The rectus femoris is the only quadriceps muscle that crosses the hip. It arises from the anterior inferior iliac spine and the rim of the acetabulum and inserts on the tibial tuberosity through the patella and patellar ligament. The femoral nerve supplies it, and it extends the knee and flexes the hip.
| Origin | Straight head: anterior inferior iliac spine. Reflected head: groove above the acetabulum. |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Base of the patella, then the tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament. |
| Innervation | Femoral nerve (L2-L4). |
| Blood supply | Descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. |
| Action | Extends the knee and flexes the hip. |
3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.
The rectus femoris lies in the middle of the anterior thigh over the vastus intermedius and is bipennate, which gives it considerable strength.
It is the only one that crosses both the hip and the knee, so it flexes the hip as well as extending the knee.
From the anterior inferior iliac spine and the superior rim of the acetabulum.
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