Overview Origin Superior portion of intertrochanteric line, anterior and inferior borders of greater trochanter, superior portion of lateral lip of linea aspera, and lateral portion of gluteal tuberosity of femur Insertion Lateral base and border of patella; also forms the lateral patellar retinaculum and lateral side of quadriceps femoris tendon Action Extends the knee Innervation Muscular branches of femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4) Arterial Supply Lateral circumflex femoral artery Innervation Vastus lateralis is supplied by the muscular branches of the femoral nerve Primary nerves of the anterior thigh obturator nerve femoral nerve origin L2-4 of lumbar plexus motor extensors of the knee recuts femoris vastus lateralis vastus medialis vastus intermedius sensory none course descends in the abdomen through the psoas runs behind inguinal ligament and into the thigh where it splits into an anterior and posterior division passes through femoral triangle lateral to femoral vessels terminal cutaneous branch is the saphenous nerve Blood Supply Vastus lateralis is primarily supplied by lateral circumflex artery, a branch of femoral artery Femoral artery branches in thigh profunda femoris medial femoral circumflex lateral femoral circumflex lateral to rectus femoris branches ascending branch - runs towards ASIS between sartorius and TFL requires ligation during anterior approach to hip transverse branch - joins branch of medial femoral circumflex descending branch - runs between vastus intermedius and lateralis muscles encountered in anterolateral approach to femur Cross Sectional Anatomy Vastus lateralis lies in the anterior compartment of the thigh anterior compartment consists of rectus femoris (femoral n.) vastus lateralis (femoral n.) vastus medialis (femoral n.) vastus lateralis (femoral n.) vastus lateralis is bordered by at the level of the greater trochanter lateral subcutaneous tissue medial femur vastus intermedius vastus intermedius (anterior/medial) anteromedial rectus femoris posteromedial intermuscular septum sciatic nerve biceps femoris Relevant Surgical Approaches Hip Anterolateral Approach (Watson-Jones) Hip Direct Lateral Approach (Hardinge, Transgluteal) Hip Posterior Approach (Moore or Southern) Femur Lateral Approach Femur Posterolateral Approach Related Anatomy Quadriceps contusion Clinical Conditions Quadriceps contusion