Rectus Femoris

Region: Hip & Thigh Muscles · All hip & thigh muscles

Rectus Femoris at a glance

OriginAnterior inferior iliac spine and the groove above the hip socket
InsertionBase of the patella and, via the patellar ligament, the tibial tuberosity
ActionsStraightens the knee (extension); Flexes the thigh at the hip
Nerve supplyFemoral nerve (L2–L4)

◆ Good to know

The only quadriceps muscle crossing the hip — the kicking muscle, and a common site of strains in sprinting and football.

Please note: This page is an anatomy education summary for students and curious readers, not medical advice. Attachment points are given in their classic short form; individual anatomy varies, and detailed dissection-level descriptions belong in an anatomy atlas.