Vastus lateralis

Vastus lateralis muscle
Muscles of lower extremity (rectus femoris have been removed)
Vastus lateralis
Details
Origin	Greater trochanter, Intertrochanteric line, and Linea aspera of the Femur
Insertion	Patella via the Quadriceps tendon and Tibial tuberosity via the Patellar ligament
Artery	lateral circumflex femoral artery
Nerve	femoral nerve
Actions	Extends and stabilizes knee
Antagonist	Hamstring
Identifiers
Latin	Musculus vastus lateralis or musculus vastus externus
TA	A04.7.02.021
FMA	22431
Anatomical terms of muscle []

The Vastus lateralis (/ˈvæstəsˌlætəˈreɪlᵻs/ or /ˈvæstəsˌlætəˈrælᵻs/), also called the ''vastus externus'' is the largest and most powerful part of the quadriceps femoris, a muscle in the thigh. It arises from a series of flat, broad tendons attached to the femur, and attaches to the outer border of the patella. It ultimately joins with the other muscles that make up the quadriceps in the quadriceps tendon, which travels over the knee to connect to the tibia.

The vastus lateralis arises from the several areas of the femur, including the upper part of the intertrochanteric line; the lower, anterior borders of the greater trochanter, to the outer border of the gluteal tuberosity, and the upper half of the outer border of the linea aspera. These form an aponeurosis, a broad flat tendon which covers the upper three-quarters of the muscle. From the inner surface of the aponeurosis, many muscle fibres originate. Some additional fibres arise from the tendon of the gluteus maximus muscle, and from the septum between the vastus lateralis and short head of the biceps femoris.