Anterior Thigh Muscles Flashcards
What can the musculature of the thigh be split into?
Anterior, medial and posterior
What does each compartment of the thigh have?
Distinct innervation and function
What are the muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh innervated by?
The femoral nerve (L2-L4)
As a general rule, what do the muscles of the anterior thigh do?
Extend the leg at the knee joint
What muscles are in the anterior thigh?
Pectineus
Sartorius
Quadriceps femoris
The end of the iliopsoas muscle passes into the anterior compartment
What is the iliopsoas muscle made up of?
Two muscles, the psoas major and the iliacus
Why is the iliopsoas commonly referred to as one muscle
Although they originate in different areas, but come together to form a tendon
How is the iliopsoas unlike many of the other anterior thigh muscles?
It doesn’t extend the leg at the knee joint
What is the innervation of the psoas major?
Anterior rami of lumbar nerves (L1, L2, L3)
What is the innervation of the iliacus?
Femoral nerve (L2, L3)
What is the arterial supply to the psoas major?
Lumbar arteries
What is the arterial supply of the iliacus?
Branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery
What is the main action of the iliopsoas?
Flexes the thigh at the hip joint
Stabilising joint
What muscle assist in the action of the iliopsoas?
Psoas minor
What is the innervation of the psoas minor?
Anterior rami of lumbar nerves (L1, L2)
What is the arterial supply of the psoas minor?
Lumbar arteries
What does the quadriceps femoris consist of?
Four individual muscles- the three vastus muscles, and the rectus femoris
What is the innervation of the quadriceps femoris?
Femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)
What is the main action of the quadriceps femoris?
Extend leg at knee joint
What does the rectus femoris do?
Steadies the hip joint and helps iliopsoas flex thigh
Where does the sartorius run?
Across the thigh in a inferomedial direction
Where is the sartorius positioned?
More superficially that the other muscles in the leg
What is the innervation of the sartorius?
Femoral nerve (L2, L3)
What is the arterial supply of the sartorius?
Branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery
What is the main action of the sartorius?
Flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint
Flexes leg at knee joint (medially rotating leg when knee is flexed)
What is the pectineus?
A flat muscle that forms the base of the femoral triangle
What can the pectineus be considered as?
A transitional muscle between the anterior thigh and medial thigh compartments
Why can the pectineus be considered as a transitional muscle?
Because it has dual innervation
What can be tested in suspected femoral nerve damage?
The quadriceps femoris
How are the quadriceps femoris muscles be tested?
The patient lies supine, with the knee slightly flexed. The patient is asked to extend the leg against resistance. The contraction of the quadriceps femoris should be visible
