Articularis genu muscle

The articularis genu is a small flat muscle of the anterior knee. During knee extension it acts to tighten the synovial membrane superiorly thereby preventing impingement of the synovial folds between the femur and the patella.

Summary

• origin: anterior distal femoral shaft
• insertion: knee joint capsule
• action: tenses and pulls the knee joint capsule proximally
• arterial supply: lateral circumflex femoral artery
• innervation: femoral nerve

Gross anatomy

Articularis genu is ribbon-like and arises on the anterior surface of the distal quarter of the femoral shaft, deep to the vastus intermedius muscle. It inserts distally onto the synovial membrane of the knee joint and the superior border of the suprapatellar bursa.

Innervation

•  femoral nerve

Variant anatomy

Developmentally, it is a derivative of the vastus intermedius muscle hence may be fused with the muscle.