Origin
Anterior inferior iliac spine of the pelvis.
Insertion
Combines with the vastus lateralis/medialis/intermedius muscles to form the quadriceps tendon that inserts into the base of the patella.
Blood supply
Lateral femoral circumflex artery.
Nerve supply
Femoral nerve.
Action
It helps to extend the leg at the knee; it also helps to bend the thigh at the hip joint.
Disease/Injury
Rectus femoris can get injured with overuse and excessive load on the muscle. The injury is mostly seen in the sports in which there are explosive movements like kicking and in sprint races.
Muscle Exercise
Exercises like supine leg raises, leg extensions, and squats helps to strengthen rectus femoris muscle.
Interesting facts
If you want to strengthen your rectus femoris, you should carry challenging weights during quadriceps and abdominal exercises.
