Quadratus+femoris


 * Author: Liezl Levendal**

toc =Description = Quadratus femoris is a rectangular shaped muscle which originates from the lateral aspect of the ischium just anterior to the ischial tuberosity (just above the gluteal fold), and runs horizontally laterally to insert into the quadrate tubercle of the intertrochantic crest on the posterior surface of the proximal femur. This muscle is mainly responsible for lateral rotation of the extended thigh and also abduction of the flexed knee. Quadratus femoris is supplied by its own nerve namely the nerve to quadratus femoris, and blood is supplied by the internal pudendal and inferior gluteal arteries which arise from the internal iliac artery. Further blood is supplied by the lateral and medial femoral arteries which arise from the femoral artery. An example of lateral rotation of the thigh would be when standing in the typical ballet “first position.”

=Interactions and relations to other Muscle = The upper and lower borders of this horizontal muscle lie edge to edge with inferior gemellus above and the upper border of adductor magnus below. Piriformis, the gemelli, obturator internus and quadratus femoris work in conjunction to stabilise the hip joint. They all laterally rotate the extended thigh and are also abductors of the flexed thigh. Muscles that antagonize the lateral rotators are adductor longus and brevis, gluteus minimus and gluteus medius, tensor fascia latae, semimembranous and semitendinosus which all act as medial rotators of the thigh.

=Relevance to Occupational Therapy = It is vital not only that OT’s are familiar with this muscle but all muscles of the lower limb especially because we deal with patients who are paralyzed from the waist down. This usually results from spinal cord injuries and therefore it is important to also know where the muscle receives its innervation from. People who are quadriplegic may also develop pressure sores which result due to inactivity of the muscle. The person is unable to feel and therefore cannot sense when the muscle is under pressure (for example sitting in a wheelchair all day puts pressure on the superficial muscles of the gluteal region). Due to the inability to feel the person does not move around to alleviate the pressure and the person then develops pressure sores. It is also important to know the muscles of the lower limb so that the OT is able to identify any deviances from the “norm” and plan therapeutic intervention accordingly. With regard to the quadratus femoris being injured the OT would use daily activities to intervene to strengthen the muscle in a graded manner. If the client was to do ballet the OT would then encourage the client to maintain the first position to strengthen this muscle.

=Links to online interactive material =

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=References = Chummy S. Sinnatamby; last's anatomy. 12th ed. Andrew J. Kuntzman/ Gerard J. Tortora; Anatomy and Physiology fot the manual therapies.