Vastus medialis

Looks like

The teardrop-shaped quadriceps head on the inner thigh just above the knee.

What it does

Straightens the knee and helps keep the kneecap on track.

Keeping it well

Wastes quickly after knee injury; early exercises help restore knee control.

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Dermatomyositis and polymyositis
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Growing pains
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscle strain (pulled muscle)
• Muscular dystrophy
• Osgood–Schlatter disease
• Poliomyelitis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Restless legs syndrome
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain)
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Tetanus
• Trichinellosis
• Varicose veins