10 LEA AntCompThigh2

General Concepts of
Osteofascial Compartments of
the Thigh
&
Anterior Compartment of Thigh
Lower Extremity Anatomy

Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
Lewis Katz School of Medicine Washburn

Disclosure
I currently have no relationships of any

kind with any company whose products
or services in any way relate to the
practice of medicine, medical education
or research.
Osteofascial Compartments
Gluteal Region
Anterior Compartment
Medial Compartment
Posterior Compartment
Osteofascial Compartments are
formed by
Fascia lata (the deep fascia of the thigh)
Intermuscular septa (sheets of connective
tissue that extend from the femur to the
fascia lata)
lateral intermuscular septum

medial intermuscular septum
posterior intermuscular septum (disputed)
Septation of the Thigh
Medial Intermuscular Septum

Stretches from fascia lata to:
spiral line
medial lip of linea aspera
medial supracondylar ridge
adductor tubercle
Lateral Intermuscular Septum

Stretches from IT tract to:
gluteal tuberosity
lateral lip of linea spera
lateral supracondylar ridge
Posterior Intermuscular Septum

Probably epimysium (fibrous tissue
surrounding a muscle) of
adductor magnus separating
it from hamstrings
Compartments of the thigh:
Anterior (femoral n)
Medial (obturator n)
Posterior (tibial n)
Medial
intermuscular
septum
Review of actions
by compartments
Lateral intermuscular septum Posterior

intermuscular
septum
Generalizations about Compartments
Femoral Nerve
Quads which are knee extensors (rectus femoris assists in hip
flexion)
Femoral and Deep Femoral arteries and veins
Medial Compartment
Obturator Nerve
Adductors which are adductors (& flexers) of hip
Deep Femoral & Obturator arteries and veins
Posterior Compartment
Tibial part of Sciatic Nerve
Hamstrings which are knee flexers (some hip extension)
Perforating branches of Deep Femoral artery and vein
Anterior Compartment of the Thigh
Part #1
Muscles
Muscles at a Glance
Quadriceps femoris
“Quads”
rectus femoris
vastus lateralis
vastus medialis
vastus intermedius
Sartorius rectus
femoris
vastus sartorius
lateralis
vastus medialis
vastus (lower fibers=VMO)
intermedius
Anterior Compartment Muscles
Sartorius (L. sartor = tailor); crosses hip & knee

O: ASIS & from interspinous fossa
I: pes anserinus (L. = goose’s foot - anterior to gracilis and
semitendinosus)
A: hip flexion, lateral rotation, & abduction
knee flexion & medial rotation of leg with knee flexed
I: femoral nerve (ant. division)
pes anserinus
Rectus Femoris (L. rectus = straight); crosses hip & knee
O: straight head from AIIS

reflected head from supra-acetabular sulcus
I: aponeurotic insertion into base of patella
A: knee extension & hip flexion (can do

simultaneously)
I: femoral nerve (post. division)

Vastus Lateralis (L. vastus = huge); crosses knee
O: upper part of intertrochanteric line

anterior/inferior borders of greater trochanter
lateral edge of gluteal tuberosity
proximal part of lateral lip of linea aspera
(lateral intermuscular septum & lateral surface of femur)
I: base & lateral border of patella

patellar ligament & lateral patellar retinaculum
A: knee extension

Vastus Medialis (L. vastus = huge); crosses knee
O: lower part of intertrochanteric line

spiral line
upper part of medial supracondylar ridge
medial lip of linea aspera (medial intermuscular septum &
from tendons of adductor longus and magnus)
I: medial border of patella & base

patellar ligament & medial patellar retinaculum
A: knee extension & prevents lateral patellar tracking

(VMO)
VMO
Vastus Intermedius (L. vastus = huge); crosses knee
O: proximal 2/3 of anterior and lateral surfaces of femur

distal 1/2 of lateral lip of linea aspera
distal 1/2 of lateral intermuscular septum
I: base of patella via aponeurosis

(joins VM & VL)
A: knee extension

Patellar Ligament
(ligamentum patellae)
The patellar ligament is formed by the tendons of
the quadriceps femoris muscle group.
It extends from the patella to the distal ½ of the
tibial tuberosity. Articularis genu
O: femur (distal ant. surface)
I: suprapatellar bursa
Quadriceps tendon A: stabilizes bursa
I: twig from femoral nerve
branch to vastus intermedius
Patellar ligament
Patellar “tendon” reflex/knee

jerk tests L3 (L4)
Sartorius
Rectus femoris
Vastus
lateralis
Vastus lateralis
Vastus
medialis Vastus
intermedius
Vastus intermedius
Articularis genus
Muscle Origins
& Insertions
Anterior Compartment of the Thigh
Part #2
Femoral Triangle
Femoral Sheath
Adductor Canal
Iliotibial Tract (IT Band)
Iliacus psoas major
Femoral Triangle Inguinal ligament (base of

femoral triangle)
base
lateral Femoral triangle floor
(pectineus &
border iliopsoas)
medial border
Sartorius
(lateral border of
femoral triangle)
Adductor Longus
(medial border of femoral
triangle)
Roof of triangle
is formed of
fascia lata,
subcutaneous
Femoral Triangle
tissue, and skin
Structures within femoral triangle
Lateral cutaneous
nerve of thigh
Great saphenous vein /cut

(draining into femoral vein)
Femoral
nerve
artery
vein
Clinical
relevance
femoral artery pulse
IV line
catheterization
femoral hernias
Femoral Sheath
(and femoral ring)
Lacunar ligament
NAVEL =
mnemonic
Femoral Sheath
Adductor Canal
(aka Hunter’s Canal &
Subsartorial Canal)
Adductor canal walls

Sartorius - roof
Adductor canal contents
Vastus medialis - Femoral artery & vein
anterolateral Saphenous nerve
Adductor longus & Nerve to vastus medialis
magnus - posterior
Femoral artery is
anterior to vein at
proximal end of
adductor canal
Adductor
magnus
Popliteal
Adductor canal ends vessels
inferiorly at the adductor
hiatus
Iliotibial Tract (band)
Thickening of the fascia lata along the lateral side of the thigh
Proximal attachment to the iliac crest
Distal attachment to the lateral tibial condyle (Gerdy’s tubercle &

oblique line of tibia), femur, head of fibula & the aponeurosis of
vastus lateralis
Along much of its length it has an attachment to the lateral

intermuscular septum
2 muscles insert into IT Tract: gluteus maximus & tensor fasciae

latae and it (superficial fibers) acts as their aponeuroses (long flat
tendons of insertion)
Contributes to stability of both hip and knee (thru deep fibers)

Anterior
Femur
lateral medial
Iliotibial Tract (band) – right limb

Gerdy’s tubercle &
oblique line of tibia
ITBS (iliotibial band
syndrome) or ITBFS
One of the leading causes of
lateral knee pain in runners
Inflammation of ITB as it
crosses the lateral femoral
epicondyle
Result of repetitive
flexion/extension of knee
In extension ITB anterior to
femoral condyle
In 30° of flexion ITB is
posterior to femoral condyle
Runners & cyclists
Females affected more than
males (not all agree)
The
End

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General Concepts of

Lower Extremity Anatomy

Lewis Katz School of Medicine Washburn

I currently have no relationships of any

lateral intermuscular septum

Medial Intermuscular Septum

Lateral Intermuscular Septum

Posterior Intermuscular Septum

Lateral intermuscular septum Posterior

Sartorius (L. sartor = tailor); crosses hip & knee

O: straight head from AIIS

I: aponeurotic insertion into base of patella

A: knee extension & hip flexion (can do

I: femoral nerve (post. division)

O: upper part of intertrochanteric line

I: base & lateral border of patella

I: femoral nerve (post. division)

O: lower part of intertrochanteric line

I: medial border of patella & base

A: knee extension & prevents lateral patellar tracking

I: femoral nerve (post. division)

O: proximal 2/3 of anterior and lateral surfaces of femur

I: base of patella via aponeurosis

I: femoral nerve (post. division)

Patellar “tendon” reflex/knee

Femoral Triangle Inguinal ligament (base of

Great saphenous vein /cut

Adductor canal walls

Proximal attachment to the iliac crest

Distal attachment to the lateral tibial condyle (Gerdy’s tubercle &

Along much of its length it has an attachment to the lateral

2 muscles insert into IT Tract: gluteus maximus & tensor fasciae

Contributes to stability of both hip and knee (thru deep fibers)

Iliotibial Tract (band) – right limb

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