Quadratus Femoris – Origin, Nerve Supply, Function

The Quadratus Femoris is a flat, quadrilateral skeletal muscle. Located on the posterior side of the hip joint, it is a strong external rotator and adductor of the thigh,^[rx] but also acts to stabilize the femoral head in the acetabulum. Quadratus femoris use in Meyer’s muscle pedicle grafting to prevent avascular necrosis of femur head.

Origin

• Quadratus femoris tear is an uncommon injury that usually causes hip pain, it incidence is unknown. The patient can suffer from posterior gluteal pain or groin pain or both, which makes accurate diagnosis difficult because the differential diagnosis of hip pain is broad.
• Quadratus femoris originates from the upper part of the lateral border of the ischial tuberosity, inferior to the lower rim of the acetabulum. This attachment is superior to the origins of the adductor Magnus’s muscle and lateral to the obturator externus muscle.
• From there this flat muscle runs laterally to insert onto the quadrate tubercle located on the intertrochanteric crest of the femur, superior to the insertions of adductor Magnus and lateral to triceps coxae muscles.

Due to its specific location inside the hip joint, the quadratus femoris muscle is one of the most important stabilizers of this joint. It keeps the head of the femur in place and thus prevents injuries in numerous activities.

Nerve Supply

• Quadratus femoris muscle is innervated by the nerve to quadratus femoris. This arises from the spinal nerves L4 – S1, derived from the sacral plexus. In addition to quadratus femoris, this nerve innervates also supplies the gemellus inferior muscle and the hip joint.

Function

• The main action of the quadratus femoris muscle is the external (lateral) rotation of the thigh. Although this is a small muscle it is a pretty powerful rotator of the hip, acting synergically with the other external rotators; gluteus maximus, piriformis, superior gemellus and inferior gemellus and obturator internus muscles. Acting together, these muscles produce a strong external rotation of the thigh which is limited by antagonistic muscles and the iliofemoral ligament.
• Quadratus femoris muscle is unusual in that it can assist in the production of both abduction and adduction movements of the leg. When the leg is in the anatomical position, quadratus femoris, pectineus and the inferior fibers of gluteus maximus assist the thigh adductor muscles (adductor longus, Magnus and Brevis) to adduct the thigh at the hip joint. In contrast, when the hip is flexed, quadratus femoris, along with piriformis, superior and inferior Gemelli, obturator internus and obturator externus all act to abduct the thigh.
• Due to its specific location inside the hip joint, the quadratus femoris muscle is one of the most important stabilizersof this joint. It keeps the head of the femur in place and thus prevents injuries in numerous activities.

References

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