What is the Difference Between Vastus Lateralis and Anterolateral Thigh

Vastus lateralis and anterolateral thigh are two related body structures in the human body. In cross-section, the thigh is divided into three main compartments: the medial fascial compartment of the thigh, the posterior fascial compartment of the thigh, and the anterior fascial compartment of the thigh (anterolateral thigh). The anterior compartment of the thigh contains the sartorius and the four muscles that comprise the quadriceps muscles: rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis.

The key difference between vastus lateralis and anterolateral thigh is their nature. Vastus lateralis is one of the largest and most powerful muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh, while the anterolateral thigh refers to a region of the anterior compartment that contains muscles involved in extending the knee and flexing the hip.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Vastus Lateralis 
3. What is Anterolateral Thigh
4. Similarities – Vastus Lateralis and Anterolateral Thigh
5. Vastus Lateralis vs Anterolateral Thigh in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Vastus Lateralis vs Anterolateral Thigh
7. FAQ – Vastus Lateralis and Anterolateral Thigh

What is Vastus Lateralis?

Vastus lateralis is a muscle located at the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. Vastus lateralis extends from a handbreadth above the knee to a handbreadth below the greater trochanter of the femur. It is the largest and most powerful part of the quadriceps femoris, which is a muscle group in the thigh.

Figure 01: Vastus Lateralis

Together with other muscles of the quadriceps group, the vastus lateralis helps to extend the knee joint and helps to move the lower leg forward. Furthermore, the vastus lateralis muscle is innervated by muscular branches of the femoral nerve known as L2, L3, and L4.

What is Anterolateral Thigh?

Anterolateral thigh is a part of the anterior compartment of thigh. In the thigh, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve gives rise to two branches. The anterior branch supplies innervation to the anterolateral thigh and the knee. The main function of the anterolateral thigh is to extend the leg at the knee joint.

Figure 02: Anterolateral Thigh

Furthermore, anterolateral thigh is a popular site for anterolateral thigh flap. Anterolateral thigh flap is a surgery where a unit of tissue is transferred from one site of the body to another while maintaining its own blood supply. Anterolateral thigh flap has gained popularity as a soft-tissue flap for reconstruction of regional and distal defects.

Similarities Between Septic and Aseptic Meningitis

1. Vastus lateralis and anterolateral thigh are two related structures in the human body.
2. Vastus lateralis is a powerful muscle in the anterolateral thigh.
3. Vastus lateralis and anterolateral thigh flaps are popular options for free tissue transfer in lower extremity reconstruction.
4. Both perform very important functions in the body.

Difference Between Vastus Lateralis and Anterolateral Thigh

Definition

1. Vastus lateralis is one of the largest and more powerful quadriceps muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh.
2. Anterolateral thigh is one part of the anterior compartment of the thigh.

Structure

1. Vastus lateralis is the largest muscle in the quadriceps femoris.
2. Anterolateral thigh is the area between the hip (pelvis) and the knee.

Innervated

1. Vastus lateralis is innervated by the muscular branches of the femoral nerve known as L2, L3, and L4.
2. Anterolateral thigh is innervated by the anterior branch of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, which supplies the innervation to the anterolateral thigh and the knee.

Function

1. The main function of the vastus lateralis is to serve to extend the knee joint and to help move the lower leg forward, and the secondary function is to establish the patella.
2. The main function of the anterolateral thigh is to extend the leg at the knee joint.

The following table summarizes the difference between vastus lateralis and anterolateral thigh.

Summary – Vastus Lateralis vs Anterolateral Thigh

The thigh is subdivided into the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments. The anterior compartment of the thigh contains muscles such as the sartorius, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis. Vastus lateralis and anterolateral thigh are two related body structures. This is becausethe vastuss lateralis is a powerful muscle in the anterolateral thigh. In fact, the vastus lateralis is one of the largest and most powerful muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh and helps to extend the knee joint and to help move the lower leg forward, while the anterolateral thigh is one part of the anterior compartment of the thigh and helps to extend the leg at the knee joint. This is the main difference between vastus lateralis and anterolateral thigh.

FAQ: Vastus Lateralis and Anterolateral Thigh

1. What are the three compartments of the thigh?

• The thigh is responsible for holding most of the weight and balance of the body. It is located in the upper part of the body. The thigh is divided into the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments.

2. What does it mean when the vastus lateralis hurts?

• Certain activities done without proper warmup can cause most of the tears in the vastus lateralis. Moreover, some trauma, such as getting hit with a ball, is more likely to cause a contusion or bruise involving these muscles.

3. What nerve innervates the vastus lateralis muscle?

• Vastus lateralis muscle is located on the lateral side of the thigh. Vastus lateralis is innervated by the muscular branches of the femoral nerve (L2, L3, and L4).

4. What happens if the vastus lateralis is weak?

• Weakness in vastus lateralis leads to a disease called patellofemoral stress syndrome (PFSS). Some patients might suffer from PFPS because of a neuromuscular disbalance between the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis. Patellofemoral stress syndrome can cause pain and difficulty with walking and running.

5. What is the anterolateral thigh supplied by?

• Anterolateral thigh is supplied blood by perforators of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery.

Reference:

1. “Vastus Lateralis.” TeachMeAnatomy.“
2. “Thigh Muscles: Anatomy, Common Injuries, and Functions.” WebMD.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Im-vastus-lateralis” by British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “MedRF_40253” by fickleandfreckled (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

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