Which nerve supplies sartorius, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis?

Which nerve supplies sartorius, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis?

• A. Obturator Nerve
• B. Sciatic Nerve
• C. Femoral Nerve
• D. Gluteal Nerve

Answer: (C)

The muscles listed—sartorius, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis—are all in the anterior compartment of the thigh and are innervated by the femoral nerve. This nerve carries motor commands to the quadriceps group (including rectus femoris and vastus medialis) as well as the sartorius, enabling knee extension and, in the case of rectus femoris, hip flexion as well. The femoral nerve originates from L2–L4 and travels under the inguinal ligament to reach the thigh, giving off motor branches to these muscles and a sensory path (saphenous nerve) for the medial leg. The other nerves don’t supply these muscles: the obturator nerve mainly powers the medial thigh adductors; the sciatic nerve serves the posterior thigh and most of the leg, and the gluteal nerve supplies the gluteal muscles. This alignment with the anterior thigh muscles is why the femoral nerve is the correct choice.

The muscles listed—sartorius, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis—are all in the anterior compartment of the thigh and are innervated by the femoral nerve. This nerve carries motor commands to the quadriceps group (including rectus femoris and vastus medialis) as well as the sartorius, enabling knee extension and, in the case of rectus femoris, hip flexion as well. The femoral nerve originates from L2–L4 and travels under the inguinal ligament to reach the thigh, giving off motor branches to these muscles and a sensory path (saphenous nerve) for the medial leg.

The other nerves don’t supply these muscles: the obturator nerve mainly powers the medial thigh adductors; the sciatic nerve serves the posterior thigh and most of the leg, and the gluteal nerve supplies the gluteal muscles. This alignment with the anterior thigh muscles is why the femoral nerve is the correct choice.