Tensor vastus intermedius muscle
The tensor vastus intermedius is a muscle in the anterior compartment of thigh. It lies between the vastus intermedius and the vastus lateralis. The term tensor vastus intermedius was given by Grob et al. in 2016,[1] although the structure had been reported previously.[2][3]
| Tensor vastus intermedius muscle | |
|---|---|
 Tensor vastus intermedius muscle | |
| Details | |
| Origin | anterior aspect of the greater trochanter |
| Insertion | medial aspect of the patella |
| Artery | lateral circumflex femoral artery |
| Nerve | femoral nerve |
| Actions | Medialises the action and tenses on the aponeurosis of the vastus intermedius |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Musculus tensor vastus intermedius |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Structure
The tensor vastus intermedius muscle originates from the proximal part of femur specifically from the anterior part of the greater trochanter.[1] The muscle lies anterior to the vastus intermedius but deep to the rectus femoris. The tendinous part of the muscle is closely related to, and sometimes fuses with, the aponeurosis of the vastus intermedius. Distally, it joins the quadriceps tendon and inserts to the medial aspect of the patella.[1] It is supplied by the femoral nerve and the lateral circumflex femoral artery.
Variations
This muscle is categorised into five types according to morphology: the independent type, VI-type, VL-type, common type and two-belly type.[1] The independent type of the tensor vastus intermedius, also the most frequent type, has its tendon lying between the vastus intermedius and the vastus lateralis. For the VI-type and the VL-type, the tendinous part of the muscle is integrated into the fascia of the vastus intermedius and the vastus lateralis respectively. For the common type, it has a non-separable origin between the intertrochanteric line and greater trochanter. Two separate muscle bellies can be found for the two-belly types.
Functions
The tensor vastus intermedius muscle tenses on the aponeurosis of the vastus intermedius and also medialises the action of the muscle. It also acts as a second tensor in addition to the tensor fasciae latae.
Muscle architecture
Recently, ultrasound studies have provided insight into the muscle architecture of this musculature and its long tendon[4][5] Particularly, these studies have suggested that the tensor of vastus intermedius has a small cross-sectional area compared to other individual quadriceps muscles.
References
- Grob, K.; Ackland, T.; Kuster, M.S.; Manestar, M.; Filgueira, L. (March 2016). "A newly discovered muscle: The tensor of the vastus intermedius: Tensor Vastus Intermedius" (PDF). Clinical Anatomy. 29 (2): 256–263. doi:10.1002/ca.22680. PMID 26732825. S2CID 38157592.
- Willan, P L; Mahon, M; Golland, J A (February 1990). "Morphological variations of the human vastus lateralis muscle". Journal of Anatomy. 168: 235–239. PMC 1256904. PMID 2323995.
- Golland, Jennifer; Mahon, M.; Willan, P. L. T. "Anatomical variations in human quadriceps femoris muscles": 263–264.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) in "Proceedings of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, January 1986". Journal of Anatomy. 146: 229–268. June 1986. PMC 1166538. PMID 17103594. - Sahinis, C.; Kellis, E.; Ellinoudis, A.; Dafkou, K. (September 2020). "In Vivo Assessment of the Tensor Vastus Intermedius Cross-sectional Area Using Ultrasonography". Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 10 (3): 416. doi:10.32098/mltj.03.2020.09.
- Sahinis, Chrysostomos; Kellis, Eleftherios; Galanis, Nikiforos; Dafkou, Konstantinos; Ellinoudis, Athanasios (11 May 2020). "Intra- and inter-muscular differences in the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps muscles assessed by extended field-of-view ultrasonography". Medical Ultrasonography. 22 (2): 152–158. doi:10.11152/mu-2302. PMID 32190847.