The Visible Human: Transverse Section Through the Thigh

You selected: rectus femoris

Running a finger from just above the knee to just below the hip approximately traces the location of the rectus femoris muscle. This muscle both extends the knee (straightens it out), and flexes the hip joint (bringing the knees into the chest). When your knee 'jumps' at the doctor's office, the reflex tested causes the rectus femoris to contract suddenly, thus causing the knee jerk.

Key points in this image
adductor magnus | gracilis | sartorius | rectus femoris | hamstring | vastus lateralis | vastus medialis | vastus intermedius |
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Information
Module Name: a_vm2035
Module Title: The Visible Human: Transverse Section Through the Thigh
Image Info: Transverse section through the leg (#2035), Visible Human Project
Created by: Lynn Bry
Contact Email:bryl@medicine.wustl.edu
Last modified: January 16th, 1997

Created with Annotation 1.0