Lower Limb Flashcards
What is the blood supply to the lower limb?
External iliac artery
Femoral artery
Profunda femoris
At what point does the external iliac artery become the femoral artery?
when the external iliac crosses the inguinal ligament
What vessels supply the gluteal region?
superior and inferior gulteal artery
they both come off the internal iliac artery
At what point does the femoral artery become the popliteal artery?
when the femoral artery passes throgh the adductor canal and the adductor hiatus above the knee. The popliteal artery then branches into the anterior and posterior tibial artery
What are varicose veins?
This is when veins become enlarged and tortous (twisted). The valves do not work (valvular incompetence) and this allows blood to flow backwards causing the veins to enlarge even more. Varicose veins are most common in superficial veins
Where does the lumbar plexus arise from?
L1-L4
Where does the sacral plexus arise from?
L4-5, S1-S4
What arteries supply the head and neck of the femur?
Medial and lateral circumflex artery which comes off the profunda femoris, the retinacular arteries, and the accetabular branch of the obturator artery
What is the name of the fascia that surrounds the thigh and leg?
Thigh - fascia lata and intermuscular septa
Leg - crural fascia and interosseus membrane
What muscles are found in the anterior compartment of the thigh?
Quadriceps femoris
Pectineus
Sartorius
Ilopsoas
What are the actions of the muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh?
Flexors of the hip and extensors of the thigh
Rectus femoris stabilises the hip joint
Iliopsoas is a major flexor of the hip
Pectineus and Sartorius - adduction and lateral rotation
What nerve supplies the anterior compartment of the thigh?
Femoral nerve
L2,3,4
It descends under the inguinal ligament and onto the anteror surface of psoas
What muscles are found in the medial compartment of the thigh?
Adductors (gracilis and obturator externus)
What nerve supplies the medial compartment of the thigh?
Obturator nerve
L2,3,4
What muscles are found in the posterior compartment of the thigh?
Hamstrings
Extensors of the hip and flexors of the knee
What nerve supplies the posterior compartment of the thigh?
Tibial divison of sciatic nerve
L5, S1, S2
What are the contents of the femoral triangle?
N- femoral nerve A - femoral artery V - femoral vein E - empty space L - deep inguinal lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels (lateral to medial)
What are the boundaries of the femoral triangle?
superior - inguinal ligament
medial - medial border of adductor longus
lateral - medial border of sartorius
What is the clinical relavence of the femoral triangle?
femoral pulse and cannulation of the femoral artery and vein
Where is the midpoint of the inguinal ligament and what is its clinical relavence?
Midway between the ASIS and pubic tubercle
The femoral pulse is inferior to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament