Quadratus Femoris

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Figure 1: Hip and Thigh Muscles¹

Figure 2: Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral region²

Reading list

• Ch57 piriformis, obturator internus, gemellus, obturator externus, quadratus femoris muscles³
• Ch58 Quadriceps femoris and sartorius muscles³
• Neuman⁴

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Quadratus femoris	Lateral border of Ischial tuberosity	Intertrochanteric crest	Nerve to Quadratus femoris L5 - S1	Hip: ER

Origin

Lateral border of the ischial tuberosity⁵

Insertion

Intertrochanteric crest of the femur⁵

Innervation

Sacral plexus Direct Branches (L5, S1)⁵

Action

Hip: External rotation⁵

Note

The QF may extend or flex the hip depending on its position⁶.

Palpation

1. Position the patient in prone⁷.
2. locate:⁷.
   1. Posterior aspect of Greater trochanter⁷.
   2. Ischial tuberosity⁷.
3. Bisect these two landmarks and place your fingerpads here⁷.
4. Press firmly through the more superficial Gluteus maximus muscle belly⁷.
5. Strum vertically over the QF muscle belly⁷.

Passive tension

You can passively tense and slack the quadratus femoris by flexing the knee to 90° then moving between internal rotation (tension) to external rotation (slack), which should cause the quadratus femoris to palpably increase in tension⁷.

Exercises

• FAddER Contract-Relax
  • Therapist assisted
  • Self-Stretch

References

1.

Betts JG, Blaker W. Openstax Anatomy and Physiology. 2nd ed. OpenStax; 2022. https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/?Book%20details

2.

Gray H. Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. (Lewis WH, ed.). Lea & Febiger; 1918. https://www.bartleby.com/107/

3.

Donnelly JM, Simons DG, eds. Travell, Simons & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Third edition. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2019.

4.

Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.

5.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.

6.

Jones B. B Project Foundations. b Project; 2025.

7.

Biel A. Trail Guide to the Body: A Hands-on Guide to Locating Muscles, Bones, and More. 6th ed. Books of Discovery; 2019.