Gluteal Region and Hip - SDL Flashcards
What is the pelvic girdle?
A bony ring formed by the left and right innominate bones and the sacrum
What are the 4 articulations with the pelvis?
- 2x sacroiliac joints
- Sacrococcygeal symphysis
- Pubic symphysis
What does each innominate bone articulate with posteriorly?
The sacrum at the sacroiliac joint
What does each innominate bone articulate with anteriorly?
Each other at the pubic symphysis
How does the innominate bone develop?
Develops in the embryo as three separate bones – the ilium, ischium and pubic bone.
What is the area at which the ilium, ischium and pubis fuse?
Acetabulum - a ‘socket’ which articulates with the head of the femur to form the hip joint
What are the functions of the pelvis?
- Transfer of weight from the upper axial skeleton to the lower appendicular components of the skeleton, especially during movement.
- Provides attachment for a number of muscles and ligaments used in locomotion.
- Contains and protects the abdominopelvic and pelvic viscera.
What is the pubic symphysis?
A secondary cartilaginous joint between the 2 pubic bones
What is the pubic symphysis made of?
The articular surfaces are covered by a layer of hyaline cartilage and are connected by a fibrocartilaginous disc.
In the latter stages of pregnancy, the pelvis of the mother-to-be undergoes changes – what are these and why are they necessary?
Elasticity of the symphysis pubic joint and pelvis ligaments is increased à allowing expansion of pelvic outlet.
Why can major pelvic fractures be fatal?
The pelvis supports many internal organs and this can damage these organs
The pelvic girdle is strengthened by very strong ligaments. What are these?
Sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments
What are the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments attachments between?
Between the sacrum and the innominate bones
In addition to providing stability, what do these ligaments transform the greater and lesser sciatic notches of the ischium into?
The greater and lesser sciatic foramina
What do the foramina allow?
They allow important structures, including vessels and nerves, to pass between the inside of the pelvis and the gluteal region
What does the femur articulate with proximally?
The acetabulum to form the hip joint
What does the femur articulare with distally?
The tibia to form the knee joint
Femur labelled diagram
What type of joint is the hip joint?
Ball and socket (synovial) formed by the articulation between the acetabulum of the pelvis (innominate bone) and the head of the femur.
Why is the hip joint a stable joint? What factors contribute to stability?
Stable:
- Good fit
- Acetabular labrum
- Strong joint capsule
- Surrounding ligaments and muscles
Mobility:
- Ball and socket joint
Diagram of internal structure of hip joint
Diagram of iliofemoral, pubofemoral and ischiofemoral ligament
What are the main arteries delivering blood to the hip?
- The medial and lateral circumflex arteries - these anastamose around the hip joint
- (There is also a good contribution from the obturator artery)
What are the medial and lateral circumflex arteries branches of?
The profunda femoris (deep artery of the thigh)
What may fractures of the femoral neck lead to?
Fractures of the femoral neck which disrupt the blood supply to the head of the femur may lead to avascular necrosis of the femoral head
What movements are possible at the hip joint?
- Flexion
- Extension
- Adduction
- Abduction
- Medial rotation
- Lateral rotation
- (Circumduction)
What are the 2 groups of muscles in the gluteal region?
Superficial and deep
How do the superficial gluteal muscles generally move the hip?
Generally extend, abduct or rotate the hip
How do the deep gluteal muscles generally move the hip?
Generally act as rotators of the hip
What do the superficial muscles in the gluteal region consist of?
- 3 glutei
- Gluteus maximum
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimus
- Tensor fascia lata (TFL)
Order of glutei muscles from superficial to deep?
- Gluteus maximus
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimus
Why is gluteus maximum often used as a site for placing intramuscular injections?
Gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial muscle of the buttock
What are the actions of gluteus maximus?
It is the main extensor of the thigh, and assists with lateral rotation. However, it is only used when force is required, such as running or climbing.
Origin and insertion of gluteus maximus?
Origin: sacrum, sacrotuberous ligament
Insertion: iliotibial tract and the gluteal tuberosity of the femur
Innervation of gluteus maximus?
Inferior gluteal nerve.
What is the iliotibial tract?
a lateral thickening of the fascia lata.
What is the fascia lata? What is the function of the iliotibial tract?
Fascia lata is the deep fascia of the thigh.
The iliotibial tract acts to stabilise the hip and knee, and originates from the gluteus maximus and tensor fascia lata.
Labelled diagram of gluteus medius and minimus
Origin and insertion of gluteus medius?
Origin: the gluteal surface of the ilium
Inserts: into the lateral surface of the greater trochanter
Origin and insertion of gluteus minimus?
Origin: from the ilium and converges to form a tendon
Inserts: the anterior side of the greater trochanter.
Which nerve innervates both gluteus medius and minimus? Which spinal nerves contribute to this nerve?
Superior gluteal nerve. L4-S1.
Actions of gluteus medius and minimus?
Abducts and medially rotates the leg
When one leg is being abducted away, how does the pelvis stay level? What is this important for?
The pelvis stays ‘level’ because the hip abductors on the right - the ‘stance’ limb – contract and pull on the right side of the pelvis, making sure that the pelvis doesn’t tilt down to the left.
This action is extremely important for normal gait – when we’re walking, most of the time we only have one foot or the other on the ground.
What causes a ‘waddling’ gait. What is this called?
The Trendelenburg sign – seen if the abductors on one side are paralysed.