PHTY100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Vector Markup Language, Palpation, Vastus Intermedius Muscle
5. Muscles of the thigh
• 5.1 Identify, describe the attachments of and deduce the actions of the muscles of the
thigh:
o Anterior group
• Sartorius
• Rectus femoris
• Vastus lateralis
• Vastus medialis
• Vastus intermedius
o Posterior group (hamstrings)
• Biceps femoris (long head and short head)
• Semitendinosus
• Semimembranosus
o Medial group (you have identified this group before, see objective 3.13)
• Gracilis
• Pectineus
• Adductor magnus
• Adductor longus
• Adductor brevis
• 5.2 Using the muscles of the thigh as an example, describe the effect on joint function of
muscles which cross two joints (include active and passive insufficiencies).
o Passive insufficiency
▪ Maximum passive length is insufficient to allow full range of movements at
both joints simultaneously
▪ Cant stretch two maximum muscles at both joints simultaneously
▪ When you bend the knee, you can stretch hamstrings more
o Active insufficiency
▪ Maximum length change insufficient to produce full range of movement at
both joints simultaneously
▪ Can't generate the same tension at both joints simultaneously
▪ When the hip is extended, there is less force produced when hamstrings
contract than if the hip was flexed
• 5.3 Describe the functions of the different components of the quadriceps femoris muscle
o Major extensor of knee - all parts of quadriceps femoris work throughout the range
of knee extension
o Stabilises the patella within trochlear groove
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
