Quadriceps are responsible for straightening your knee and can be thought of as the triceps of the leg. They also help provide posture and movement around the hip. They perform the opposite motions of hamstrings.
Quadriceps contribute the majority of the power need for running and jumping. Once planting a foot on the ground, a high jumper or basketball player must contract his or her quadriceps on that leg in order to straighten the knee and press off of the ground.
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One single cell of one of your quadriceps muscles can be up to 12 inches long.