Rectus femoris is innervated by which nerve?

Rectus femoris is innervated by which nerve?

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

Answer: (D)

Rectus femoris is part of the quadriceps group and, like the other quadriceps muscles, it is supplied by the femoral nerve. The femoral nerve carries motor fibers from L2–L4 and innervates the quadriceps, enabling knee extension. Rectus femoris, however, crosses both the hip and knee joints, so it also acts as a hip flexor, which aligns with the femoral nerve’s domain over the anterior thigh muscles. In contrast, the sciatic nerve mainly innervates the posterior thigh hamstrings and most leg muscles, the obturator nerve supplies most of the medial thigh adductors, and the superior gluteal nerve targets gluteal muscles. Thus, the correct innervation for rectus femoris is the femoral nerve.

Rectus femoris is part of the quadriceps group and, like the other quadriceps muscles, it is supplied by the femoral nerve. The femoral nerve carries motor fibers from L2–L4 and innervates the quadriceps, enabling knee extension. Rectus femoris, however, crosses both the hip and knee joints, so it also acts as a hip flexor, which aligns with the femoral nerve’s domain over the anterior thigh muscles. In contrast, the sciatic nerve mainly innervates the posterior thigh hamstrings and most leg muscles, the obturator nerve supplies most of the medial thigh adductors, and the superior gluteal nerve targets gluteal muscles. Thus, the correct innervation for rectus femoris is the femoral nerve.