Gluteal region, hip and thigh anatomy Flashcards
What are the regions and boundaries of the lower limbs?
Gluteal region
Thigh (hip joint to knee joint)
Leg (knee joint to ankle joint)
Foot (distal to ankle joint)
What are the functions of the lower limbs?
Low mobility, high stability Support body weight Maintain upright posture Locomotion (gait) Accomodate shock loading
What are the 4 phases of walking?
Phase 1: Heel strike
Phase 2: Support (foot down, other foot lifted)
Phase 3: Toe off (big toe last)
Phase 4: Swing/ carry through
What bones form the pelvic girdle?
Sacral spine (axial skeleton) 2 x hip bones
What are the functions of the pelvic girdle?
Distributes weight of the axial skeleton to lower limbs
Enables locomotion and standing
What makes up the hip joint?
Acetabulum (socket - part of hip bone) Femoral head (ball)
[Synovial joint]
What type of joints are the knee and ankle?
Hinge joints
How would a patient with a posterior pelvic dislocation present?
Limb shortened
Hip flexed
Leg adducted/ internally rotated
How would a patient with an anterior pelvic dislocation present?
Limb abducted/ externally rotated
What type of pelvic dislocation is more common?
Posterior dislocation
Ligaments surrounding hip joints loosest when sitting down making posterior dislocations more common
What might happen if you injure the sacroiliac joints?
Pain radiating into lower back, glutes and perineal region
What type of joint is the pubic symphysis?
Secondary cartilaginous type joint
Where is the sacrospinous ligament found?
Sacrum to ischial spine
Forms lower border of the greater sciatic foramen
Where is the sacrotuberous ligament found?
Sacrum to ischial tubercle
Forms medial border of both the greater and lesser sciatic foramen
What are the greater and lesser sciatic foramen?
Route for nerves, vessels and tendons
Found in the pelvic girdle
What are the hip bones comprised of?
3 bones: Ilium, Ischium and Pubis
Fuse as you age - fully fused normally by young adulthood
Which parts of the hip bone are palpable?
Iliac crest Posterior superior iliac spine Anterior superior iliac spine Ischial spine Ischial tuberosity Pubic tubercle
What can be used to orient hip bone?
Anterior - pubic tubercle
Lateral - acetabulum
What is the acetabulum?
Point of union of the ilium, ischium and pubis
Forms the hip socket
What part of the femoral bone is prone to break (particularly in the elderly)?
Neck of femur
Area of weakness/ stress (due to angulation of joint)
What is the greater trochanter?
Point on anterior femur to which the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus attach - stabilise the pelvis on the lower limb when walking
What is the lesser trochanter?
Point on posterior femur to which the iliopsoas attach - powerful hip flexor
What is the linea aspera?
Line running down posterior aspect of femur which is an attachment point for powerful thigh muscles and the 3 intermuscular septa (compartmental fascia)
What are the condyles?
Point at posterior/ inferior aspect of femur
J-shaped articular region for the knee
What is the acetabular labrum?
Horseshoe shaped fibrocartilage rim of tissue that surrounds the acetabulum
Stabilises hip joint
What can go wrong with the acetabular labrum?
Can get impinged within the hip joint causing pain on movement - common in gymnasts
What membranes surround the hip joint?
Synovial membrane - attaches to the margins of the articular surfaces of the femur and the acetabulum and forms a tubular covering which lines the inside of the fibrous membrane
Fibrous membrane - more superficial
What ligaments surround the membranes of the hip joint?
Iliofemoral (iliac bone to femur)
Pubofemoral (pubic bone to femur)
Ischiofemoral (ischium to femur)
How do the ligaments differ when standing compared to sitting down?
Ligaments wind around the hip joint - tightest when standing to provide stability
Ligaments ‘untwist’ / relax when sitting down
What is the blood supply to the femoral head?
Circumflex femoral arteries (branch from femoral artery and deep femoral artery)
Artery of ligament of head of femur (tiny artery that only supplies region of joint articular surface - DOES NOT COMPENSATE FOR LOSS OF CIRCUMFLEX)