Lower Extremities Flashcards
What are the bones of the Lower Extremity?
- Femur (Thigh)
- Tibia
- Fibula
- Patella (Sesamoid Bone)
- Bones of Foot (Tarsals, Metatarsals, Phalanges)
How are the bones of the Leg oriented?
- Tibula is Medial
- Fibula is Lateral
“Fibula is Farther from midline”
The Femur articulates with what muscles?
- Acetabulum of the Hip (Proximally)
2. Tibia and Patella (Distally)
What is the Acetabulum?
Junction of the 3 Pelvic bones (Ilium, Ischium, and Pubis)
What type of joint is the hip joint considered? What bones make up the hip joint?
- Ball and Socket Joint
2. Round Head of the Femur (Proximal) articulates with the Acetabulum (Pelvic Bones)
What movements can the Hip Joint perform?
- aBduction
- aDduction
- Flexion
- Rotation (Lateral and Medial)
- Circumduction
What is the Acetabular Labrum?
- Fibrocartilage that helps form the cup of the hip joint for the Head of the Femur to sit in
- Supported inferiorly by the Transverse Acetabular Ligament
What is the Transverse Acetabular Ligament?
Ligament that “closes off the Acetabular Cup” by inferiorly supporting the Acetabular Labrum
What ligaments are the Acetabular Cap comprised of?
- Acetabular Labrum
2. Transverse Acetabular Ligament
What is the Fovea (Fovea Capitis)? What is its function?
- A depression in the head of the Femur
- Site where the Ligament of the Head of the Femur
(AKA Ligamentum Teres Femoris) attaches the Head of the Femur to the cup of the Acetabulum and carries the Artery for the Head of the Femur
What is the Ligament of the Head of the Femur and why is it significant?
- Ligament that helps support the Hip Joint by connecting the Fovea (depression on the head of the Femur) to the cup of the Acetabulum
- Carries the Artery for the Head of the Femur
What are the portions of the Proximal end of the Femur?
- Head (Rounded part that forms the Hip joint and contains the Fovea)
- Neck (portion just Distal to the Head)
- Greater Trochanter (Lateral and larger “knob” for muscle attachment)
- Lesser Trochanter (Medial and smaller “knob” for muscle attachment)
- Shaft (contains Linea Aspera which is a long ridge on the posterior surface)
What is the Linea Aspera?
Ridge on the Posterior Surface of the Shaft (long part) of the Femur
What are the portions of the Distal Femur?
- Medial Condyle (to Tibia)
- Lateral Condyle (to Tibia)
- Medial Epicondyle (for muscle)
- Lateral Epicondyle (for muscle)
- Patellar Surface (for Patella)
What is the significance of the Condyles located on the Distal Femur?
The Medial and Lateral Condyles on the Distal end of the Femur articulate with the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Tibia to form the knee joint (cartilage is in between them)
Explain the location of the Distal Femur’s Condyles opposed to their Epicondyles:
The Condyles are closer to the midline of the Femur and sit inferiorly to the Epicondyle that it shares a name with
i.e. The Medial Condyle is closer to the midline of the Femur (more lateral) and sits Inferiorly to the Medial Epicondyle
What is the Patellar Surface?
Flat surface on the Distal End of the Femur where the Patella “glides across”
What is the Patella?
The “Kneecap”
- The largest Sesamoid Bone (no bone articulation) in the body that sits within the tendon of the Quadriceps Femoris Muscle and glides across the Patellar Surface of the Femur
What is a Sesamoid Bone?
A bone within a tendon that is not directly connected with another bone but helps to increase the ability of the tendon
What are the bones of the Leg and how are they oriented?
- Tibia (Bigger and more Medial)
- Fibula (Smaller and more Lateral)
Connected by an Interosseous Membrane that separates the Anterior and Posterior muscle compartments of the leg
Which bone(s) articulates with the Femur to form the Knee Joint?
A. Fibula
B. Tibia
C. Both
B. The Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Tibia articulate with the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Femur to form the knee joint along with the Patella
What is the significance of the Interosseous Membrane in the Leg?
- Connects the Tibia and Fibula
2. Separates the Leg muscles into Anterior and Posterior Muscle Compartments
What are the Malleoli?
“Bump outs” on the Distal portion of the Leg bones:
- Medial Malleolus (on Tibia)
- Lateral Malleolus (on Fibula)
How are the Bones of the Foot arranged?
- Tarsal Bones (7 total in
Proximal and Distal Groups) - Metatarsals (Pad of your foot)
- Phalanges (Distal, Middle, and Proximal except in Hallucis)
What bones are in the Proximal Group of the Tarsal Bones?
- Calcaneus (Heel bone where Achilles Tendon attaches)
2. Talus (articulates with the Tibia and Fibula in the Ankle Joint)
What bones are in the Distal Group of the Tarsal Bones?
- Cuboid (most Lateral)
- Navicular (more Medial and Distal)
- Cuneiforms (Medial, Intermediate, and Lateral)
What is the Latin word for “Big Toe?”
Hallucis
What is the orientation of the Phalanges of the foot?
In all toes aside from the Hallucis they are oriented:
- Proximal (closest to ankle)
- Middle
- Distal (tips of toes)
The Knee Joint is composed of:
- Femur to Tibia articulation
2. Femur and Patella interaction
The Knee Joint is considered a modified hinge joint meaning it can perform what actions?
- Flexion
- Extension
- Rotation in the Flexed position
What are the Menisci of the Knee and what is their purpose?
The Medial and Lateral Menisci are 2 C-shaped rings of Fibrocartilage situated between the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Femur and Tibia to cushion and pad the knee joint
Describe how the Patella is situated in the Knee Joint:
- Connects to the Femur superiorly because it is located within the Quadriceps Femoris Tendon
- Connects to the Tibia inferiorly via the Patellar Ligament
What is the Patellar Reflex?
When the Knee is flexed, the tapping of the Patellar Ligament activates the Quadriceps Muscle causing Extension of the knee
What is the point of the Ligaments of the Knee?
To prevent displacement of the knee joint:
- Collateral Ligaments prevent lateral and medial displacement
- Cruciate Ligaments prevent anterior and posterior displacement
How can you remember which Leg bone is lateral and which one is medial?
“FOTI”
Fibula is Outside
Tibia is Inside
LCL:
- Name
- Location
- Action in terms of Tibia movement
- Action in terms of Femur movement
- Lateral (Fibular) Collateral Ligament
- Lateral (Fibular) side of the knee separated from Joint Capsule by a Bursa
- Prevents MEDIAL displacement of the TIBIA across the Femur
- Prevents LATERAL displacement of the FEMUR across the Tibia
MCL:
- Name
- Location
- Action in terms of Tibia movement
- Action in terms of Femur movement
- Medial (Tibial) Collateral Ligament
- Medial (Tibial) side of the knee associated with Medial Meniscus
- Prevents LATERAL displacement of the TIBIA across the Femur
- Prevents MEDIAL displacement of the FEMUR across the Tibia
ACL:
- Name
- Location
- Action in terms of Tibia movement
- Action in terms of Femur movement
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament
- Runs from Anterior Tibia and Medial Meniscus to the Posterior Femur
- Prevents ANTERIOR displacement of the TIBIA
- Prevents POSTERIOR displacement of the Femur
PCL:
- Name
- Location
- Action in terms of Tibia movement
- Action in terms of Femur movement
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament
- Runs from Posterior Tibia to Posterior Femur
- Prevents POSTERIOR displacement of the TIBIA
- Prevents ANTERIOR displacement of the FEMUR
How do you test for a Cruciate Ligament tear?
“Drawer Test”- with flexed knee, try to slide the Tibia
- ACL tear if Tibia slides forward (like a drawer)
- PCL tear if Tibia slides backwards
Is there more space on the Lateral or Medial side of the Knee?
The Lateral side has more space
Medial Side has the “Unhappy Triad” because the ACL, Medial Meniscus, and MCL are all attached to each other
What is the “Unhappy Triad”?
A blown out knee where the ACL, MCL, and Medial Meniscus are all torn
Elaborate on the Fascia of the Thigh
- Superficial Fascia (fatty)
2. Fascia Lata (deep fascia of the thigh)
Fascia Lata:
- What is it?
- What is it continuous with?
- What important structure does it form?
- Deep fascia of the thigh that is a thick covering of the thigh and gluteal region underneath superficial tissue
- Continuous with Deep Fascia of the Leg
- Thickens laterally to form IT Band (Iliotibial Tract)
What is the IT band?
- The “Iliotibial Tract” is a thickening of the Fascia Lata on the Lateral side of the Thigh important for stabilizing the knee via Tensor Fascia Lata
- Runs from the Ilium (Pelvis) to the Tibia (leg)
What muscles of the Gluteal reason are enclosed by the IT band?
- Gluteus Maximus
2. Tensor Fascia Lata
What is the Saphenous Opening?
An opening in the Thigh’s Fascia Lata for the Saphenous Vein (major superficial drainage vein of the Lower Extremity) to connect with the Deeper Femoral Vein
What are the compartments of the Thigh Muscles?
“ThAMP”
- Anterior (FHAKE)
- Medial (Mr. ThaD)
- Posterior (HE FKD)