9. Anatomy of the hip, gluteal region and posterior thigh Flashcards
What type of joint is the hip?
Ball and socket:
• Ball (femoral head)
• Socket (acetabulum of hip bone)
Describe the strength and movement of the hip joint
• Large range of movement
• Strong joint
- Takes a lot to disrupt
- Very stable joint
What is the pelvic girdle?
the bony structure that attaches the axial skeleton to the lower limbs
What forms the pelvic girdle?
The left and right hip bones and the sacrum
What type of bone are the hip bones?
Irregular
What are the three main articulations found in the hip bones?
- sacroiliac joint: articulation with the sacrum
- pubic symphysis: articulation between left and right hip bones
- hip joint: articulation with the head of the femur
What three parts is the hip bone comprised of?
The ilium, the pubis and the ischium
What is the difference between the hip bone in children and in adults?
In children - ilium, pubis and ischium are separated by triradiate cartilage
Fusion begins between the ages of 15-17 years and is complete by 20-25
Adult: ilium, pubis and ischium form a cup-shaped socket known as the acetabulum which the head of the femur articulates with to form the hip joint
What is the ilium?
- widest/ largest part, forms superior part of the acetabulum
- immediately above the acetabulum, the ilium expands to form the wing (or ala).
What are the two surfaces of the wing of the ilium?
- Internal surface – has a concave shape, which produces the iliac fossa (site of origin of the iliacus muscle).
- External surface (gluteal surface) – has a convex shape and provides attachments to the gluteal muscles.
What is the iliac crest?
The superior margin of the wing is thickened, forming the iliac crest. It extends from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS)
What is the greater sciatic notch?
On the posterior aspect of the ilium there is an indentation known as the greater sciatic notch
What is the pubis?
The pubis is the most anterior portion of the hip bone. It consists of a body, a superior ramus and an inferior ramus (ramus = branch)
What is the pubic symphysis and pubic crest?
Located medially, the pubic body articulates with the opposite pubic body at the pubic symphysis. Its superior aspect is marked by a rounded thickening (the pubic crest), which extends laterally as far as the pubic tubercle.
What is the Superior pubic ramus?
This extends laterally from the pubic body to the
acetabulum
What is the Inferior pubic ramus?
This extends laterally from the pubic body join with the
inferior ischial ramus. Together they form the ischiopubic ramus
Describe the obturator foramen
Together, the superior and inferior pubic rami enclose part of the obturator foramen, through which the obturator nerve, artery and vein pass through to reach the lower limb.
What is the ischium? Where is it and what is it composed of?
- posteroinferior part of hip bone
- composed of a body, inferior ramus and superior ramus
- posteroinferior aspect forms the ischial tuberosity
- near the junction of the superior ramus and body is a posteromedial projection of bone; the ischial spine
What ligaments attach to the ischium?
- Sacrospinous ligament: This runs from the ischial spine to the sacrum, thereby creating the greater sciatic foramen through which many nerves and vessels pass to enter the lower limb.
- Sacrotuberous ligament: This runs from the sacrum to the ischial tuberosity, forming the lesser sciatic foramen
What is the function of the ligaments that attach to the ischium?
These ligaments limit rotation of the inferior part of the sacrum during transmission of weight of the body down the vertebral column in the erect position.
What is the function of the hip joint?
enable mobility of the lower limbs without weakening the ability of the lower limbs to support the weight of the body.
Describe the acetabulum
- The acetabulum forms a cup-like socket on the inferolateral aspect of the pelvis.
- A fibrocartilaginous collar, the acetabular labrum, encircles the acetabulum,
- both the acetabulum and head of femur are covered in hyaline cartilage
- the articular surface of the acetabulum is shaped like a horseshoe and is incomplete in the acetabular notch region
- the acetabular notch contains fibroelastic fat covered with synovial membrane
- Where hip bones converge
What does the acetabular labrum do?
- encircles the acetabulum, deepening it and providing a secure fit for the hemispherical femoral head
- increases articular contact area by 10% so that more than 50% of the femoral head is in contact with the socket at any time
- increases stability
What is the fovea capitis?
a small pit in the centre of the femoral head where the ligament of the head of the femur attaches (ligamentum teres)
Describe the structure of the femur
- the neck connects the head to the shaft: it passes inferiorly, posteriorly and laterally, making an angle of 125 degrees with the long axis of the shaft
- shaft is smooth and rounded. Posteriorly there’s a ridge called the linea aspera to which the inter muscular septa and many muscles of the thigh attach.
- the gluteal tuberosity lies between the upper end of the linea aspera and the intertrochanteric crest - site of insertion of the gluteus maximum muscle of the buttock.
- inferiorly, the linea aspera diverges to form the lateral and medial supracondylar lines.
- the medial margin continues inferiorly as the medial supracondylar line and terminates at the adductor tubercle on the medial condyle of the femur
- the lateral margin of the linea aspera continues inferiorly as the lateral supracondylar line which terminates at the lateral condyle
- the condyles are separated by the intercondylar notch posteriorly
- on the anterior surface is the articular surface for the patella which lies between the two condyles - trochlear/ patellofemoral groove
- both medial and lateral femoral condyles form the knee joint
Describe the greater and lesser trochanters, including what they are connected by anteriorly and posteriorly
The greater and lesser trochanters are large bony prominences at the proximal end of the femoral shaft. On the anterior aspect, they are connected by the intertrochanteric line and on the posterior aspect by the intertrochanteric crest
How is the capsule of the hip joint attached? (Proximally and distally)
- proximally: attaches to the edge of the acetabulum, 5-6 mm outside the acetabular labrum
- distally: attaches to the intertrochanteric line of the femur anteriorly and the femoral neck posteriorly
What are longitudinal retinacula?
Anteriorly on the femur, the capsular fibres ascend along the neck as longitdunal retinacula, containing blood vessels for the femoral head and neck
What are the three extracapsular ligaments of the hip joint?
iliofemoral, pubofemoral and ischiofemoral ligaments
What is the only intracapsular ligament of the hip joint?
ligamentum teres
Describe the position of the iliofemoral ligament
- strongest in body
- inverted Y shape
- lies superior and anterior to hip joint and blends with capsule
- base of the Y is attached to the anterior inferior iliac spine of the ilium
- the limbs of the Y are both attached to the intertrochanteric line of the femur
What does the iliofemoral ligament do?
- screws the head of the femur into the acetabulum
- prevents the trunk from falling backwards without the need for muscular acitivity i.e. prevents hyper extension of the hip
- relaxes when seated to permit pelvis to tilt backward into its sitting position
Describe the position of the pubofemoral ligament?
- lies inferior and anterior to the hip joint
- triangular
- its base is attached to the superior pubic ramus of the pelvis and its apex to the inferior part of the intertrochanteric line anteriorly
What is the role of the pubofemoral ligament?
Prevent excessive abduction and extension of the hip joint
Describe the position of the ischiofemoral ligament?
- spiral shaped
- attached to the body of the ischium posteriorly
- its inferior fibres spiral superolaterally from the ischium body to attach to the superolateral end of the intertrochanteric line of the femur, anteromedial to the base of the greater trochanter (so it wraps all the way round the back of the femoral head and neck and inserts anteriorly, deep to the lateral fibres of the iliofemoral ligament)
- weakest of ligaments
What is the job of the ischiofemoral ligament?
Prevents excessive internal (medial) rotation
What does the transverse acetabular ligament do?
- It is formed by the acetabular labrum as it bridges the acetabular notch
- This converts the notch into a tunnel for blood vessels/ nerves to enter the hip joint
What are the hip joint ligaments?
Capsule is strengthened by 3 strong ligaments
- Iliofemoral
- Pubofemoral
- Ischiofemoral
Accessory ligaments:
• Ligament of head of femur - (ligamentum teres)
• Transverse acetabular ligament
What does the synovial membrane line?
- Lines the capsule and is attached to the margins of the articular surfaces
- It ensheathes the ligamentum teres and covers the pad of fat contained in the acetabular fossa
What factors act to increase the stability of the hip joint?
The cup-shaped acetabulum
The acetabular labrum, which deepens the acetabulum
The capsule
The ligamentum teres (ligament of the head of the femur or round ligament)
The extracapsular ligaments: iliofemoral, pubofemoral and ischiofemoral
The muscles surrounding the hip joint
What is the relationship between the impact of muscles and ligaments in the hip joint?
- Work in a reciprocal fashion
- Where the ligaments are strongest anteriorly, the medial flexors are fewer/ weaker
- Posteriorly where the ligaments are weakest, the lateral rotators are more numerous/ stronger and pull the femur head into the acetabulum
Which muscles are involved in flexion of the hip?
Main flexor: Iliopsoas (iliacus + psoas major)
• Two separate muscles that merge
• Insert into lesser trochanter
• Nerve supply (lumbar plexus, L1-3)
Assisted by:
• Rectus femoris
• Sartorius
• Pectineus
Which muscles are involved in extension of the hip?
Gluteus maximus
Hamstrings: semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps
femoris (long head)
Which muscles are involved in abduction of the hip?
Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus
Assisted by sartorius, tensor fascia lata
Which muscles are involved in adduction of the hip?
Adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus -
Assisted by pectineus, gracilis, obturator externus
Which muscles are involved in lateral rotation of the hip?
Obturator externus, piriformis, obturator internus,
superior and inferior gemelli, quadratus femoris
Assisted by gluteus maximus, sartorius
Which muscles are involved in medial rotation of the hip?
Anterior fibres of gluteus medius and minimus, tensor
fascia lata. Assisted by adductor brevis, adductor
longus, superior portion of adductor magnus, pectineus
What is flexion and extension limited by at the hip joint?
- Amount of flexion depends of whether the knee is also flexed as this relaxes the hamstring muscles
- Extension is limited by the joint capsule and the iliofemoral ligament which become taut to limit further extension
which nerves innervates the hip?
the hip joint is innervated primarily by the sciatic nerve posteriorly, femoral nerve anteriorly and obturator nerve inferiorly. The sciatic and femoral nerves also innervate skin around the knee (see figure 3.15), which explains why pain can be referred to the knee from the hip and vice versa. For completeness, the hip joint also receives innervation from the superior gluteal nerve superiorly (which supplies gluteus medius and minimus) and the nerve to quadratus femoris posteriorly.
How is blood supplied to the femoral head and neck?
- extracapsular arterial ring at the base of the neck - formed posteriorly by large branch of the medial femoral circumflex artery and anteriorly by smaller branches of the lateral femoral circumflex artery
- as the ascending cervical arteries (retinacular arteries) cross the surface of the neck, they send many small branches into the metaphysis of the neck
- the ligamentum teres contains the artery of the ligamentum teres, which arises most commonly from the obturator artery
Why does intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck carry a high risk of avascular necrosis adn why more so in the adult than in children?
- in the child the artery of the ligamentum teres is the major blood supply to the head
- In the adult, after epiphyseal fusion, only a small volume of the head near the fovea is adequately nourished by this artery
- the rest is nourished by the retinacular arteries
- intracapsular fracture disrupts these arteries, cutting off blood supply to the head
What does The lower limb receives its nerve supply via?
lumbosacral plexus
What is the lumbar component of the lumbosacral plexus formed from?
The lumbar component of the lumbosacral plexus is formed from the anterior rami of the L1-4 spinal nerves. These anterior rami divide into several cords which combine to form the major peripheral nerves of the lumbar plexus. These nerves descend on the posterior abdominal wall to the lower limb, where they innervate their target structures (e.g. skin, muscle).
what forms the lumbosacral trunk?
The L4 anterior ramus also gives off a branch which combines with the L5 anterior ramus to form the lumbosacral trunk. This contributes axons to the sacral plexus
What explains why extension of the knee (femoral nerve,
posterior divisions of lumbar plexus) extends the leg anteriorly, whereas extension of the elbow (radial nerve, posterior divisions of brachial plexus) extends the forearm posteriorly?
the posterior divisions of the lumbar plexus form the nerves that supply the anterior thigh. This should make
sense if you recall the internal (medial) rotation of the lower limb bud and that the great toe, which initially lies on the cephalic (head) side of the limb bud, rotates to lie medially