Vastus Lateralis (VL)

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

Muscles of the Iliac and Anterior femoral regions2

Muscles of the Iliac and Anterior femoral regions

Cross-section of middle thigh2

Cross-section of middle thigh
Figure 2: Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral region
Reading list
  • MMT

Origin

  • Linea aspera (lateral lip)
  • Greater trochanter (lateral surface)

Some sources suggest that the vastus lateralis originates from the lateral lip of the gluteal tuberosity as well.

Insertion

  • Tibial tuberosity via patellar lig.
  • Patella and tibial tuberosity via Lateral patellar retinacula

Nerve

Femoral N. (L2, L3, L4)

Action

Knee: extension

It should be noted that the vastus medialis is stronger and descends further than the vastus lateralis.

“The VL (Fig. 19-7) is composed of two functional parts: the VL and the vastus lateralis oblique (VLO). The VL has a line of pull of about 12–15° to the long axis of the femur in the frontal plane, whereas the VLO has a pull of 38–48°.”

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.
Weinstock D. NeuroKinetic Therapy: An Innovative Approach to Manual Muscle Testing. North Atlantic Books; 2010.
4.
Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.
5.
Jones B. B Project Foundations. b Project; 2025.
6.
Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.

Citation

For attribution, please cite this work as: