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rectus femoris

noun

rectus fe·​mo·​ris -ˈfem-ə-rəs How to pronounce rectus femoris (audio)
: a division of the quadriceps muscle lying in the anterior middle region of the thigh, arising from the ilium by two heads, inserted into the tuberosity of the tibia by a narrow flattened tendon, and acting to flex the thigh at the hip and with the rest of the quadriceps to extend the leg at the knee

Cite this Entry

“Rectus femoris.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/rectus%20femoris. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

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