RT Journal Article
T1 Quadriceps or multiceps femoris?—Cadaveric study
A1 Olewnik, Lukasz
A1 Tubbs, Richard Shane
A1 Ruzik, Kacper
A1 Aragonés Maza, Paloma
A1 Wasniewska, Anna
A1 Karauda, Piotr
A1 Szewczyk, Bartłomiej
A1 Sañudo Tejero, José Ramón
A1 Polguj, Michal
AB PurposeThe quadriceps femoris (QF) consists of four muscles: the rectus femoris; vastus medialis; vastus lateralis, and vastus intermediate. The tendons of all of these parts join together into a single tendon that attaches to the patella. The QF is a powerful extensor of the knee joint that is needed for walking. A growing number of publications have examined the fifth head of the QF muscle. There is no information about the possibility of other heads, and there is no correct classification of their proximal attachments. Further, the frequency of occurrence of additional heads/components of the QF remains unclear.MethodsOne hundred and six lower limbs (34 male and 18 female) fixed in 10% formalin solution were examined.ResultsAdditional heads of the QF were present in 64.1% of the limbs. Three main types were identified and included subtypes. The most common was Type I (44.1%), which had an independent fifth head. This type was divided into two subtypes (A-B) depending on its location relative to the vastus intermediate. The second most common type was Type II (30.8%), which originated from other muscles: IIA from the vastus lateralis; IIB from the vastus intermediate, and IIC from the gluteus minimus. In addition, Type III (25%) was characterized by multiple heads: IIIA—two heads with a single common tendon; IIIB—two heads with two separate tendons; IIIC—three heads (lateral, intermediate, medial), and IIID—four heads (bifurcated lateral and bifurcated medial).ConclusionThe introduction of a new classification based on a proximal attachment is necessary. The presence of the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth head varies.
PB Wiley
SN 0897-3806
YR 2020
FD 2020-07-07
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/107244
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/107244
LA eng
NO Olewnik Ł, Tubbs RS, Ruzik K, Podgórski M, Aragonés P, Waśniewska A, et al. Quadriceps or multiceps femoris?—Cadaveric study. Clin Anat [Internet]. 2021;34(1):71–81. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ca.23646
DS Docta Complutense
RD 19 mar 2026