Quadratus femoris muscle

Course

It originates on the lateral border of the ischial tuberosity of the ischium of the pelvis. From there, it passes laterally to its insertion on the posterior side of the head of the femur: the quadrate tubercle on the intertrochanteric crest and along the quadrate line, the vertical line which runs downward to bisect the lesser trochanter on the medial side of the femur. Along its course, quadratus is aligned edge to edge with the inferior gemellus above and the adductor magnus below, so that its upper and lower borders run horizontal and parallel.

At its origin, the upper margin of the adductor magnus is separated from it by the terminal branches of the medial femoral circumflex vessels.

A bursa is often found between the front of this muscle and the lesser trochanter.

Clinical significance

Groin pain can be a disabling ailment with many potential root causes: one such cause, often overlooked, is quadratus femoris tendinitis. Magnetic resonance imaging can show abnormal signal intensity at the insertion of the right quadratus femoris tendon, which suggests inflammation of the area. Since the muscle works to laterally rotate and adduct the femur, actions involving the lower body can strain the muscle. In addition, patients present with hip pain and an increased signal intensity of the MRI of the quadratus femoris have been shown to also have a significantly narrower ischiofemoral space compared to the general populace. The ischiofemoral impingement may be a cause of the hip pain associated with quadratus femoris tendinitis. [[File:Quadratus femoris muscle.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Quadratus femoris muscle]]

Additional images

File:Gray245.png|Right femur. Posterior surface. File:Gray344.png|Structures surrounding right hip-joint. File:Gray832.png|Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view. File:Slide6hh.JPG|Quadratus femoris muscle File:Slide1BIBI.JPG|Muscles of Thigh. Anterior views.

Notes

References

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References

1. ''Thieme Atlas of Anatomy'' (2006), p 424
2. Platzer, Werner. (2003). "Color atlas and textbook of human anatomy". Thieme.
3. Abrahams, Peter H.. (2003). "McMinn's color atlas of human anatomy.". Mosby.
4. Klinkert, P.. (1997). "Quadratus femoris tendinitis as a cause of groin pain". British Journal of Sports Medicine.
5. (2009-07-01). "Ischiofemoral Impingement Syndrome: An Entity With Hip Pain and Abnormalities of the Quadratus Femoris Muscle". American Journal of Roentgenology.