THIGH

Anatomy of the thigh

The thigh is the area
between the pelvis and
the knee.

The single bone in the

thigh (femur).

Surface anatomy of the thigh

Surface features of the Thigh
Sartorius muscle
Quadriceps femoris muscle
Adductor longus muscle
Hamstring muscles
Femoral triangle

Anatomy of the thigh

Thigh is divided to 3 groups
of muscles called
compartments.
Anterior compartment
Posterior compartment
Medial compartment
These three compartments
are separated by fascia.

Compartments of the Thigh

anterior compartment

Fascial septa
divide limb into
compartaments

medial compartment

posterior compartment

Anterior compartment

Fascia Lata

Medial (adductor) compartment

Posterior compartment

Anatomy of the thigh

The anterior compartment muscles of the thigh flex the
femur at the hip and extend the leg at the knee.
The posterior compartment muscles of the thigh extend
the thigh and flex the leg.
The medial compartment muscles all adduct the thigh.

Anatomy of the thigh

The anterior compartment of the thigh is homologous to
the posterior compartment of the arm.
The posterior compartment of the thigh is homologous
to the anterior compartment of the arm.

Anatomy of the thigh

Thigh innervations:
Anterior compartment from femoral nerve L2,3,4.
Medial compartment from obturator nerve L2,3,4.
Posterior compartment from sciatic nerve
L4,5,S1,2,3 (sacral plexus).

Thigh
innervations

Anterior compartmentExtensors of the knee

Femoral Nerve

femur

medial

later
al

Medial
compartment-

Posterior
compartment-

Adductors of the
knee

Flexors of the
knee

Obturator Nerve

Sciatic Nerve

Anterior surface of thigh

Femoral Triangle:
Borders:
Superior:
Inguinal Ligament
Medially:
Adductor Longus Muscle
Laterally:
Sartorius Muscle

Anterior surface of thigh

Femoral Triangle:
Floor:
Iliopsoas muscle.
Pectineus muscle.
Adductor longus muscle.
Roof :
Fascia Lata

Anterior surface of thigh

Femoral Triangle:
Contents (lateral to medial):
Femoral Nerve
Femoral Artery
Femoral Vein
Lymphatics

Anterior surface of thigh

Adductor Canal:
Borders:
Lateral:
Vastus medialis muscle.
Posterior:
Adductor longus and magnus.
Anteromedial:
Sartorius muscle.

Anterior surface of thigh

Adductor Canal:
Contents:
Saphenous nerve:
Termination of femoral nerve.
Nerve to vastus medialis.
Terminal part of obturator nerve.
Terminal parts of femoral artery
and vein.
Deep lymph vessels.

Anterior Compartment
Muscles:

Iliopsoas.
Sartorius.
Quadriceps:
Rectus femoris.
Vastus lateralis.
Vastus intermedius.
Vastus medialis

Anterior Compartment
Blood Supply:
Femoral Artery:
Superficial circumflex iliac.
Superficial epigastric.
Superficial external pudendal.
Deep external pudendal.
Descending genicular.

Deep femoral (profunda femoris)

Lateral femoral circumflex.
Medial femoral circumflex.

Anterior Compartment
Innervation:
Femoral Nerve:
Action:
Hip flexion.
Knee extension.

Anterior Compartment
Iliopsoas
Origin - Ilia, sacrum,
lumbar vertebrae
Insertion lesser trochanter
Action flexor of thigh
Innervation femoral nerve

Anterior Compartment
Sartorius
Origin: Anterior superior
iliac spine
Insertion: Medial side of
superior tibia,via pes
anserinus
Action: flex thigh at hip &
flex leg at knee
Innervation: Femoral
nerve

Anterior Compartment
Quadriceps femoris
muscle:
Rectus Femoris
Origin: Anterior inferior
iliac spine
Insertion: Tibial
tuberosity via patellar
ligament, part of
quadriceps femoris
Action: Flex thigh at hip
& extend leg at knee
Innervation: Femoral
nerve

Anterior Compartment
Quadriceps femoris
muscle:
Vastus Medialis
Origin: Intertrochanteric
line
Insertion: Tibial
tuberosity via patellar
ligament, part of
quadriceps femoris
Action: Extend leg at
knee
Innervation: Femoral
nerve

Anterior Compartment
Quadriceps femoris muscle:
Vastus Lateralis
Origin: Greater trochanter
Insertion: Tibial tuberosity
via patellar ligament, part of
quadriceps femoris
Action: Extend leg at knee
Innervation: Femoral nerve

Anterior Compartment
Quadriceps femoris muscle:
Vastus Intermedius
Origin: Anterolateral surface
of femur
Insertion: Tibial tuberosity
via patellar ligament, part of
quadriceps femoris
Action: Extend leg at knee
Innervation: Femoral nerve

Anterior Compartment

Anterior Compartment

Anterior (extensor) compartment of the thigh

Innervation: Femoral Nerve

anterior

anterior

Medial Compartment
Muscles:
Gracilis.
Adductor longus.
Adductor brevis.
Adductor magnus.
Pectineus

Medial Compartment
Blood Supply:
Obturator artery:
Branch of internal iliac
artery.

Medial Compartment
Innervation:
Obturator nerve.
Tibial nerve:
To hamstring portion of
adductor magnus.

Action:
Adduction

Medial Compartment
Adductor longus

Origin Medial portion of

superior pubic ramus
Insertion - linea aspera of
femur
Action adducts and
medial rotates
Innervation Obturator
nerve

Medial Compartment
Adductor brevis

Origin Inferior pubic ramus

Insertion - linea aspera of
femur
Action adducts and
medial rotates
Innervation Obturator
nerve

Medial Compartment
Adductor magnus

Origin Ischiopubic ramus

and ischial tuberosity
Insertion - linea aspera of
femur
Action adducts and
medial rotates
Innervation Obturator
nerve

Medial Compartment
Gracilis

Origin - Pubic symphysis

and inferior pubic ramus
Insertion medial tibia
Action adducts thigh,
flex, medial, rotates leg
Innervation Obturator
nerve

Medial Compartment
Pectineus
Origin - pubis
Insertion lesser
trochanter
Action adducts,
medial rotates
Innervation femoral
nerve

Medial Compartment

Medial Compartment

Medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh

Innervation:
obturator nerve*

medial

medial

*Adductor Magnus innervated by

both obturator n and tibial
division of sciatic n

Posterior Compartment
Muscles:
Hamstrings:
Biceps Femoris:
Long head.
Short head.
Semimembranosus.
Semitendinosus.
Adductor Hiatus

Posterior Compartment
Vascular Supply:
Perforating arteries (from
profunda femoris)

Posterior Compartment
Innervation:
Common Peroneal Nerve:
To biceps femoris brevis.

Tibial nerve:

Action:
Hip Extension.
Knee Flexion.

Posterior Compartment
Biceps Femoris (2 Heads)
Origin Ischial tuberosity(long
head), linea aspera(short head).
Insertion - Lateral tibia, head
fibula
Action - Thigh extension, knee
flexion, lateral rotation
Innervation- (short head)
Common Fibular Nerve branch of
Sciatic Nerve.
(long head) Tibial Nerve branch
of Sciatic Nerve.

Posterior Compartment
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Origin - ischial tuberosity
Insertion - medial tibia
Action - thigh extension,
knee flexion, medial rotation
Innervation- Tibial nerve
branch of sciatic nerve.

Posterior Compartment

Posterior Compartment

Posterior compartment of the thigh

Hamstring mm: Arise from ischial tuberosity & innervated by tibial division of sciatic n.

Innervation:
Tibial division of sciatic nerve
Except short head of
biceps femoris: common
fibular division of sciatic
nerve

posterior

Muscles of the Knee

Joint/Leg

Fig. 12.17

Fig. 12.18

Iliopsoas
flexor of hip
Quadriceps femoris
prime extensor of knee
attaches to tibial tuberosity

Adductors
adductor of thigh
laterally rotate thigh
Hamstrings
flex knee
extends hip with Gluteus maximus

10-50

Tensor Fascia
Latae
Psoas Major

Iliacus

Rectus
Femoris
Vastus
Intermedius

Adductor
Longus
Sartorius
Vastus
Medialis

DEEP TO RECTUS
FEMORIS

Vastus
Lateralis