Quadratus Femoris Muscle

Authors
Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Figure 1: Hip and Thigh Muscles
Figure 2: Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral region
Reading list
  • Ch57 piriformis, obturator internus, gemellus, obturator externus, quadratus femoris muscles
  • Ch58 Quadriceps femoris and sartorius muscles
  • Neuman

Origin

Lateral border of the ischial tuberosity

Insertion

Intertrochanteric crest of the femur

Innervation

Sacral plexus Direct Branches (L5, S1)

Action

Hip: External rotation

Note

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

Palpation

  1. Position the patient in prone.
  2. locate:.
    1. Posterior aspect of Greater trochanter.
    2. Ischial tuberosity.
  3. Bisect these two landmarks and place your fingerpads here.
  4. Press firmly through the more superficial Gluteus maximus muscle belly.
  5. Strum vertically over the QF muscle belly.

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 tension.

References

1.
Betts JG, Blaker W. 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.

Citation

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