Articularis Genus

Distal Fibers of Vastus Intermedius

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel 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

Schematic of Anterior Thigh Muscles¹
1: Sartorius
2: Rectus Femoris
3: Vastus Medialis
4: Vastus Lateralis
Vastus Intermedius

Deep Layer of Anterior Thigh Muscle¹

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Articular genus	Anterior Femoral shaft	Suprapatellar recess of knee joint capsule	Femoral n. L2 - L4	Knee: Extension Knee Jt. Capsule: Retraction of the suprapatellar bursa to prevent entrapment

Origin

Anterior side of femoral shaft at level of the suprapatellar recess¹

Insertion

Suprapatellar recess of knee joint capsule¹

Nerve

Femoral N. (L2, L3, L4)¹

Action

• Knee: Extension¹
• Knee Capsule: Retracts the suprapatellar bursa to prevent entrapment of capsule¹

Notes

“This muscle contains a few slips of fibers that attach proximally to the anterior side of the distal femur, and then distally into the anterior capsule. This muscle pulls the capsule and synovial membrane proximally during active knee extension.303 The articularis genu is analogous to the poorly defined articularis cubiti at the elbow.”²

References

1.

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

2.

Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.