Anatomy Flashcards
What are the functions of the lower limb?
Support body weight.
Locomotion.
Maintain balance.
What are the 6 regions of the lower limb?
Gluteal.
Femoral (thigh).
Knee.
Leg.
Ankle.
Foot.
What are the range of movements of the acetabulo-femoral joint?
Flexion-extension.
Abduction-adduction.
Medial-lateral rotation.
Circumduction.
What type of joint is the acetabulo-femoral joint?
Synovial joint in which the joint is encased by a strong joint capsule and has an external fibrous layer (the spiral ligaments) and an internal membranous layer.
Which ligaments make up the spiral ligaments of the acetabulo-femoral joint?
Iliofemoral.
Ischiofemoral.
Pubofemoral.
What is the function of the ligaments of the acetabulo-femoral joint?
To stabilise the hip joint, but also to control movement and restrict the joint from going into extreme positions.
The iliofemoral ligament is Y shaped and resists external rotation (prevents the foot from falling out) and internal rotation.
What are the attachments of the ligamentum teres of the femur (round ligament of femur)?
The ligamentum teres is a round ligament that connects the femoral head with the acetabulum.
What is the primary blood supply of the femur?
Medial circumflex femoral artery.
What arteries are damage in femoral neck fractures?
Intracapsular retinacular arteries.
What type of joint is the knee complex?
Modified synovial hinge joint which contains 3 joints:
- 2x tibiofemoral (medial and lateral).
- 1x patellofemoral.
What are the movements of the knee complex?
Main movement is flexion and extension.
Slight rotation.
Which muscles cause flexion/extension of the knee complex?
Quadriceps - extension.
Hamstrings - flexion.
The knee is mechanically weak. What helps stabilise the knee?
Quadriceps muscles.
The knee also has more extracapsular ligaments which stabilise the joint.
What are the extracapsular ligaments of the knee complex?
Patellar ligament (AKA patellar tendon).
Lateral (fibular) collateral ligament.
Medial (tibial) collateral ligament.
What are the intra-articular ligaments of the knee complex?
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
What are the anatomical differences between the medial and lateral collateral ligaments?
Lateral collateral - cord-like.
Medial collateral - broad.
What is the function of the menisci in the knee complex?
Medial and lateral menisci are fibrocartilage that aid joint stability and absorb forces.
What movement does the anterior cruciate ligament prevent?
Anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur.
Hyperextension of the knee joint.
What movement does the posterior cruciate ligament prevent?
Posterior displacement of the tibia on the femur.
Hyperflexion of the knee joint.
Structures travelling to the gluteal region pass through which foramen?
Great sciatic foramen.
What is the Q-angle?
The Q-angle is defined as the angle between a line drawn from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the center of the patella and a line from the center of the patella to the tibial tubercle.
Genu varum - decreased Q-angle.
Genu valgum - increased Q-angle.
Structures travelling to the perineum pass through which foramen?
Lesser sciatic foramen.
The gluteal region is divided into quarters for injections. Which quarter is best to inject into and why?
The upper left quadrant of the left gluteal region (or upper right quadrant of the right gluteal region) as there are less dangerous structures to hit in that region.
Which nerves enter/exit the pelvis via the gluteal region?
Sciatic (L4-S3).
Pudendal (S2-S4).
Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh (S1-S3).
What does the sciatic nerve supply?
Posterior thigh (NOT anterior and medial compartments).
All leg and foot muscles and most and most of the skin via the tibial and common fibular branches.
What does the pudendal nerve supply?
Pelvic floor and perineum.
S2,3,4 keep your guts off the floor.
What does the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh supply?
Skin over posterior thigh, popliteal fossa, lateral perineum and upper medial thigh.
Which muscles are in the superficial muscle group (extensors, abductors and medial rotators of the thigh)?
Gluteus maximus.
Gluteus medius.
Gluteus minimus.
Tensor fascia latae.
Which muscles are innervated by the gluteal nerves?
Inferior gluteal nerve - gluteus maximus.
Superior gluteal nerve - gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fascia latae.
Which muscles are in the deep muscle group (lateral rotators of the thigh and hip stabilisers)?
Piriformis.
Obturator internus.
Gemeli (superior and inferior).
Quadratus femoris.
Which nerves supply the deep muscle group (lateral rotators of the thigh and hip stabilisers)?
Sacral plexus nerves.
What is the Trendelenburg gait?
Reduced function of the superior gluteal nerve causing the hip to drop on the contralateral side due to weak hip abduction by the gluteus medius.
Where does the sciatic nerve exit the greater sciatic foramen?
Usually inferior to the piriformis and is usually the most lateral exiting the greater sciatic foramen.
What are the 2 portions of the sciatic nerve?
Tibial nerve (larger, medial).
Common fibular (smaller, lateral).
What is compartment syndrome?
Fascia creates an enclosed space, so increased pressure caused by swelling or tissue or increased in fluid (bleeding) affects the functions of the muscles or nerves in the compartment.
Can be acute or chronic.
What are the 3 muscle compartments of the thigh?
What are the 3 muscle compartments of the leg?
What is the treatment of compartment syndrome?
Fasciotomy to relieve pressure in emergency.
What are the flexor muscles of the thigh and which compartment are they in?
Anterior compartment of the thigh.
Pectineus.
Iliopsoas (psoas major, psoas minor + iliacus).
Sartorius.
Rectus femoris.
What are the extensor muscles of the leg and which compartment are they in?
Anterior compartment of the thigh.
Rectus femoris.
Vastus lateralis.
Vastus medialis.
Vastus intermedius.
What is the nerve supply of the flexor and extensor muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh?
The femoral nerve (L2-4) for all muscles, except psoas major which is L1-3.
What are the boundaries of the femoral triangle?
Superior - inguinal ligament.
Medial - lateral border of the adductor longus.
Lateral - medial border of the sartorius.
Floor - iliopsoas laterally and pectineus medially.
Roof - deep fascia (fascia lata).
What are the contents of the femoral triangle? From lateral to medial.
Femoral nerve.
Femoral artery.
Femoral vein.
Lymphatics.
What are the adductor muscles of the thigh and which compartment are they in?
Medial compartment of the thigh.
Adductor longus.
Adductor brevis.
Adductor magnus.
Gracilis.
Obturator externus.
What nerve supplies the adductors of the thigh?
Obturator nerve (L2-4).
Hamstring part of the adductor magnus is supplied by the tibial nerve.
What are the extensor muscles of the leg and flexors of the leg and which compartment are they in?
Posterior compartment of the thigh.
Semitendinosus.
Semimembranosus.
Biceps femoris.
What is the nerve supply of the extensors of the thigh and flexors of the leg?
Tibial division of the sciatic nerve (L5, S1-2).
Except the short head of the biceps femoris which is the common fibular division of the sciatic.
What are the superficial group muscles of the leg (plantarflexors of ankle) and which compartment are they in?
Posterior compartment of the leg.
Gastrocnemius.
Soleus.
Plantaris.
What are the deep group muscles of the leg (plantarflexors of ankle and flexors of toes) and which compartment are they in?
Posterior compartment of the leg.
Popliteus.
Flexor hallucis longus.
Flexor digitorum longus.
Tibialis posterior.
Which nerve supplies the posterior compartment of the leg (superficial group - plantarflexors of ankle; deep group - flexors of toes and plantarflexors of ankle)?
Tibial nerve.
What are the dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle and extensors of toes and which compartment are they in?
Anterior compartment of leg.
Tibialis anterior.
Extensor digitorum longus.
Extensor hallucis longus.
Fibularis tertius.
What nerve supplies the dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle and extensors of toes?
Deep fibular nerve (L4-5).
What are the muscles that evert the foot and weakly plantarflex the ankle and which compartment are they in?
Lateral compartment of leg.
Fibularis longus.
Fibularis brevis.
What nerve supplies the muscles that evert the foot and weakly plantarflex the ankle?
Superficial fibular nerve (L5, S1-2).
What causes deep fibular nerve palsy/foot drop?
Loss of the muscle action in the anterior compartment of the leg causing reduced or absent dorsiflexion.
What are the boundaries of the popliteal fossa?
Superolaterally - biceps femoris.
Superomedially - semiteninosus/semimembranosus.
Inferiorly - medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius.
Roof - popliteal fascia.
What are the contents of the popliteal fossa?
Lots of fat.
Terminal small saphenous vein.
Popliteal vessels.
Tibial and common fibular nerves.
What does the ankle jerk reflex examine?
The sensory and motor integrity of S1 and S2 nerve roots.
The normal result is plantarflexion.
The achilles (calcneal) tendon is the tendon of which muscle(s)?
Gastrocnemius and soleus together.
What does the achilles tendon attach to?
The calcaneal tuberosity of the calcaneus.
What is the course of the superficial lymphatics in the leg?
Follow saphenous veins (small saphenous drains into popliteal lymph nodes first).
Drain into superficial inguinal lymph nodes.
Then external iliac lymph nodes.
What is the course of the deep lymphatics in the leg?
Follow deep veins.
(Small saphenous vein drains into popliteal lymph nodes first).
Deep inguinal lymph nodes.
External iliac lymph nodes.
From superficial to deep, what can be found in the neurovascular bundle in the popliteal fossa?
Tibial nerve (from sciatic nerve).
Popliteal vein (continuation of posterior tibilar vein(s)).
Popliteal artery (continuation of femoral artery).
Where are the popliteal lymph nodes located in the popliteal fossa?
Along the popliteal vein in the popliteal fossa.
Where does the sciatic nerve divide into the tibial and common fibular nerve?
At the superior apex of the fossa (if that division has not already taken place within the gluteal region or posterior compartment of the thigh.
Where are the sural nerves located and what do they supply?
Found within the region of the popliteal fossa (mainly in superficial fascia).
Supply skin and fascia on the posterolateral aspect of the leg and foot.
Where does the medial sural cutaneous nerve arise from?
The tibial nerve.
Where does the lateral sural cutaneous nerve arise from?
Common fibular nerve.
What nerves combine together to give the sural nerve?
The medial sural cutaneous nerve and the fibres in the communicating branch between the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves.
What is the course of the sural nerve?
Leaves the fossa to descend alongside the small saphenous vein, in the superficial fascia of the median plane of the posterior aspect of the leg.
When is the common fibular nerve likely to get damaged?
Compression injury against the neck fo the fibula (e.g. a tight plaster cast).
Fractures of the fibular neck.
Name the structures from anterior to posterior that leave the posterior compartment of the leg to reach the sole of the foot?
Tibialis posterior tendon.
flexor Digitorum longus tendon.
posterior tibial Artery.
tibial Nerve.
flexro Hallucis longus tendon.
Tom Dick ANd Harry.
What are the attachments of the gastrocnemius?
Gastrocnemius has two heads and two muscle bellies: medial and lateral.
Both attach distally to the calcaneus via the Achilles tendon and proximally to their respective femoral condyle.
What is the movement of the gastrocnemius muscle?
Weak knee flexor and powerful ankle plantar-flexor (push off phase in walking/running).
What are the attachments of the soleus muscle?
Attaches proximally to the neck of the fibula and the soleal line of the tibia.
Distally attaches to the calcaneus via the Achilles tendon.
What does a positive ankle jerk reflex confirm?
The function of the muscles, their peripheral nerve supply (tibial nerve: S1-S2) and the central connections at spinal cord level (reflex arc) and above (descending controls which normally act to prevent unwanted recurrent reflexes from occurring during normal functioning).
What are the branches of the popliteal artery?
Popliteal artery divides immediately distal to the popliteal fossa into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries.
The fibular artery is a branch of the posterior tibial artery.
What does the anterior tibial artery pierce to supply the anterior compartment of the leg?
Interosseous membrane.
What compartment does the posterior tibial artery supply?
Posterior compartment of the leg.
In the foot, what does the posterior tibial artery divide into?
The medial and lateral plantar arteries.
Where does the fibular artery branch from the posterior tibial artery?
In the proximal half of the posterior compartment of the leg.
What compartment does the fibular artery supply?
Lateral compartment of the leg.
Why is the sciatic nerve clinically important?
Because it supplies the muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh and, via its divisions, also supplies the muscles in all the compartments of the leg and the intrinsic muscles of the foot.
What bone in the leg does not take part in the knee joint?
The fibula.
What are the main movements of the knee complex and which muscles are responsible for these movements? What is the nerve supply of these muscles?
Flexion (hamstrings and gastrocnemius/tibial and common fibular nerve).
Extension (mainly quadriceps/femoral nerve).
Medial rotation (hamstrings and gracilis/tibial and obturator nerve).
Lateral rotation (biceps femoris/tibial and common fibular nerves).
When bent at 90 degrees can achieve slight medial and lateral rotation.
What ligaments of the knee joint help stabilise the joint?
Iliotibial tract.
Tibial collateral ligament (medial).
Fibular collateral ligament (lateral).
Anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.
Where are the menisci thickest?
Peripherally where they are attached to the fibrous capsule.
Why is the medial meniscus more vulnerable to being torn?
Because it is attached peripherally to the tibial (medial) collateral ligament.
What is the unhappy triad knee injury?
Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, tibial (medial) collateral ligament and medial meniscus.
What is the function of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments?
Maintaining joint stability.
What does the anterior drawer test assess?
The integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament.
What does the posterior drawer test assess?
The integrity of the posterior cruciate ligament.
What is the suprapatellar bursa?
An extension of the synovial cavity.
What is the purpose of the suprapatellar bursa?
To reduce friction on the quadriceps tendon during knee movements.
What is the massage test?
A test to clinically detect whether there is abnormal fluid within the suprapatellar bursa (e.g. blood, inflammatory exudate or pus).
What does the common fibular nerve divide into and where?
Superficial and deep fibular nerves at the fibular neck.
What does the superficial fibular nerve supply?
The muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg and the skin and fascia of dorsum of the foot.
What does the deep fibular nerve supply?
The muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg and the skin of the first interdigital cleft.
What are the attachments of the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg?
They all attach proximally to tibia, fibula or interosseous membrane and distally to the base of 1st metatarsal and medial cuneiform (Tibialis Anterior), distal phalanges of great toe (Extensor Hallucis Longus) and all digits (Extensor Digitorum Longus) and base of 5th metatarsal (Fibularis Tertius).
What are the main actions of the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg?
Dorsiflexion of the ankle, great toe and digits and inversion (Tibialis Anterior – in combination with tibialis posterior) and eversion (Fibularis Tertius with fibularis longus and brevis) of the foot.
What separates the lateral and anterior compartments of the leg?
Anterior intermuscular septum.
What are the muscles found in the lateral compartment of the leg?
Fibularis longus.
Fibularis brevis.
What is the main action of the muscles within the lateral compartment of the leg?
Evert the foot.
What is the subtalar joint of the foot?
Between the talus and calaneus.
What are the midtarsal joints of the foot?
2 joints: calcaneocuboid and talocalcaneonavicular.
What are the main movements of the midtarsal joints?
Mainly inversion (tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior innervated by tibial and deep fibular nerves) and eversion (fibularis muscles innervated by both fibular nerves).
Where is the tarsometatarsal joint in the foot?
Between the cuneiforms/cuboid proximally and the metatarsal.
What movements are the metaphalangeal (MTP) joints involved in?
Flexion, extension, adduction, abduction and circumduction of the digits (toes).
What movements can the interphalangeal joints of the foot do?
Flexion and extension of the toes.
What are the joints of the foot?
Subtalar joint.
Midtarsal joint x2.
Tarsometatarsal joints.
Metatarsophalangeal joints.
Interphalangeal joints.
What are the functions of the arches of the foot?
Shock absorption.
Push-off spring function.
Increased weight-bearing capacity by weight redistribution across whole foot.
What structures support the arches of the foot?
Plantar aponeurosis - thickened central area of the plantar fascia which protects against puncture wounds.
Plantar ligaments.
What are the arches of the foot?
Medial longitudinal arch.
Lateral longitudinal arch.
Transverse arch.
The medial longitudinal arch of the foot consists of which bones?
Calcaneus.
Talus.
Navicular.
Cuneiforms x3.
Metatarsals x3.
What supports the medial longitudinal arch of the foot?
Flexor hallucis longus.
Attachments of the anterior tibialis.
Attachment of the fibularis longus.
What bones form the lateral longitudinal arch?
Calcaneus.
Cuboid.
Metatarsals 4 and 5.
What bones form the transverse arch of the foot?
Cuboid.
Cuneiforms.
Bases of all 5 metatarsals.
What structures support the transverse arch of the foot?
Fibularis longus.
Tibialis posterior.
Where do the intrinsic muscles of the foot attach?
Proximally and distally within the foot.
What movements do the sole/interosseous muscles of the foot produce?
Mainly flexion (sole).
Abduction/adduction (interossei).
What movements are produced by the 2 dorsal muscles of the foot?
Short extensors of the toes.
What are the main arteries of the foot?
Dorsalis pedis artery.
Medial and lateral plantar arteries.
What is the dorsalis pedis artery a branch of?
Anterior tibial artery.
Where is the dorsalis pedis pulse taken?
Lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon.
Where do branches of the dorsalis pedis artery go?
Arcuate artery on the dorsum of the foot.
What artery do the lateral and medial plantar arteries branch from?
Posterior tibial artery.
Which arteries contribute to the deep plantar arch?
Lateral and medial plantar arteries.
What branches from the deep plantar arch and the arcuate artery?
The metatarsal arteries which branch into digital arteries.
What are the superficial veins of the foot?
Dorsal venous arch giving rise to great (medially) and small (laterally) saphenous veins.
What is the course of the deep veins of the foot and where do they drain?
Accompany the arteries of the foot and drain into the anterior and posterior tibial and the fibular veins that join to form the popliteal vein.
What is the motor supply to the foot?
Tibial nerve to the muscles of the sole.
Deep fibular nerve to the muscles of the dorsum.
What is the sensory nerve supply of the dorsum of the foot?
Superficial fibular nerve mainly.
Deep fibular nerve supplies the first interdigital cleft.
Sural nerve supplies the proximal lateral border.
Saphenous nerve supplies the proximal medial border.
What is the sensory nerve supply of the plantar surface of the foot?
Mainly tibial nerve to the heel and majority of the sole (medial and lateral plantar nerves).
Sural nerve supplies the proximal lateral border.
Saphenous nerve supplies the proximal medial border.
What is the lymphatic drainage of the foot?
Lymphatic vessels accompany the great and small saphenous veins.
What are the joints of the upper limb?
What are the movements of the radioulnar joint?
Supination and pronation.
Radius moves over the ulnar during pronation.
What are the joints of the hand?
Proximal interphalangeal (PIP).
Distal interphalangeal (DIP).
Metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP).
Carpal-metacarpal (CMC).
What type of joint is the 5th MCP joint of the hand?
Condyloid type.
What type of joint is the 1st CMC joint?
Saddle type.
What are the axio-appendicular muscles of the upper limb?
Trapezius (CN XI).
Serratus anterior (long thoracic nerve).
Rhomboid minor and major (dorsal scapula nerve).
Subclavius, latissimus dorsi and levator scapulae.
What muscles are in the scapula region of the upper limb?
Levator scapulae (dorsal scapula nerve).
Rotator cuff muscles.
What are the 4 rotator cuff muscles?
Supraspinatus.
Infraspinatus.
Teres minor.
Subscapularis.
What is the function of the rotator cuff muscles?
Hold the head of the humerus in the glenoid fossa.
1/3 of the humeral head is in contact with the glenoid fossa at any time.
Which rotator cuff muscles attach to the greater tuberosity of the humeral head?
Supraspinatus.
Infraspinatus.
Teres minor.
Which rotator cuff muscles attach to the lesser tuberosity of the humeral head?
Subscapularis.
What are the compartments of the upper limb?
Anterior.
Posterior.
What muscles are found in the anterior compartment of the arm?
Biceps brachii.
Brachialis.
Coracobrachialis.
What is the innervation of the anterior compartment of the arm?
Musculocutaneous nerve.
What are the movements of the muscles of the anterior compartment of the arm?
Flexion of the arm and forearm.
Biceps brachii also supinates the forearm.
What muscles are in the posterior compartment of the arm?
Triceps brachii.
What is the innervation of the posterior compartment of the arm?
Radial nerve.