Vastus Intermedius Muscle - Wikipedia

Body of the femur muscle

Vastus intermedius muscle
Muscles of lower extremity (Rectus Femoris has been removed)
Details
Origin	Anterolateral femur
Insertion	Quadriceps tendon
Artery	Femoral artery
Nerve	Femoral nerve
Actions	Extension of knee joint
Identifiers
Latin	musculus vastus intermedius
TA98	A04.7.02.022
TA2	2619
FMA	22433
Anatomical terms of muscle[edit on Wikidata]

The vastus intermedius (/ˈvæstəsˌɪntərˈmiːdiəs/) (Cruraeus) arises from the front and lateral 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 tendon.

The vastus medialis and vastus intermedius appear to be inseparably united, but when the rectus femoris 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, where, however, the two muscles are frequently continuous.

Due to being the deeper middle-most of the quadriceps 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 can, nor is it accessible to manipulate with massage therapy to stretch the fibres sideways as the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis are.

Additional images

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• Right femur. Anterior surface.
• Right femur. Posterior surface.
• Muscles of the iliac and anterior femoral regions.
• Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.
• Cross section through thigh.
• Vastus intermedius muscle
• Vastus intermedius muscle
• Muscles of thigh. Cross section.
• Muscles of Thigh. Anterior views.

References

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This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 471 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

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• PTCentral

v t e Muscles of the hip and human leg
Iliac region	Iliopsoas Psoas major/Psoas minor Iliacus
Buttocks	Gluteal muscles Maximus Medius Minimus Tensor fasciae latae Lateral rotator group: Quadratus femoris Inferior gemellus Superior gemellus Internal obturator External obturator Piriformis
Thigh / compartments	Anterior Sartorius Quadriceps Rectus femoris Vastus lateralis Vastus intermedius Tensor vastus intermedius Vastus medialis Articularis genus Posterior Hamstring Biceps femoris Semitendinosus Semimembranosus Medial Pectineus External obturator Gracilis Adductor Longus Brevis Magnus Minimus Fascia Femoral sheath Femoral canal Femoral ring Adductor canal Adductor hiatus Muscular lacuna Fascia lata Iliotibial tract Lateral intermuscular septum of thigh Medial intermuscular septum of thigh Cribriform fascia
Leg/compartments	Anterior Tibialis anterior Extensor hallucis longus Extensor digitorum longus Fibularis (peroneus) tertius Posterior Superficial Triceps surae Gastrocnemius Soleus Accessory soleus Achilles tendon Plantaris Deep tarsal tunnel Flexor hallucis longus Flexor digitorum longus Tibialis posterior Popliteus Lateral Fibularis (peroneus) muscles Longus Brevis Fascia Pes anserinus Intermuscular septa Anterior Posterior Transverse
Foot	Dorsal Extensor hallucis brevis Extensor digitorum brevis Plantar 1st layer Abductor hallucis Flexor digitorum brevis Abductor digiti minimi 2nd layer Quadratus plantae Lumbrical muscle 3rd layer Flexor hallucis brevis Adductor hallucis Flexor digiti minimi brevis 4th layer Dorsal interossei Plantar interossei Fascia Plantar fascia retinacula Peroneal Inferior extensor Superior extensor Flexor

Portal:

• Anatomy

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