An Overview of the Quadriceps Muscles

Amongst the different muscles that make up the entire human body, the quadriceps femoris is the most voluminous selection. The quadriceps femoris is the flexor of the hip and the extensor of the knee. There are four different individual muscles that create the quadriceps femoris. Amongst these muscles, three of them are vastus and the fourth one is known as rectus femoris. These muscles construct a major portion of the thigh. Hence, the quadriceps muscles are definitely known to be amongst the most powerful and reliable muscles in the human body. 

                                        (Image will be uploaded soon)

Origin of Quadriceps Muscle

The location of the quadriceps femoris is in the anterior section of the human thigh. The four different subsections are named rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis. About quadriceps muscles origin and insertion, it can be said that these muscles that are responsible for creating the quadriceps femoris unite in a proximal manner to the human knee. These are attached to the patella with the help of the quadriceps tendon. Apart from that, the patella attaches to the tibia via the patella ligament. 

Quadriceps Muscles Anatomy 

The anatomy of the quadriceps femoris has revealed the participation of four different muscles that lead to the creation of the entire structure. Quadriceps is a Latin word that translates to ‘four-headed’. The quadriceps are the strongest muscles that work in the human body. Vastus lateralis is one of the four compartments of the quadriceps. This muscle runs directly down the outside portion of the thigh. It helps in connecting the femur to the kneecap or the patella. Amongst the four muscles, this is the largest one. Vastus medialis is known as a muscle that resembles the shape of a teardrop. It is situated in the inner portion of the thigh and helps in connecting the kneecap to the femur. The vastus intermedius is the term given to the muscle that is situated between the other two vastus muscles in the thigh. This muscle is the deepest of all. The Rectus femoris is the fourth compartment and the origination of the rectus femoris happens from the hip bone. It attaches to the kneecap and covers up the other three vastus muscles. 

What are Quadriceps Muscles Functions?

The reason why the quadriceps femoris is considered to be one of the most important muscles in the human body is due to the fact that it performs a lot of important functions. The four muscles of the quadriceps femoris tend to work together in order to help with different processes such as walking, running, standing, and much more. They not only help in keeping the kneecap straight but also assist in the maintenance of posture. Not to mention that these muscles have a very important role to play when the person is running or even walking. These muscles allow the extension of the lower leg from the knee. The rectus femoris muscles also help the thigh flex. 

Quadriceps Muscles Exercises

Strengthening the quadriceps can actually help for a very long period of time if you manage to keep them healthy and strong. Experts have typically made the recommendation that building up the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles can be beneficial for the muscles. There are a lot of important exercises that can help in building the quadriceps muscles in the best way. 

• Squats

The squats tend to strengthen the different muscles present in the lower portion of the human body. This includes the quadriceps as well. There can be a lot of advantages to doing squats. Since there is no need to have any form of equipment, it is also possible to do squats pretty much everywhere. 

• Lunges

Just like the squats, lunges also have a very important part to play in challenging and strengthening the muscles present in the lower section of the body. Lunges mostly target the hamstrings, quadriceps muscles, and calf muscles. Lunges have certain different variations such as walking lunges, side lunges, and forward lunges that one can try. 

• Deadlifts

In order to do deadlifts, one might require some sort of equipment such as barbells or kettlebells. With the help of deadlifts, people will be able to focus mostly on the quads, gluteal muscles as well as the muscles that are present in the back. 

• Quad Stretches

Another great exercise to try out in order to strengthen the quadriceps muscles is quad stretches. Doing some proper and gentle stretching exercises can actually help the muscles loosen up and hence increase the motion range of the body. 

Conclusion

The quadriceps femoris is counted amongst the strongest muscles in the body. Every quadriceps consists of four different muscles. The main function of the muscles is to help people stand, run, and walk. They also help in keeping the kneecap stable. Since the quadriceps are the muscles that people rely on the most, they are most prone to injuries. Some common injuries include tendonitis, cramps, nerve damage, and muscle strains. It is advised to do some stretching and quad exercises in order to prevent any injury in the future.