The vastus lateralis is innervated by which nerve?

The vastus lateralis is innervated by which nerve?

• A. Femoral nerve
• B. Obturator nerve
• C. Tibial nerve
• D. Common fibular nerve

Answer: (A)

Muscles in the anterior thigh that extend the knee, like vastus lateralis, are supplied by the femoral nerve. This nerve comes from the L2–L4 spinal levels and travels under the inguinal ligament into the anterior thigh, where it gives motor branches to the quadriceps group, including vastus lateralis. That makes sense because the femoral nerve is the main innervation for the quadriceps, enabling knee extension. The other nerves listed innervate different regions: the obturator nerve mainly handles the medial thigh adductors; the tibial nerve and the common fibular (peroneal) nerve supply the posterior thigh and leg compartments, not the quadriceps.

Muscles in the anterior thigh that extend the knee, like vastus lateralis, are supplied by the femoral nerve. This nerve comes from the L2–L4 spinal levels and travels under the inguinal ligament into the anterior thigh, where it gives motor branches to the quadriceps group, including vastus lateralis. That makes sense because the femoral nerve is the main innervation for the quadriceps, enabling knee extension.

The other nerves listed innervate different regions: the obturator nerve mainly handles the medial thigh adductors; the tibial nerve and the common fibular (peroneal) nerve supply the posterior thigh and leg compartments, not the quadriceps.