lower extremity - gluteal region

Question 1

what important structures go through the greater sciatic foramen (above and below piriformis muscle)?

Answer 1

above - superior gluteal nerve, artery, vein
below - sciatic nerve
inferior gluteal nerve, artery, vein

Question 2

what important structures go through the lesser sciatic foramen?

Answer 2

obturator internus muscle tendon

Question 3

what important structures go through the obturator canal?

Answer 3

obturator nerve
obturator vessels

Question 4

what important structures go through the gap between the inguinal ligament and pelvic bone?

Answer 4

psoas major, iliacus, pectineus muscles
femoral nerve, artery, vein

Question 5

what important ligaments help reinforce the stability and strength of the hip joint?

Answer 5

iliofemoral ligament
pubofemoral ligament
ischiofemoral ligament

Question 6

in the hip joint articulation, the space where the ilium, pubis, and ischium come together is called the __.

Answer 6

Acetabulum
acetabular fossa is the bony region and acetabular labrum supports function

Question 7

The hip joint is considered a ball and socket joint. The ball is the ___ and the socket is the ___.

Answer 7

ball = head of femur
socket = acetabulum
the ball and socket feature allows for a wide range of motion

Question 8

what movement can occur at the hip?

Answer 8

Question 9

Gluteus maximus (action + innervation)

Answer 9

A: extend and lateral rotation of hip
I: inferior gluteal n.

Question 10

Gluteus medius (action + innervation)

Answer 10

A: ABduction and stabalize hip
I: superior gluteal n.

Question 11

what is a common cause of injury of the gluteus maximus and its presentation?

Answer 11

common cause of injury - posterior hip dislocation (can damage INFERIOR gluteal nerve)
presentation - difficulty extending = challenges climbing stairs, standing from sitting position

Question 12

gluteus minimus (action + innervation)

Answer 12

A: ABduction and stabilize hip
I: superior gluteal nerve

Question 13

name the gluteal muscles in the superficial layer

Answer 13

(superficial layer = hip extensors and ABductors)
gluteus maximus
gluteus medius
gluteus minimus

Question 14

which gluteal muscles are important for lateral balance (stabilization of hip)?

Answer 14

gluteus medius and minimus

when one leg is lifted to swing forward, the body tends to slump towards the unsupported side –> the contralateral (opposite) ABductors CONTRACT to stablize the trunk

Question 15

what is a common cause of injury in the glute medius/minimus? how does it present?

Answer 15

cause = iatrogenic injury, for ex. intramuscular injection
presentation = damage to the superior gluteal nerve –> trendelenburg sign/gait (slumping)

Question 16

what muscles make up the deep muscles of the gluteal muscles? action? innervation?

Answer 16

piriformis
gemelli (superior, inferior)
obturator internus
quadratus femoris
obturator externus

A: stablize hip, lateral/external rotation of the hip
I: varied from lumbosacral region

Question 17

what seperates the “gemellus sandwhich”?

Answer 17

tendon of obtorator internus

Question 18

what does the superior gluteal nerve innervate?

Answer 18

gluteus medius
gluteus minimus
lateral tensor fascia latae muscle (thigh)

Question 19

what does the sciatic nerve innervate? what does it biforcate into?

Answer 19

posterior compartment of thigh
biforcates into the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve

Question 20

what gluteal muscle nerves are above the piriformis? below?

Answer 20

above = superior gluteal nerve
below = sciatic nerve, inferior gluteal nerve, other specific nerves of lumbar plexus