The inner quadriceps
Vastus medialis · musculus vastus medialis
The teardrop-shaped quadriceps muscle on the inside of your knee.
What it does
The vastus medialis bulges on the inner side of the thigh just above the knee. It helps straighten the knee and, through its lowest fibres, pulls the kneecap inwards so it glides centrally in its groove.
Surprising fact
Its lower fibres are angled almost sideways, giving the muscle its "teardrop" shape above the inner knee.
Why it matters
Physiotherapists often focus on this muscle for pain at the front of the knee, because poor kneecap tracking can follow when it is weak.
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.