9. Vastus Intermedius

Origin: Anterior and lateral surface of the femoral shaft

Insertion: Tibial tuberosity via the patella tendon

Action: Extension of the lower leg

Innervation: Femoral nerve (L2/3/4)

Vastus intermedius muscle.
Figure 3.23 Vastus intermedius, by Athikhun.suw, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Femoral neurovascular bundle (Femoral artery, nerve and vein).
Figure 3.24 Femoral neurovascular bundle (femoral artery, nerve and vein), by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Supine

Palpation: Palpate the front of the thigh

Technique: Needle perpendicular to this muscle using the femur as a bony backdrop

Caution: Low (as long as you are below the femoral triangle)

Needling vastus intermedius.
Figure 3.25 Needling vastus intermedius, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 3.9 Needling of vastus intermedius, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

License

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Sinew Channel Needling Copyright © 2026 by Nadine Crocker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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