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| Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Action | Nerve |
| articularis genus | distal anterior femur (superior to knee) | knee joint capsule (synovial membrane) | pulls knee joint capsule superior with knee extension; prevents impingement of synovial membrane between patella & femur | femoral nerve (L3, L4) |
| rectus femoris | anterior head: anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS); posterior head: just superior to rim of acetabulum (supra-acetabular groove) | tibial tuberosity (via common quadriceps tendon & patellar ligament) | extension of leg (at knee joint); flexion of thigh (at hip joint) | femoral nerve (L2 ,L3, L4) |
| sartorius | anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) | proximal anteromedial tibia (pes anserine) | flexion, abduction & lateral rotation of thigh (at hip joint); flexion of leg (at knee joint); anterior pelvic tilt | femoral nerve (L2, L3) |
| tensor fascia latae | anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) & anterior aspect of iliac crest | iliotibial band (below greater trochanter) | flexion, abduction & medial rotation of thigh (at hip joint); tenses iliotibial band to support femur on tibia during standing | superior gluteal nerve (L4, L5, S1) |
| vastus intermedius | anterior lateral surface of femur | tibial tuberosity (via common quadriceps tendon & patellar ligament) | extension of leg (at knee joint) | femoral nerve (L2 ,L3, L4) |
| vastus lateralis | lateral lip of linea aspera (also intertrochanteric line & lateral intermuscular septum) | tibial tuberosity (via common quadriceps tendon & patellar ligament) | extension of leg (at knee joint) | femoral nerve (L2 ,L3, L4) |
| vastus medialis | medial lip of linea aspera (intertrochanteric line) | tibial tuberosity (via common quadriceps tendon & patellar ligament) | extension of leg (at knee joint) | femoral nerve (L2 ,L3, L4) |