Vastus lateralis muscle

Vastus lateralis muscle
Muscles of lower extremity (rectus femoris has been removed)
Vastus lateralis
Details
Origin	Greater trochanter, intertrochanteric line, and linea aspera of the femur
Insertion	Patella by the quadriceps tendon and tibial tuberosity by the patellar ligament
Artery	Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Nerve	Femoral nerve
Actions	Extends and stabilizes knee
Antagonist	Hamstring
Identifiers
Latin	musculus vastus lateralis or musculus vastus externus
TA98	A04.7.02.021
TA2	2618
FMA	22431
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata]

The vastus lateralis (/ˈvæstəs ˌlætəˈreɪlɪs, ˈræ-/), also called the vastus externus,^[1] is the largest and most powerful part of the quadriceps femoris, a muscle in the thigh. Together with other muscles of the quadriceps group, it serves to extend the knee joint, moving the lower leg forward. It arises from a series of flat, broad tendons attached to the femur, and attaches to the outer border of the patella. It ultimately joins with the other muscles that make up the quadriceps in the quadriceps tendon, which travels over the knee to connect to the tibia. The vastus lateralis is the recommended site for intramuscular injection in infants less than 7 months old and those unable to walk, with loss of muscular tone.^[2]