Gluteal Region, Posterior Thigh, & Hip Joint Flashcards
What is the fascial covering over the gluteal region and where is it thick / thin?
It is fascia continuous with the fascia lata of the thigh / Scarpa’s. It is thin over the gluteus maximus (gluteal fascia), but thick in the superior-lateral quadrant (gluteal aponeurosis)
What is the gluteal aponeurosis?
The thin fascia layer covering the gluteus medius muscle.
What nerves supply cutaneous innervation of the gluteal region and what spinal cord segments do they correspond to?
Superior / lateral - Superior cluneal nerves - dorsal rami L1-L3
Medial - Middle cluneal nerves - dorsal rami S1-S3
Inferior - Inferior cluneal nerves S1-S3
Where do the inferior cluneal nerves come from?
Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
What are the muscles of the gluteal region involved in?
Extension, abduction, and medial / lateral rotation of the thigh
How does the sciatic nerve enter the gluteal region?
Exits the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen, enters the gluteal region inferior to the piriformis muscle
How do the superior and inferior gluteal arteries course?
They are branches of the internal iliac artery
Posterior trunk gives superior gluteal, which enters superior to the piriformis muscle
Anterior trunk gives inferior gluteal, which enters inferior to piriformis muscle
What muscle passes through the greater sciatic foramen?
Piriformis muscle
What nerves pass through the greater sciatic foramen?
- Sciatic nerve
- Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- Nerve to obturator internus
- Nerve to quadratus femoris
- Pudendal nerve (to lesser)
What arteries pass through the greater sciatic foramen?
Superior + inferior gluteal, internal pudendal (bound for lesser sciatic foramen)
What muscle leaves the lesser sciatic foramen?
Obturator internus muscle
What are the origin, insertions, innervation, and action of the gluteus maximus?
Origin: Ilium posterior to posterior gluteal line, dorsal surface of sacrum and coccyx, and sacrotuberous ligament
Insertion: Gluteal tuberosity of femur and iliotibial tract
Innervation: Inferior gluteal nerve
Action: During walking, prevents forward trunk movement and controls flexion at hip during swing. Also brings thigh into extension.
Also stabilizes the knee joint via IT tract attachment, and laterally rotates thigh.
What are the origins of the gluteus medius and minimus muscles? Where do they both attach? What innervates them?
Gluteus medius: Ilium, Between posterior and anterior gluteal lines
Gluteus minimus: Ilium, between anterior and inferior gluteal lines
Attachment: Lateral and anterior surfaces respectively of greater trochanter of femur
Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve (along with TFL)
What are the actions of gluteus medius and minimus?
Thigh abduction, internal (medial) thigh rotation
During swing phase, contraction of these muscles on the stance side prevents pelvic drop due to thigh abduction at hip joint
What innervates the piriformis muscle?
Anterior rami of S1/S2
What two muscles does the nerve to obturator internus innervate?
Superior gemellus and obturator internus
What two muscles does the nerve to quadratus femoris innervate?
Inferior gemellus and quadratus femoris
What muscles are the external (lateral) rotators of the thigh at the hip joint?
Piriformis, superior gemellus, inferior gemellus, quadratus femoris, Obturator internus
What are the origin and insertion of the piriformis muscle?
Origin: Anterior surface of sacrum
Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur (lateral)
What are the origin and insertion of the obturator internus muscle?
Origin: Internal margin of the obturator foramen and inner surface of the obturator membrane
Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur (lateral)
What are the origin and insertion of the superior gemellus / inferior gemellus muscles?
Origins:
Superior - Ischial spine
Inferior - Ischial tuberosity
Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur and obturator internus tendon
What are the origin and insertion of the quadratus femoris?
Origin: Ischial tuberosity (with inferior gemellus)
Insertion: Quadrate tubercle (lateral) which is just below the greater trochanter
What spinal cord levels give rise to the sciatic nerve and where does it divide? How does it travel through the posterior thigh?
L4-S3. Typically divides into tibial and common fibular nerves at superior border of popliteal fossa, but this is HIGHLY variable
It travels thru the posterior thigh between the adductor magnus muscle and the hamstring muscles
Where does the posterior femoral nerve travel and what are its main branches?
Travels medial to sciatic nerve, superificially. It is a sensory-only cutaneous nerve supplying posterior thigh, popliteal region, and proximal posterior leg.
It comes from S1-S3. It’s branches include the inferior cluneal nerves supplying the inferior gluteal region
What segments give superior gluteal nerve and what is its course?
L4-S1. Only nerve to enter gluteal region superior to piriformis muscle. Travels between gluteus medius and minimus along with the deep branch of the superior gluteal artery!
What spinal cord levels give inferior gluteal nerve and what does it travel with?
L5-S2, travels with inferior gluteal artery, below the piriformis muscle