The VLO is the distal oblique fibre bundle of VL, angled 40-50 degrees relative to the femoral shaft. It acts via the lateral patellar retinaculum to control lateral patellar tilt.
| Origin | Lateral intermuscular septum and the VL-vastus intermedius junction |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Superolateral patella via the lateral retinaculum |
| Nerve Supply | Femoral nerve branches (L2, L3, L4) |
| Blood Supply | Descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery |
| Actions | Controls patellar tracking via lateral retinaculum tension; Contributes to knee extension |
|---|
VLO tightness or relative hyperactivity versus VMO is a key factor in lateral patellar compression syndrome. Lateral release divides the VLO contribution to the lateral retinaculum.
Palpated at the superolateral patellar pole during active knee extension.
Relative VLO overactivity producing lateral patellar tilt and anterior knee pain, managed by VMO strengthening and lateral release in refractory cases.
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