Conceptual overview of lower limb and femoral triangle Flashcards
What are the different regions of the lower limb?
1) Anterior aspect:
- Anterior thigh
- Leg
- Foot
2) Posterior aspect:
- Gluteal region (don’t forget the gluteal fold)
- Posterior thigh
- Leg
- Foot
What are the joints of the lower limb?
1) Knee joint
2) Ankle joint
What are the bones of the lower bone?
1) Pelvic bone
2) Femur
3) Tibia
4) Fibula
5) Tarsal
6) Metatarsal
7) Phalanges
What are the spaces of the lower limb?
1) Femoral triangle
2) Popliteal fossa (posterior to the knee)
3) Tarsal tunnel
Structures that pass from the abdominal cavity to the anterior aspect of the thigh have to go through what?
Behind the inguinal ligament
Through which foramen do structures have to pass to go from the pelvic cavity to the posterior aspect of the thigh?
Greater sheatic foramen
The structure must pass which foramen in order to go from the pelvic cavity to the gluteal region?
Lesser sheatic foramen
Describe the structure & landmarks of the pelvic bone
- It is a combination of three bones ilium, ischium, and pubis that join together later
- Anterior landmarks:
1) Anterior superior iliac spine
2) Anterior superior iliac spine
3) Pubic tubercle (The abdominal part is till here)
4) Acetabulum (form hip joint with the femur bone)
The structure must pass which foramen in order to go from the pelvic cavity to the medial region of the thigh?
Obturator foramen
What are the general characteristics of the femur bone?
1) Greater trochanter
2) Head (joins with the acetabulum)
3) Neck
4) Lesser trochanter
5) Shaft
6) Medial epicondyle
7) Lateral epicondyle
- FYI femur is the longest bone in the body, it is a multiaxial ball and socket synovial joint
What is a femoral triangle?
- Wedge-shaped depression in the upper inner thigh
- It provides access to the femoral artery for angioplasty (to access the coronary artery to dilate a constriction through the femoral artery, so we minimize invasiveness)
- Heavy bleeding in the leg can be stopped by applying pressure in the femoral triangle
What are the boundaries of the femoral triangle?
1) Base
2) Apex (the apex does not end and continuous as a canal called the adductor canal ending as an opening called an adductor hiatus in the lower anterior aspect of the thigh)
3) Medial & lateral margin
4) Floor and roof
What forms the base of the femoral triangle?
The inguinal ligament (which is between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle)
What forms the lateral margin of the femoral triangle?
The medial border of the sartorius muscle (it is not in the triangle)
What forms the medial border of the femoral triangle?
medial margin of the adductor longus muscle (this muscle is in the triangle)
What forms the apex of the femoral triangle?
It is directed downwards and continuous as the adductor canal
What is the origin of the sartorius muscle?
Anterior superior iliac spine
What forms the floor of the femoral triangle?
From medial to lateral it is as follows:
1) Adductor longus muscle
2) Pectinus muscle
3) Psoas major muscle
4) Iliacus
What forms the roof of the femoral triangle?
Fascia lata (A deep fascia in the thigh)
What is the action of the sartorius muscle?
Flexes the thigh at the hip joint, and leg at the knee joint and pushes us against the ground
- Sitting while your legs are crossed demonstrates all sartorius muscle action
Where does the sartorius muscle insert?
The anterior surface of the tibia
What is the nerve supply of the sartorius muscle?
Femoral nerve
When can the sartorius muscle get paralyzed or spasemed?
During activities that makes us forcefully push off the ground
What is the function of the adductor longus muscle?
Adducts and medially rotates the thigh at the hip joint
Where does the adductor longus muscle insert?
Linea aspera, on the middle one third of the shaft of the femur
What is the origin of the adductor longus muscle?
External surface of the body of the pubis
What nerve supplies the adductor longus muscle?
Obturator nerve (since it is in the medial region)