The muscles of the thigh region are divided into three compartments, anterior, medial,
and posterior. The cadaver that I practiced and applied my dissection skills on is on tank #21,
right thigh. Once I removed the skin, I recognized the hypodermis where a lot of fat was stored
as well as the greater saphenous vein. After removing all the fat, I recognized the fascia lata, the
deep fascia of the thigh covering the muscles. I made a careful dissection differentiating the
difference between the fascia lata, iliotibial tract, and tensor fascia lata muscle.
The anterior compartment of the thigh is innervated by the femoral nerve, except for
psoas major, and blood is supplied by the femoral artery. The cadaver I dissected revealed the
muscles rectus femoris, vastus medialis, intermedius, and lateralis, sartorious, psoas major,
illiacus, and pectineus. The muscle rectus femoris originates from the anterior inferior iliac spine.
The muscle is located in the middle of the thigh and it is fusiform in shape. Its insertion is on the
patella and tibial tuberosity. The vastus medialis originates from the shaft of the femur. The
muscle is located on the medial side of the thigh. Its insertion is on the patella and tibial
tuberosity. The muscle vastus intermedius originates from the shaft of the femur. The muscle is
located in the middle of the thigh, just below the rectus femoris muscle. Its insertion is on the
patella and tibial tuberosity. The muscle vastus lateralis originates from the shaft of femur. The
muscle is located on the lateral side of the thigh, next to the tensor fascia lata muscle. Its
insertion is on the patella and tibial tuberosity. The muscle sartorious originates from the anterior
superior iliac spine. The muscle is long and appears to run from the lateral side of the thigh to the
medial. Its insertion is the upper medial tibial shaft. The muscle psoas major originates from the
bodies of the lumbar vertebrae and transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae. I did not see
this muscle on my cadaver but I looked on other students’ dissected cadaver and noticed that it
was fusiform in shape. I also noticed the femoral nerve that ran on the lateral border of the
muscle. It is innervated by the lumbar plexus and its insertion is the lesser trochanter. The
illiacus muscle originates from the iliac fossa. I also did not see this muscle on my cadaver but I
looked on other students’ dissected cadaver as well and noticed that it was a very flat muscle. Its
insertion is on the lesser trochanter. The psoas major and illiacus muscle both make up the
illiopsoas. The last muscle of the anterior compartment is the pectineus. I dissected the muscle
but I was not able to see where it originated and inserted. I looked on other students’ dissected
cadaver and noticed that it originates from the pectineal line of the pubis and its insertion is on
the proximal femur.
The medial compartment of the thigh is innervated by the obturator nerve and blood is
supplied by the obturator artery and medial circumflex femoral artery. The cadaver I dissected
revealed the muscles gracilis, adductor longus, adductor brevis, obturator externus, and adductor
magnus (adductor head). The muscle gracilis originates from the pubic symphysis, which I
accidently tore while cleaning my muscle. The muscle is thin and narrow, running down the
medial side of the thigh. Its insertion is on the proximal tibia. The muscle adductor longus can be
found next to the pectineus muscle. I dissected the muscle but I was not able to see where it
originated and inserted. I looked on other students’ dissected cadaver and noticed that it
originates from the pubis below the crest. Its insertion is on the linea aspera. The adductor brevis
was seen when I dissected below the adductor longus. I dissected the muscle but I was not able
to see where it originated and inserted. I looked on other students’ dissected cadaver and
palpated for its origin, inferior ramus of pubis and its insertion, proximal femur. The muscle
obturator externus was seen when I dissected below the pectineus muscle. I dissected the muscle
but I was not able to see where it originated and inserted. I looked on other students’ dissected
cadaver and palpated for its origin, obturator foramen, and its insertion, trochanteric fossa. The
last muscle of the medial compartment is the adductor magnus (adductor head) which originates
from ischial and inferior pubic rami. Its insertion is on the linea aspera and medial supracondular
line.
The posterior compartment of the thigh is innervated by the tibial nerve, except the short
head of the biceps femoris and blood is supplied through the deep femoral artery. The cadaver I
dissected revealed the muscles adductor magus (hamstring head), semitendinosus,
semimembranosus, and biceps femoris, short and long head. The muscle adductor magus
(hamstring head) originates from the ischial tuberosity. Through the adductor hiatus, the femoral
artery and vein pass through becoming the popliteal artery and vein. Its insertion is on the
adductor tubercle. The muscle semitendinosus originates from the ischial tuberosity, which I
accidently tore while cleaning my muscle. The muscle can be identified easily because it is
primarily tendon and it is fusiform in shape. Its insertion is on the upper medial tibial shaft. The
muscle semimembranosus originates from the ischial tubersosity, which I also accidently tore
while cleaning my muscle. Its insertion is on the medial condyle of the tibia. The last muscle of
the posterior compartment is biceps femoris, short and long head. The long head originates from
the ischial tuberosity. Its insertion is on the head of the fibula. Below the long head and attached
to, is the short head. The short head originates from the linea aspera and lateral supracondylar
line. The short head is the only muscle of the posterior compartment that is innervated by the
common fibular nerve, a branch of the sciatic nerve. Its insertion is on the head of the fibula.