This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007)

Thigh
Front and medial aspect of male right thigh
Latin	femur

In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.^[1]

The single bone in the thigh is called the femur. This bone is very thick and strong (due to the high proportion of cortical bone), and forms a ball and socket joint at the hip, and a condylar joint at the knee.

Contents 1 Fascial compartments 2 Blood vessels 3 Thigh weakness 4 Muscles and Fascia of the Thigh 5 References

[edit] Fascial compartments

In cross-section, the thigh is divided up into three fascial compartments. These compartments use the femur as an axis, and are separated by tough connective tissue membranes (or septa). Each of these compartments has its own blood and nerve supply, and contains a different group of muscles.

• Medial fascial compartment of thigh
• Posterior fascial compartment of thigh
• Anterior fascial compartment of thigh

[edit] Blood vessels

The arterial supply is by the femoral artery and the obturator artery. The lymphatic drainage closely follows the arterial supply and drains to the lumbar lymphatic trunks on the corresponding side, which in turn drains to the cisterna chyli.

The deep venous system of the thigh consists of the femoral vein, the proximal part of the popliteal vein, and various smaller vessels; these are the site of proximal deep venous thrombosis. The venae perfortantes connect the deep and the superficial system, which consists of the saphenous veins (the site of varicose veins).

[edit] Thigh weakness

Thigh weakness can result in a positive Gowers' sign on physical examination.

[edit] Muscles and Fascia of the Thigh

Front of thigh muscles from Gray's Anatomy of the human body from 1918.

Back thigh muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions from Gray's Anatomy of the human body from 1918.

Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.

The Obturator externus

[edit] References

Look up thigh in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: thigh

v • d • e Human anatomy (TA A01.1) Head Forehead · Ear · Jaw · Face (Cheek, Eye, Nose, Mouth, Chin) · Occiput · Scalp · Temple Neck Throat · Adam's apple Torso Breast · Thorax · Abdomen · Navel · Back · Pelvis Sex organs Limbs Upper limb Shoulder · Axilla · Arm Elbow · Forearm Wrist · Hand · Finger (Thumb · Index · Middle · Ring · Little) Lower limb/ (see also leg) Hip · Buttocks · Thigh Knee · Calf · Crus Ankle · Heel · Foot · Toe (Hallux · Fifth) · Sole Skin Hair

v • d • e List of muscles of lower limbs (TA A04.7, GA 4.465) ILIAC Region / ILIOPSOAS psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus BUTTOCKS gluteals: (maximus, medius, minimus) · tensor fasciae latae lateral rotator group: quadratus femoris · inferior gemellus · obturator internus · superior gemellus · piriformis THIGH / compartments Anterior sartorius · quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) · articularis genu Posterior/hamstring biceps femoris · semitendinosus · semimembranosus Medial pectineus · obturator externus · gracilis · adductor (longus, brevis, magnus) Fascia Femoral sheath (Femoral canal) · Femoral ring Adductor canal · Adductor hiatus fascia lata (Iliotibial tract, Lateral intermuscular septum of thigh, Medial intermuscular septum of thigh, Fascia cribrosa/Saphenous opening) LEG/ Crus/ compartments Anterior tibialis anterior · extensor hallucis longus · extensor digitorum longus · peroneus tertius Posterior superficial · triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus, Achilles tendon) · plantaris deep · tarsal tunnel (flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior) · popliteus Lateral peroneus muscles (longus, brevis) Fascia Pes anserinus crural fascia (Anterior crural intermuscular septum, Posterior crural intermuscular septum, Transverse intermuscular septum) FOOT Dorsal extensor hallucis brevis · extensor digitorum brevis Plantar 1st layer (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi) · 2nd layer (quadratus plantae, lumbrical muscle) · 3rd layer (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis) · 4th layer (dorsal interossei, plantar interossei) Fascia Plantar fascia retinacula (Peroneal, Inferior extensor, Superior extensor, Flexor)