MuscleThigh — anterior (quadriceps)
Vastus medialis
Latin: M. vastus medialis sinistra
Location: Thigh
Paired structure: one on the left and one on the right side of the body.
View the vastus medialis in 3DOrigin
Linea aspera and intertrochanteric line of the femur (medial lip).
Insertion
Medial border of the patella and tibial tuberosity via the quadriceps tendon.
Action
Extends the knee; its oblique lower fibres (VMO) pull the patella medially, tracking it centrally in the trochlear groove.
Nerve supply
Femoral nerve (L2–L4).
Blood supply
Profunda femoris and femoral arteries.
Clinical relevance
VMO wasting within days of knee injury or effusion destabilises patellar tracking — the teardrop muscle physiotherapists rebuild first.
Educational anatomy reference, not medical advice. About this content.