<P> The muscles responsible for the movement of the knee joint belong to either the anterior, medial or posterior compartment of the thigh . The extensors generally belong to the anterior compartment and the flexors to the posterior . The two exceptions to this is gracilis, a flexor, which belongs to the medial compartment and sartorius, a flexor, in the anterior compartment . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Muscle </Th> <Th> Origin </Th> <Th> Insertion </Th> <Th> Artery </Th> <Th> Nerve </Th> <Th> Action </Th> <Th> Antagonist </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Articularis genus </Td> <Td> Distal end of anterior femoral shaft </Td> <Td> Proximal extension of the joint capsule of the knee </Td> <Td> Femoral artery </Td> <Td> Femoral nerve </Td> <Td> Pulling the suprapatellar bursa during extension of the knee </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Quadriceps femoris </Td> <Td> Combined rectus femoris and vastus muscles </Td> <Td> Patella and Tibial tuberosity via the Patellar ligament </Td> <Td> Femoral artery </Td> <Td> Femoral nerve </Td> <Td> Extension of the knee; flexion of the hip (rectus femoris only) </Td> <Td> Hamstring </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rectus femoris </Td> <Td> Anterior inferior iliac spine and the exterior surface of the bony ridge which forms the iliac portion of the acetabulum </Td> <Td> Patella and Tibial tuberosity via the Patellar ligament </Td> <Td> Femoral artery </Td> <Td> Femoral nerve </Td> <Td> Extension of the knee; flexion of the hip </Td> <Td> Hamstring </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vastus lateralis </Td> <Td> Greater trochanter, Intertrochanteric line, and Linea aspera of the femur </Td> <Td> Patella and tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament </Td> <Td> Femoral artery </Td> <Td> Femoral nerve </Td> <Td> Extends and stabilizes knee </Td> <Td> Hamstring </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vastus intermedius </Td> <Td> Antero / lateral femur </Td> <Td> Patella and tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament </Td> <Td> Femoral artery </Td> <Td> Femoral nerve </Td> <Td> Extension of the knee </Td> <Td> Hamstring </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vastus medialis </Td> <Td> Femur </Td> <Td> Patella and tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament </Td> <Td> Femoral artery </Td> <Td> Femoral nerve </Td> <Td> Extension of the knee </Td> <Td> Hamstring </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Muscle </Th> <Th> Origin </Th> <Th> Insertion </Th> <Th> Artery </Th> <Th> Nerve </Th> <Th> Action </Th> <Th> Antagonist </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Articularis genus </Td> <Td> Distal end of anterior femoral shaft </Td> <Td> Proximal extension of the joint capsule of the knee </Td> <Td> Femoral artery </Td> <Td> Femoral nerve </Td> <Td> Pulling the suprapatellar bursa during extension of the knee </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr>

Where is the articular cartilage located in the knee