Function
The Vastus Medialis is one of five muscles which resides in the anterior compartment of the thigh. The vasti muscles appear to act largely in a co-ordinated manner throughout the control of knee extension. The vastus medialis contributes to correct tracking of the patella and characteristics of the vastus medialis, including its angle of insertion, correlate with presence of patellofemoral joint pain. However, this syndrome is complex and definitive evidence of causality has not yet been published.
A division of the vastus medialis muscle into two populations of fibers has been hypothesized. One population is thought to be long and relatively inline with the quadriceps ligament: the vastus medialis longus (VML); the other is thought to be shorter and more obliquely oriented with respect to the quadriceps ligament: the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO). At the present time, there is insufficient evidence to conclusively confirm or deny this hypothesis. For clinical and rehabilitation purposes, the vastus medialis is often referred to simply as the VMO in reference to its potentially important role in correct patellar tracking and prevention of patellofemoral joint syndrome.
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