Quadriceps Muscles: Structure, Functions, Exercises And More

We tend to use our thigh muscles for everything: sitting, standing, walking, jogging, running, etc. However, somehow, we don’t even know the name of the muscles that we use every single day. The muscles in our thighs are collectively called quadriceps muscles, more commonly known as quads. These quadriceps femoris muscles are the largest, strongest and fleshiest muscles in our body. They are found in the front and sides of the thigh bone(femur). They constitute vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris.

Very little attention is given to these quadriceps muscles in proportion to them’ humongous work. Therefore, in this article, we will be learning about the structure of quadriceps muscles, their functions, the need to strengthen them, the pain experienced by people due to these muscles, and ways to strengthen them.

Structure of quadriceps muscles:

The quadriceps muscles consist of the following four muscles:

Vastus lateralis:

• It is the largest muscle among all the quadriceps muscles.
• It can be found on the lateral side of the femur, the outer part of the thigh.
• It connects the femur to the patella (knee cap).

Vastus Medialis:

• It is found in the inner (medial) part of the thigh.
• It is a teardrop-shaped muscle.
• It also connects the femur to the patella.

Vastus Intermedius:

• Is the deepest of the quadriceps muscles.
• It is found between the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles.
• It is impossible to see this muscle without the dissection of the rectus femoris.

Rectus Femoris:

• It joins the hip bones to the kneecap.
• It covers most of the part of the other quadriceps muscles.
• It can be found occupying the middle of the thigh, lying above the vastus intermedius.

Functions of quadriceps muscles:

1. These muscles help a person conduct everyday tasks, which are taken for granted by humans, like sitting, standing, climbing up the stairs, squatting, running, jogging, cycling etc.
2. They also help in straightening/extending the lower leg from the knee.
3. The rectus femoris muscle help in flexing the hip as it is attached to the ilium.
4. The vastus medialis stabilize the kneecap.

Need for strengthening the quadriceps muscles:

As we have seen, these muscles allow us to conduct many fundamental activities in a person’s life. However, these muscles are prone to tear, injury, strain or even rupture. This can make our day-to-day activities seem like a hassle. Some common injuries that affect a person’s quads are:

1. Cramps
2. Tendonitis
3. Muscle strain or pull
4. Meralgia Paresthetica
5. Knee cap dislocation
6. Iliotibial band friction syndrome
7. Patellofemoral stress syndrome

Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the muscles so that we can work without any pain.

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