Vastus lateralis (Musculus vastus lateralis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The largest quadriceps head, covering the lateral thigh. It pulls the patella laterally via the common tendon, acting opposite to the vastus medialis in balancing patellar tracking.
Origin & insertion
Origin: greater trochanter, lateral lip of the linea aspera and lateral supracondylar line. Insertion: lateral patellar border and tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament.
Action
Knee extension.
Innervation
Femoral nerve (L2–L4)
Clinical notes
Relative overactivity versus the vastus medialis pulls the patella laterally, contributing to patellofemoral pain syndrome. Its lateral position makes it a common intramuscular injection site.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Vastus lateralis?
The largest quadriceps head, covering the lateral thigh. It pulls the patella laterally via the common tendon, acting opposite to the vastus medialis in balancing patellar tracking.
Why is the Vastus lateralis clinically important?
Relative overactivity versus the vastus medialis pulls the patella laterally, contributing to patellofemoral pain syndrome. Its lateral position makes it a common intramuscular injection site.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details