Anterior Compartment of the Thigh

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Components

Anterior leg compartment muscles	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerves
Articularis Genus	Two slips from anterior femur below vastus intermedialius	Apex of suprapatellar bursa	Retracts bursa as knee extends	Posterior division of femoral nerve (L3 4)
Rectus Femoris	Straight head: anterior inferior iliac spine. Reflected head: ilium above acetabulum	Quadriceps tendon to patella , via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia	Extends leg at knee. Flexes thigh at hip	Posterior division of femoral nerve (L3 4)
Vastus Intermedius	Anterior and lateral shaft of femur	Quadriceps tendon to patella, via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia	Extends knee	Posterior division of femoral nerve (L3 4)
Vastus Lateralis	Upper intertrochanteric line, base of greater trochanter, lateral linea aspera, lateral supracondylar ridge and lateral intermuscular septum	Lateral quadriceps tendon to patella, via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia	Extends knee	Posterior division of femoral nerve (L3 4)
Vastus Medialis	Lower intertrochanteric line, spiral line, medial linea aspera and medial intermuscular septum	Medial quadriceps tendon to patella and directly into medial patella, via ligamentum patellae into tubercle of tibia	Extends knee. Stabilizes patella	Posterior division of femoral nerve (L3 4)