Joints of the Lower Limb Flashcards
The hip joint evolved to provide maximum ______ at the expense of ______.
maximum stability at the expense of mobility
The head of the femur fits within the ________ of the os coxae (hip bone).
acetabulum
What is the cartilaginous thing that deepens the acetabulum called?
The acetabular labrum
from latin “labrum” for lip
What structure is responsible for attaching the head of the femur to the pelvis? (hint: it is found inside the acetabulum)
The ligamentum teres
What is the intertrochanteric line? What is the intertrochanteric crest?
The line is a bony ridge running from the greater to the lesser trochanter on the ANTERIOR side.
The crest is the same thing, but on the POSTERIOR side.
Name the four muscles that attach to the greater trochanter.
- Gluteus minimus
- Gluteus medius
- Piriformis
- Obturator internus (on the medial aspect of the greater trochanter)
What muscle attaches to the lesser trochanter?
The iliopsoas muscle
What structure spans the acetabular notch?
The transverse acetabular ligament.
Which structures do the iliofemoral ligament (aka Y ligament of Bigelow) span and what is its function?
Runs from the AIIS to the intertrochanteric line (anterior femur) and prevents hyperextension of the thigh by winding up during extension.
Which structures do the pubofemoral ligament span and what is its function?
Runs from the pubis to the anterior femur, prevents overabduction
Which structures do the ischiofemoral ligament span and what is its function?
Runs from the ischium to the greater trochanter, prevents posterior displacement of the femoral head.
Which artery is the major supply for the proximal femur?
Medial femoral circumflex artery (lateral femoral circumflex also supplies, but not “major”)
Medial femoral circumflex artery passes posteriorly around the neck of the femur while the lateral femoral circumflex artery passes anteriorly. They both branch from the deep femoral artery.
What is one major complication of an intracapsular fracture of the femoral head?
Damage to the medial femoral circumflex can cause avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
Define coxa vara and coxa valga.
Coxa vara is when the angle between the femoral neck and shaft is less than 125 degrees.
Coxa valga is when the angle between the femoral neck and shaft exceeds 140 degrees.
G=Greater than 140 degrees
Describe the nerve supply to the hip joint.
Anterior: Femoral nerve branches.
Posterior: The nerve to the quadratus femoris muscle (that is what it’s called), and a branch of the superior gluteal nerve.
Where may hip pain be referred to? What nerves?
Groin, anterior thigh and knee through femoral nerve branches - also supplies sensation to the L2 - L4 dematomes.
To the medial knee through branches of the obturator nerve, which passes through both joints.
What is Hilton’s law?
Any nerve which crosses a joint supplies sensation to that joint.
What is congenital dislocation of the hip?
Aka hip dysplasia. Movement of the head of the femur out of the acetabulum, usually posteriorly. Due to faulty development of the upper lip of the acetabulum.
Results in shortening, adduction and medial rotation of affected limb.
If an elderly patient sustained a fall and one leg is shortened and laterally rotated, what is the diagnosis?
Hip fracture