Thigh Muscles: The thigh muscles can be divided into three segments-
1.Anterior Compartment
2.Medial Compartment
3. Posterior Compartment
Anterior Compartment of Thigh Muscles
There are three major muscles in the anterior thigh – the sartorius, pectineus, and quadriceps femoris. In appreciation to these, the end of the iliopsoas muscle reaches into the anterior compartment.
The muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh are supplied by the femoral nerve (L2-L4), an act to extend the leg at the knee joint.
Medial Compartment of Thigh Muscles
There are five muscles in this group; gracilis, adductor brevis, obturator externus, adductor longus and adductor magnus.
All the medial thigh muscles are supplied by the obturator nerve, that arises from the lumbar plexus. Arterial supply is via the obturator artery.
Posterior Compartment of Thigh Muscles
The posterior compartment of the thigh muscles is collectively identified as the hamstrings. They consist of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.As the group, these muscles act to extend at the hip and flex at the knee. They are supplied by the sciatic nerve (L4-S3).
