Anterior Thigh

• It is the largest/longest/strongest bone in the body
• Transfers weight from hip down to feet or from feet to hip and up the vertebral column

• Femoral neck
• Greater/Lesser trochanters
• Femoral head
• Intertrochanteric line
• Intertrochanteric crest
• Linea aspera
• Lateral/Medial condyles
• Intercondylar notch
• Later/Medial epicondyles
• AD-ductor tubercle

The weakest aspect of the femur; made of cancelous bone

The rounded portion of the femur that articulates with the acetabulum

The intertrochanteric line is a raised elevation on the anterior and proximal aspect of the femur that runs between the greater and lesser trochanters; it forms the base of the femoral neck

The intertrochanteric crest is a raised elevation located on the posterior and proximal aspect of the femur; together with the intertrochanteric line, it differentiates between the shaft and neck of the femur

A longitudinal ridge running down the posterior aspect of the femur that allows for the attachment of various muscles

A small, raised elevation that is superior to the medial epicondyle and is the site for the insertion of the adductor magnus

The area between the condyles where two ligaments, the ACL and PCL, run; the intercondylar notch is shallower in females, which makes women more prone to ACL injuries because there is less room in which the ligaments can run

The medial condyle is wider and longer than the lateral condyle

Femoral neck made of cancelous bone

• It is the largest weight-bearing bone in the LOWER leg
• It articulates with femoral condyles (proximally) and talus (distally)

• Tibial tuberosity
• Medial malleolus
• Tibia condyles
• Tibial plateau
• Tibiofemoral joint
• Talocrural joint

• The location on the attachment of the quad muscles
• The site of pain caused by Osgood Schlatters - during adolescence, pain of the tibial tuberosity on the non-dominant (plant) leg caused by too much pull by the quads; it occurs on an individual's plant leg because it takes the most force of the quads

Flat; articulate with the femoral condyles

Flat area that is composed of medial and lateral parts

The knee; synovial

The articulation between the distal tibia and talus; the "ankle joint"

• Non weight-bearing
• Adds stability at the ankle joint
• Provides muscle attachment

• Fibular head
• Lateral malleolus (distally)
• Proximal tibia-fibular joint
• Distal tibia-fibular joint
• Longer than the tibia

Synovial; stabilized by anterior and posterior tibia-fibular ligaments

Syndesmosis; includes interosseous membrane

If you damage the distal tibia-fibular joint, you typically hurt/tore the interosseous membrane (called a "high ankle sprain")

Origin: Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine (AIIS)

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon

Action: Knee extension; hip flexion

• *Bipennate*
• *Exercises: Lunges, leg press, leg extension, wall sits, squats (works muscle eccentrically on the way up)*

Origin: Lateral shaft of the femur

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon

Action: Knee extension

No

Origin: Medial shaft of femur

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via patellar tendon

Action: Knee extension in the last 15 - 30 degrees

Origin: Anterior shaft of the femur

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon

Action: Knee extension

*Fusiform muscle*

• Rectus femoris
• Vastus lateralis
• Vastus medialis
• Vastus intermedius

Origin: Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS)

Insertion: Medial tibial plateau

Action: Hip flexion, knee extension, hip external rotation

• *Lies superficial to the quadriceps*
• *Known as the "tailor's muscles"*
• *One of the three muscles that inserts into the PES ANSERINE*

• The medial tibial plateau is commonly called the PES ANSERINE
• Three muscles insert there - Sartorius, Semitendinosis, Gracillis

Anterior thigh muscles