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

Fascial septa
anterior compartment
divide limb into
compartaments

medial compartment

posterior compartment
Anterior compartment

Medial (adductor) compartment

Fascia Lata

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 compartment-
Extensors of the knee
Femoral Nerve

femur
medial lateral

Medial compartment- Posterior

compartment-
Adductors of the knee
Flexors of the
Obturator Nerve
knee
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

*Adductor Magnus innervated by

medial
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 Adductors
flexor of hip adductor of thigh
laterally rotate thigh
Quadriceps femoris Hamstrings
prime extensor of knee flex knee
attaches to tibial tuberosity extends hip with Gluteus maximus
10-50
 Tensor Fascia Latae

Psoas Major

Iliacus Rectus Femoris

Vastus Intermedius
DEEP TO RECTUS FEMORIS

Adductor
Longus Vastus Lateralis
Sartorius

Vastus
Medialis