Strange thigh muscle of Eliud Kipchoge

The muscle that usually runs along the part of the mid-anterior thigh, which appears to have horizontal striations in Kipchoge, is the rectus femoris. The rectus femoris has symmetric, obliquely oriented fibers pointing upward along its sides. The other superficially visible anterior thigh muscles in that general area do NOT have horizontal striations.

Skin graft - either graft or donor site - is highly unlikely. For split-thickness graft donor sites, the anterior thigh is most commonly used, but ill effects of poor healing usually have to do with discoloration (hypo- or hyperpigmenation). For graft sites, horizontal ridging is unusual (but perhaps possible). More commonly, graft site surface abnormalities have to do with interface between normal and grafted skin, as well as meshed appearance if a mesher is used.

Fiber orientation CAN change, however, with phases of contraction (concentric, eccentric, isometric). The phase of running shown in Kipchoge is mid-swing, where the rectus femoris is eccentrically active.

Those aren't striations. His quads are even in a stretched state.

Alan

Consider this.... wrote:

disgraceful_admin wrote:

Only thing recoiling is your microscopic intellect.

Here are some similar striations ...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4306503&d=1333469232

Clearly a tribal surgical procedure...

The pic you linked are not striations, you booby, those are fasicles, for which that is the normal orientation in the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis in your muscle bound example. If you had any clue whatsoever, however, the rectus femoris, being a bipennate muscle, has two rows of fasicles running in diagonal directions, which is not what Kipchoge is displaying. Another moran!

The vastus medialis and lateralis fibers are NOT oriented horizontally.

Runningart2004 wrote:

Those aren't striations. His quads are even in a stretched state.

Alan

As I mentioned, fiber orientation can change depending on limb position. During the swing phase, the rectus femoris is the only quadriceps muscle to fire, helping to eccentrically control the thigh as it extends (the iliacus, a deep structure, is also similarly active for this reason).

So only that ONE muscle is showing striations? Not the delts, not the other leg muscles just that one? Nope. That's not how it works. I've been striated. Have you seen bodybuilding shows? He's not nearly as lean enough and not nearly dehydrated enough.

Alan

As I explained before, it's worms. The bodybuilder's worms ate different muscles. They never know when they eat a worm egg (not really pills at all) which muscle the worm will replace.

Or it might be wave harmonics. If you watch a muscle in motion you'll realize it jiggles around a lot.

and notice this is a pic of a dude JUICED TO THE GILLS

That's IT! They're gills!

Bad Wigins wrote:

That's IT! They're gills!

These posts are awful even for you, and you are among the least interesting trolls here on your best day.

This has become a classic thread.

So it's agreed?

He's a salamander people.

From space.

Runningart2004 wrote:

So only that ONE muscle is showing striations? Not the delts, not the other leg muscles just that one? Nope. That's not how it works. I've been striated. Have you seen bodybuilding shows? He's not nearly as lean enough and not nearly dehydrated enough.

Alan

As I mentioned, muscle orientation can change depending on limb position and contractile state.

There are similar images of Eliud Kipchoge's opposite side rectus femoris revealing the same exact pattern (google it). The rectus femoris is a unique and indispensable prime mover in running, as it is the sole quadriceps muscle crossing both the hip and knee joints. Therefore, it takes on dual and important roles in running throughout all 3 phases. Your anecdotal experience with lean bodybuilders is nice but irrelevant, as they do not undergo the dynamic phases of running during their shows.

The key to visualizing this ridged horizontal pattern in the rectus femoris of lean runners is looking for it in the limb that is swinging backwards (technically, mid-swing phase). This is when the rectus femoris assumes a unique eccentrically contracted state that alters fiber orientation. The image has to capture a specific fraction of the swing phase in order to reveal this pattern. Kipchoge is certainly 'lean enough' for this to be seen, as there are numerous images revealing etched out anterior thigh musculature. Note also that subcutaneous fat is distributed variable throughout the body, and this differs widely between individuals (as well as between muscles). I would agree, though, that many runners are NOT lean enough for the trailing limb rectus femoris ridging to be seen.

Itsa wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

That's IT! They're gills!

These posts are awful even for you, and you are among the least interesting trolls here on your best day.

If you didn't like my posts you wouldn't read them, so quit whining. Especially since you're not paying. Find something you like instead of acting the entitled ass.

A has-been who never was wrote:

I will try and give a serious answer to this question. I am a 62-year old, ex-2:16 marathoner. In my good running years, I had big quads and I had the same thing. To show it, I need only pull my heel to my butt with my hand. (Stretching the quad). Had the same horizontal, three-dimensional lines (bumps).. Someone gave me a reasonable explaination for it. He said that the quad was so big that there were tears or weakness in the sheath surrounding the quad. It was basically bulging out in these weak or torn areas. Now that I am older and weaker with smaller quads, I don't really have it anymore. Pulling my heal to my butt, I can barely still feel it. I hope this helps.

Ignore the unfunny Bad Moron. This is the best reply until now.

Bad Wigins wrote:

That's IT! They're gills!

Exactly, they're Shape-shifting, lizard-men taking parasitic PEDs. Notice closely they never actually drink the water offered at the stations. Uncle Phil cut a deal with Area 51 for 'specimens,' it seems that regular Kenyans on EPO were no longer sufficient to his plans.

Somebody mentioned bodybuilders. There are images of Greg Kovacs in some positions that have a similar rectus femoris muscle.

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

That's IT! They're gills!

Exactly, they're Shape-shifting, lizard-men taking parasitic PEDs. Notice closely they never actually drink the water offered at the stations. Uncle Phil cut a deal with Area 51 for 'specimens,' it seems that regular Kenyans on EPO were no longer sufficient to his plans.

I think it's safe to say these are either parasites, or residual scar tissue from parasitic transfection.