Four-headed muscle

Musculus quadriceps

  • Related terms: Fourheaded muscle

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

A four-headed muscle (a.k.a. a quadriceps muscle) is a type of skeletal muscle that has four distinct heads of origin, each arising from separate anatomical sites but inserting via a common tendon.

Example

  • Quadriceps femoris (anterior thigh) — composed of rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and vastus intermedius. All four heads converge into the quadriceps tendon, which inserts on the patella and continues as the patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity.

References

  • Gray, H. (2016) Gray’s anatomy the anatomical basis of clinical practice. 41st edition. Edited by S. Standring. New York: Elsevier.