DR 5. Gluteal region and thigh Flashcards
Muscles of the gluteal region
- Gluteus maximus
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimum
Gluteus maximus origin and insertion
origin - ilium and sacrum
insertion - gluteal tuberosity at the back of the femur as well as the iliotibial tract
What is the iliotibial tract
- Thick fibrous band running down the lateral side of the thigh
Gluteus minimus and medius origin and insertion
Origin - From the ilium
Insertion - Into the greater trochanter
Piriformis - origin and insertion
Origin - From the sacrum
Insertion - Onto the greater trochanter
Piriformis action
- Lateral rotation of the thigh at the hip joint
Why is the piriformis an important landmark
- Sciatic nerve can be seen passing out below this muscle
What can be observed inferior to piriformis
- A series of short rotators can be observed
Innervation of gluteus maximum
- Inferior gluteal nerve
- It passes out of the pelvis with the inferior gluteal vessels below the piriformis muscle to innervate the gluteus maximus muscle
Innervation of gluteus medius and minimum
- Superior gluteal nerve
- It passes out of the pelvis with the superior gluteal vessels above piriformis to innervate the gluteus medius and minimum muscles
How does the sciatic nerve enter the gluteal region
- Sciatic nerve enters the gluteal region with the gluteal nerves through the greater sciatic foramen
What is the greater sciatic notch bordered by
- The sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments
Where does the sciatic nerve emerge from
- Emerges from under the inferior border of piriformis towards the posterior thigh
muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh
- Biceps femoris
- Semitendinosus
- Semimembranosus
Collectively known as the hamstrings
Hamstrings - origin
Ischial tuberosity
Heads of biceps femoris muscle - origin
- Long head from the ischial tuberosity
- Short head from the shaft of the femur
Biceps femoris insertion
- Head of the fibula
Semitendinosus and semimembranosus - insertion
Semitendinosus ends in a long tendon that passes over semibranosus
- Both muscles insert into the tibia
Innervation of the hamstrings
- Tibial component of the sciatic nerve
Location of the popliteal fossa
- Diamond-shaped fossa at the back of the knee
Boundaries of popliteal fossa
- The superior boundaries are semimembranosus and semitendinosus medially and biceps femoris laterally
- The inferior boundaries are the two heads of gastrocnemius
What does the sciatic nerve divide into within the popliteal fossa
- Tibial nerve and common fibular nerve
- However, it can divide at any point between the gluteal region and popliteal fossa
Path of tibial nerve
- Passes downwards behind the knee joint
Path of common fibular nerve
- Passes through the popliteal fossa, where it lies medial to the tendon of biceps femoris
- When it reaches the lateral aspect of the fossa, it curves towards the neck of the fibula
Arteries and veins present in the popliteal fossa
- Popliteal artery and vein (continuation of the femoral vessels)
What other vein enters popliteal fossa
- Short saphenous vein, which drains the lateral side of the foot, enters the popliteal fossa to merge with the popliteal vein
Hip joint - type
- Ball and socket joint between the head of the femur and the acetabulum
Movements of the hip joint
- Extension, flexion, abduction, adduction, lateral(external) rotation and medial(internal) rotation
Primary function of the hip joint
Weight bearing
Ligaments that stabilise the hip joint
- Intracapsular
- Extracapsular (iliofemoral, ischiofemoral, pubofemoral)