Lecture 27 - Lower Limb 2

Question 1

What is the name for a muscle that crosses two joints?

Answer 1

Biarticulate

Question 2

What is a compartment syndrome?

Answer 2

Increased pressure in a fascial compartment

• Cut off veins –> pooling of venous return
• Cut off arteries –> ischemia, avascular necrosis
• cut of nerve supply –> motor and sensory loss

Treatment:
Fasciotomy to decrease the intra-fascial pressure

Question 3

What are the muscle compartments in the thigh?

Answer 3

Anterior
Posterior
Medial
Lateral

Question 4

Which muscles are in each compartment of the thigh?

Answer 4

Anterior: quadriceps
Posterior: hamstrings
Medial: adductors
Lateral: gluteal

Question 5

What are the compartments in the leg (lower leg)

Answer 5

Anterior

Lateral

Posterior

• superficial
• deep

Question 6

What connects the tibia and fibula?

What is its function?

Answer 6

Interosseus membrane

Space for muscle attachment

Question 7

What is the quadriceps made up of?

Answer 7

4 powerful muscles:

• Rectus femoris
• Vastus muscles
• • medialis
• • lateralis
• • intermedius

Question 8

Which movement do the Vastus muscles produce?

Answer 8

Extension of the knee

Eg in the stride phase of walking

Question 9

What is significant about the hamstring muscles?

Answer 9

Cross two joints
– prone to strain when acting at both joints at once

Eg. Sprinter coming out of the blocks, the hamstrings are not long enough and strain occurs

Question 10

Where is the origin of the hamstrings?

Answer 10

Ischeum

Question 11

Where do the adductor muscles attach?

Answer 11

Osteitis pubis

Question 12

Groin pain is usually due to… ?

Answer 12

Strain of addutors

Question 13

What movement do the muscles in the medial compartment of the the produce?

Answer 13

Adduction of the hip

Question 14

What are the muscles in the gluteal compartment?

Answer 14

Gluteus maximus
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus

Question 15

When is gluteus maximus engaged?

Answer 15

Only in powerful extension of hip

Question 16

What is the role of gluteus medius and gluteus minimus?

Answer 16

Abduct the hip, but mainly
- keep hips stable during locomotion

Prevent pelvic tilt

Question 17

What is the general name for the muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg?

Describe their attachments

Answer 17

Fibularis muscles

Originate on fibula
Insert on metatarsals

Question 18

What are some of the important muscles in the superficial posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 18

Gastrocnemius

Soleus

Question 19

What are some of the deep muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 19

Flexor digitorum longus

Flexor hallicus longus

Question 20

What is the role of the soleus?

Answer 20

• Posture

- Muscle pump

Question 21

Describe the soleus’ role in posture

Answer 21

Centre of gravity in legs in leaning forward, the soleus is constantly contracting to pull the body back so that we don’t fall forward

Question 22

Describe the soleus’ role in venous return

Answer 22

There are venous sinuses in the soleus

When it contracts, the blood is shunted up the leg

Question 23

Draw the compartments of the leg

Answer 23

See slide 11, lecture 27

Question 24

The tendon of which muscle makes up the Achilles’ tendon?

Answer 24

Gastrocnemius and soleus

Question 25

When is the Achilles’ tendon prone to sprain?

Answer 25

Very strong, however …

Prone to sprain during powerful plantar flexion, ie when running

Question 26

When and why is the gastrocnemius prone to injury?

Answer 26

It is a two joint muscle:
Origin: lateral and medial condyles of femur
Insertion: calcaneus (heel bone)

Question 27

Give examples of muscles of the lower limb working concentrically and eccentrically

Answer 27

Concentric:
- gastrocnemius and hamstrings at toe off

Eccentic:

• tibialis anterior at heel strike
• hamstrings in swing phase

Question 28

What is active insufficiency?

Answer 28

The inability of a biarticulate muscle to contract properly because it is not stretched enough

• Two joints active at same time
• Strain of muscle