RESUMO
Although not mentioned directly in the classical anatomical literature, the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis, which make up the quadriceps femoris muscle, show variations in their anatomical structures due to the presence of long and oblique portions receiving the designation of vastus lateralis longus, vastus lateralis obliques to the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique and vastus long, for the vastus medialis. The aim of this paper is to review the scientific literature regarding the presence of long and oblique portions of the broad medial and lateral portions recognize these as integral parts, anatomically, the quadriceps femoris. To this end, we used published articles in magazines and journals, located through Medline, and Lilacs Excerpa Medica, and the Portal Capes, with the key words: quadriceps, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis longus, vastus medialis oblique , vastus lateralis longus and vastus lateralis oblique. Used to, still, a masters thesis, located at Portal Capes, plus textbooks and atlases of anatomy. Among the 27 surveyed, only two do not recognize these portions as independent structures, considering the differences in fiber orientation. Of the 18 studied anatomy books, no mention such parts. However, eight anatomy books describe differences in trajectory of fiber insertions of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis. Before this study it was concluded that these portions have not only morphological differences but also in other respects proved through scientific studies being published in some of them considered independent muscle suggesting inclusion of muscles in Anatomical Nomina.