1. Review of the lower limb Flashcards
What is the hip joint composed of?
The femoral head and the acetabulum
What is the relative stability of the hip joint?
This is a very very stable joint
What is the difference between the surgical neck and the anatomical neck?
Anatomical neck - region located just inferior to the anatomical head
Surgical neck - the area of the bone that breaks most often
Where are the anatomical and the surgical necks of the femur located?
The anatomical and surgical necks of the femur are both the same
Where on the femur do muscles attach?
Greater and lesser trochanter
What is shenton’s line?
Continuous arch drawn underneath the superior pubic ramus and the inferomedial border of the neck of the femur
What dislocation generally occurs at the hip and why is this more common?
Posterior dislocation due to the very strong ilio-femoral ligament which is anterior to the hip joint
This is one of the strongest ligaments of the body
What are the three major ligaments of the hip joint?
Ilio-femoral ligament - main one to be aware of:
Anterior to the hip joint
Y-shaped ligament
Pubo-femoral ligament
Ischo-femoral ligament
What is the ligamentum teres of the hip?
This is a ligament within the hop joint itself - within the acetabulum (to the head of the femur)
This ligaments helps to keep the femoral head in the socket
Which muscles attach to the greater trochanter of the femur?
Tendons of the: Gluteus medius Gluteus minimus Piriformis Obturator internus Gemelli
Which muscles attach to the lesser trochanter of the femur?
Tendons of the:
Iliacus
Psoas major
How do the ligaments of the hip work to ensure stability and allow movement of the hip joint?
When the leg moves anteriorly and is flexed, these ligaments are relaxed and slack
When the leg moves backwards, the ligaments twist and turn and this moves the femoral head further into the acetabulum
What is the blood supply to the lower limb?
External iliac artery from the common iliac artery (also have the internal iliac artery)
Continues on as the femoral artery to the popliteal artery
Splits to the anterior and posterior tibial arteries
(Very good explanation in the anatomy colouring book)
What is the blood supply to the hip joint?
Deep artery of the thigh branches early from the femoral artery (aka. profunda femoris artery)
Medial circumflex artery branch from the femoral
Lateral circumflex artery branch from the femoral
Artery to the head of the femur
The majority of the blood supply to the hip joint is from the circumflex arteries
What is the issue with artery to the head of the femur?
This is not very important in adults - does not provide enough blood supply to the head of the femur by itself
What is the clinical significance of a fracture to the neck of the femur?
A fracture to the neck of the femur can result in avascular necrosis to the head of the femur
This is because the fracture can disrupt the blood supply from the profunda femori and the circumflex arteries and the artery to the head of the femur does not supply enough blood to compensate for this
Which ligaments result in the formation of the greater and lesser foramina?
The sacrospinous ligament - superior
The sacrotuberous ligament - inferior
What passes through the greater scaitic foramen?
7 nerves: Sciatic Nerve: Superior Gluteal Nerve: Inferior Gluteal Nerve: Pudendal Nerve: Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Nerve to Quadratus Femoris Nerve to Obturator Internus
3 Vessel Sets:
Superior Gluteal Artery & Vein
Inferior Gluteal Artery & vein
Internal Pudendal Artery & vein
1 Muscle:
Piriformis
Where in the bum would you apply an intramuscular injection to the gluteus maximus muscle and why?
In the upper outer quadrant of the gluteal quadrants
Apply here to ensure you avoid the sciatic nerve (also to avoid the inferior and superior gluteal nerves but not as major)
What is the function of the gluteus maximus?
Extension of the hip
Lateral rotation of the hip
What is the function of the gluteus minimus and medius?
Abduction of the hip
What is the innervation of the gluteus maximus?
Inferior gluteal nerve
What is the innervation of the gluteus minimus and medius?
Superior gluteal nerve
Where does the gluteus maximus insert into?
3/4 inserts into the iliotibial tract
1/4 inserts into the gluteal tuberosity of the femur
What is the function of the piriformis muscle and what is the nerve root for this?
Aids the gluteus maximus with lateral rotation of the hip - also done by other lateral rotator muscles
Nerve root for this group of muscles: L5, S1, S2
What is the trendelenburg test?
To test for damage to the hip abductors i.e. the superior gluteal nerve going to the gluteus minimus and maximus
If there is damage then the hip will drop on the unaffected side