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Submitted: 2023-09-03
Accepted: 2023-11-23
Published online: 2023-12-05
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Quadriceps femoris muscle: anatomical variations, population frequencies and clinical implications

Pedro Angullo-Gómez1, Cristina Jiménez-Luna21, Gloria Perazzoli21, Jose Prados23, Raul Ortiz21, Laura Cabeza23
DOI: 10.5603/fm.97238
·
Pubmed: 38078737
Affiliations
  1. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
  2. Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine (IBIMER), Center of Biomedical Research (CIBM), Granada University, Granada, Spain
  3. Instituto Biosanitario de Granada, (ibs. GRANADA), Granada, Spain

open access

Ahead of Print
REVIEW ARTICLES
Submitted: 2023-09-03
Accepted: 2023-11-23
Published online: 2023-12-05

Abstract

Recently, the classical anatomy of the quadriceps femoris has been questioned after the publication of various morphological variations that differ from the classical description. Therefore, it is necessary to collect information to reach an agreement on its structure. For this, a systematic review was carried out using the Web of Science, Pubmed and ProQuest scientific databases, obtaining a total of 29 papers finally included in the systematic review after being subjected to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results obtained showed an important and variable prevalence of new configurations described, such as additional heads in the rectus femoris, a different origin of the vastus intermedius, various portions of the vastus lateralis, or the involvement of the vastus medialis in the patellofemoral musculature. For this reason, understanding the anatomy of the quadriceps femoris is a matter that has not yet been fully resolved, with high variability among people that must be studied prior to the application of an invasive and/or surgical procedure.

Abstract

Recently, the classical anatomy of the quadriceps femoris has been questioned after the publication of various morphological variations that differ from the classical description. Therefore, it is necessary to collect information to reach an agreement on its structure. For this, a systematic review was carried out using the Web of Science, Pubmed and ProQuest scientific databases, obtaining a total of 29 papers finally included in the systematic review after being subjected to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results obtained showed an important and variable prevalence of new configurations described, such as additional heads in the rectus femoris, a different origin of the vastus intermedius, various portions of the vastus lateralis, or the involvement of the vastus medialis in the patellofemoral musculature. For this reason, understanding the anatomy of the quadriceps femoris is a matter that has not yet been fully resolved, with high variability among people that must be studied prior to the application of an invasive and/or surgical procedure.

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Keywords

anatomy, quadriceps femoris muscle, anatomical variation, population biological variation

About this article
Title

Quadriceps femoris muscle: anatomical variations, population frequencies and clinical implications

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Ahead of Print

Article type

Review article

Published online

2023-12-05

Page views

206

Article views/downloads

336

DOI

10.5603/fm.97238

Pubmed

38078737

Keywords

anatomy
quadriceps femoris muscle
anatomical variation
population biological variation

Authors

Pedro Angullo-Gómez
Cristina Jiménez-Luna
Gloria Perazzoli
Jose Prados
Raul Ortiz
Laura Cabeza

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