Vastus+Medialis

toc =Description= This muscle is one of four muscles which form the quadriceps muscle in the thigh. The vastus medialis muscle is also known as the teardrop muscle because of its teardrop shape. It lies on the medial side of the femur, which is the inner thigh, above the knee. The vastus medialis muscle originates from the lower half of the intertrochanteric line (also known as the spiral line) on the medial side, medial linea aspera, pectineal line, medial supracondylar line and the medial intermuscular septum. The muscle fibres run inferiorly and anteriorly to insert into the medial quadriceps tendon and the medial border of the patella. The muscle is supplied by the femoral nerve L2-L4 and receives its blood supply from the femoral artery. The main action of this muscle is to extend the knee joint.
 * Author: Kelisha Naidoo**

=Interactions and relations to other Muscles= The vastus medialis lies next to vastus intermedius. It is deep to the rectus femoris and sartorius muscles. The synergists to vastus medialis are rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius. These muscles form the quadriceps which all extend the knee. The antagonists of the vastus medialis are sartorius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus.

=Relevance to Physiotherapy= Since the vastus medialis muscle forms part of the quadraceps, any injury to this muscle will result in the inability to fully extend the knee. This in turn will affect many aspects such as walking, running, sitting-standing, etc. Physiotherapy will then be required to strengthen the muscle by prescribing exercises. The physiotherapist will prescribe specific exercises that isolate this muscle. In severe cases where patients are unable to walk, the physiotherapist will teach the patient to walk again. If there is slight muscle pain to this muscle then the physiotherapist will be able to use massage techniques to relieve tension and swelling.

=Links to online interactive material=

=References= [] [] [|www.innerbody.com] [|www.getbodysmart.com] [|www.colarado.edu/intphys/iphy3415/ActionsGroupedBROOKE.pdf]