The vastus intermedius () (Cruraeus) arises from the front and
lateral
Lateral is a geometric term of location which may refer to:
Healthcare
*Lateral (anatomy), an anatomical direction
* Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
* Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure on the side of a kneecap
Phonetics
*Lateral co ...
surfaces of the
body of the femur in its upper two-thirds, sitting under the
rectus femoris muscle and from the lower part of the
lateral intermuscular septum. Its fibers end in a superficial aponeurosis, which forms the deep part of the
quadriceps femoris
The quadriceps femoris muscle (, also called the quadriceps extensor, quadriceps or quads) is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh. It is the sole extensor muscle of the knee, forming a large ...
tendon.
The
vastus medialis and vastus intermedius appear to be inseparably united, but when the
rectus femoris
The rectus femoris muscle is one of the four quadriceps muscles of the human body. The others are the vastus medialis, the vastus intermedius (deep to the rectus femoris), and the vastus lateralis. All four parts of the quadriceps muscle attach ...
has been reflected during dissection a narrow interval will be observed extending upward from the medial border of the patella between the two muscles, and the separation may be continued as far as the lower part of the
intertrochanteric line
The intertrochanteric line (or ''spiral line of the femur''White (2005), p 256 ) is a line located on the anterior side of the proximal end of the femur.
Structure
The rough, variable ridge stretches between the lesser trochanter and the greater ...
, where, however, the two muscles are frequently continuous.
Due to being the deeper middle-most of the
quadriceps
The quadriceps femoris muscle (, also called the quadriceps extensor, quadriceps or quads) is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh. It is the sole extensor muscle of the knee, forming a large ...
muscle group, the
intermedius is the most difficult to stretch once maximum knee flexion is attained. It cannot be further stretched by hip extension as the
rectus femoris
The rectus femoris muscle is one of the four quadriceps muscles of the human body. The others are the vastus medialis, the vastus intermedius (deep to the rectus femoris), and the vastus lateralis. All four parts of the quadriceps muscle attach ...
can, nor is it accessible to manipulate with massage therapy to stretch the fibres sideways as the
vastus lateralis
The vastus lateralis (), also called the vastus externus, is the largest and most powerful part of the quadriceps femoris, a muscle in the thigh. Together with other muscles of the quadriceps group, it serves to extend the knee joint, moving the ...
and
vastus medialis are.
Additional images
File:Gray244.png, Right femur. Anterior surface.
File:Gray245.png, Right femur. Posterior surface.
File:Gray430.png, Muscles of the iliac and anterior femoral regions.
File:Gray432 color.png, Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.
File:Thigh cross section.svg, Cross section through thigh.
File:Slide7CCCC.JPG, Vastus intermedius muscle
File:Slide9WWWW.JPG, Vastus intermedius muscle
File:Slide2EA.JPG, Muscles of thigh. Cross section.
File:Slide1DEEA.JPG, Muscles of Thigh. Anterior views.
References
External links
PTCentral
{{Authority control
Knee extensors
Muscles of the quadriceps
Anterior compartment of thigh
Muscles of the lower limb