The kicking muscle
Rectus femoris · musculus rectus femoris
The one quadriceps muscle that crosses both hip and knee, used to kick a ball.
What it does
The rectus femoris runs straight down the front of the thigh from the pelvis to the kneecap. It is one of four quadriceps muscles, and the only one that crosses the hip. That lets it both lift the thigh and straighten the knee, the combination you need to kick a ball.
Surprising fact
Its name means "straight muscle of the thigh", and footballers are prone to tearing it with a powerful, mistimed kick.
Why it matters
Strong quadriceps protect the knee joint, and keeping them strong is one of the best ways to manage knee arthritis.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.