.
It contains the following five muscles:
The muscles of the anterior compartment of the thigh (as well as the pectineus of the medial compartment) are innervated by the femoral nerve
. Though the iliopsoas
is sometimes considered a member of the anterior compartment muscles, the iliacus and the psoas
portions do not share the same innervation. Whereas the iliacus is innervated by the femoral nerve, the psoas is innervated by ventral rami of L1-L3. Notably, the articularis genu
is also sometimes included in the anterior compartment group.
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
extensors and hip flexors.
It contains the following five muscles:
- sartoriusSartorius muscleThe Sartorius muscle – the longest muscle in the human body – is a long thin muscle that runs down the length of the thigh. Its upper portion forms the lateral border of the femoral triangle.-Origin and insertion:...
(the longest muscle in the human body) - quadricepsQuadriceps muscleThe quadriceps femoris , also called simply the quadriceps, quadriceps extensor, quads, is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh...
(rectus femorisRectus femoris muscleThe rectus femoris muscle is one of the four quadriceps muscles of the human body. The others are the vastus medialis, the vastus intermedius , and the vastus lateralis...
, vastus lateralisVastus lateralis muscleThe Vastus lateralis is the largest part of the Quadriceps femoris. It arises by a broad aponeurosis, which is attached to the upper part of the intertrochanteric line, to the anterior and inferior borders of the greater trochanter, to the lateral lip of the gluteal tuberosity, and to the upper...
, vastus intermediusVastus intermedius muscleThe Vastus intermedius arises from the front and lateral surfaces of the body of the femur in its upper two-thirds, sitting under Rectus Femoris and from the lower part of the lateral intermuscular septum...
, vastus medialisVastus medialisThe vastus medialis , often called the 'teardrop' muscle, is a medially located muscle of the quadriceps.-Function:The vasti appear to act largely in a co-ordinated manner throughout the control of knee extension...
)
The muscles of the anterior compartment of the thigh (as well as the pectineus of the medial compartment) are innervated by the femoral nerve
Femoral nerve
The femoral nerve, the largest branch of the lumbar plexus, arises from the dorsal divisions of the ventral rami of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves...
. Though the iliopsoas
Iliopsoas
-External links:*...
is sometimes considered a member of the anterior compartment muscles, the iliacus and the psoas
Psoas
Psoas can refer to:* Psoas major muscle* Psoas minor muscle* Psoas sign, psoas test...
portions do not share the same innervation. Whereas the iliacus is innervated by the femoral nerve, the psoas is innervated by ventral rami of L1-L3. Notably, the articularis genu
Articularis genu muscle
The articularis genu is a small skeletal muscle located anteriorly on the thigh just above the knee.- Origin and insertion :...
is also sometimes included in the anterior compartment group.