Lower Limb Flashcards
Weight-bearing epiphyses are formed as a result of
weight bearing pressure
Traction epiphyses are formed as a result of
attachments of ligaments and muscles that exert force
The head of the femur is a ______ epiphysis
weight-bearing (fuses early 20s)
The greater trochanter is a ______ epiphysis
traction
The head of the femur is oriented
upwards, medially, and slightly anteriorly (ante-verted)
T/F The anterior part of the head of the femur is within the socket
False, it lies anteriorly outside the socket, protected by the psoas bursa
T/F The psoas bursa communicates with the acetabular joint
False, but it may
The head of the femur articulates with
the roof of the acetabulum (thickest cartilage here)
What are the intra-articular structures of the hip joint?
fat pad, labrum, ligamentum teres
What is ligamentum teres?
Directs branch of obturator artery to femoral head in development until puberty
What is the role of the vertical bundle of trabeculae?
Weight-bearing in stance
What is the role of the arcuate bundle of trabeculae?
Resisting bending forces on the neck of the femur
What is the significance of the 2 trabeculae system in the neck of the femur?
At the inferior aspect of the arcuate bundle where the 2 intersect becomes a site of weakness in ageing and osteoporosis due to loss of trabeculae
At the hip joint, the line of gravity passes _________ the centre of the joint
behind
At the knee joint, the line of gravity passes _________ the centre of the joint
in front of
At the ankle joint, the line of gravity passes _________ the centre of the joint
in front of
What is the ‘close packed position’?
Position of greatest stability; articular surfaces meet as best they can with the capsules and ligaments taught - hip extension, abduction, and medial rotation (open packed is sitting cross-legged, least stability)
Which ligaments of the hip joint blend with the capsule?
Pubofemoral and ischiofemoral
Iliofemoral ligament attaches
ASIS to intertrochanteric line
What is the function of the iliofemoral ligament?
Tightens in extension to resist further extension; causes medial rotation in extension
Retinacular fibres
extension of capsule around neck of femur; transmits retinacular blood vessels to epiphysis (growth) and head of femur (following closure)
Disruption of retinacular blood vessels in development causes
Perthe’s disease - avascular necrosis of the femoral head
What is a screw-home mechanism?
The joint gets tighter as it goes into extension - eg in hip, medial rotation occurs with extension to lock the joint
_______ rotation occurs in stance, _______ rotation occurs in swing
medial; lateral
Main movements of the hip are in the ________ plane
sagittal
What is the function of gluteus maximus?
hip extension in extreme force/acceleration; stabilizes pelvis when rising from seated position
The principal role of the cuff muscles in the hip joint is to
pull the head of the femur into the socket; they can laterally rotate the hip as well
Range of flexion at the hip
120 deg
Range of extension at the hip
10-20 deg
Medial rotation of the hip is associated with
stance
Lateral rotation of the hip is associated with
swing
Gluteus medius and minimus _______ the thigh
abduct
Illiopsoas ________ the thigh
flexes
What is the critical role of gluteus medius and minimus?
Keeping the pelvis level in walking by pulling it down to prevent fall to the unsupported side
Injury to the gluteus medius and minimus results in
Trendellenberg gait where the pelvis is unstable and drops to the unsupported side
The hip joint is innervated by
articular branches of the femoral and obturator nerves
Referred pain from the hip via the obturator nerve presents
medial thigh above the knee
Referred pain from the lumbar spine and sacro-iliac joints presents
Hip joint
Hip flexion myotome
L2 L3
Hip extension myotome
L4 L5
Knee extension myotome
L3 L4
Knee flexion myotome
L5 S1
Dorsiflexion myotome
L4 L5
Plantar flexion myotome
S1 S2
Inversion myotome
L4
Eversion myotome
L5 S1
Hallicus flexion myotome
S1 S2
Hallicus extension myotome
L5 S1
Blood supply to the hip joint comes from
retinacular fibres from the medial and lateral femoral circumflex arteries (profunda femoris; femoral a.)
Which vessels are susceptible in a #NOF?
retinacular and circumflex vessels
Posterior dislocation of the femur endangers
Sciatic nerve
What is the normal neck-shaft angle of the femur?
135 deg (smaller in women)
Coxa valga
neck-to-shaft angle less than 125
Coxa vara
neck-to-shaft angle greater than 125
Why does a #NOF present with external rotation and shortening of the limb?
Spasm of gluteal muscles, especially external rotators
Pain of osteoarthritis in the hip joint commonly refers via
articular branches of the obturator nerve tf presenting on medial knee
How is congenital hip dislocation tested?
Abdudction of the flexed hip joint
How is congenital hip dislocation treated?
Hips braced in abducted position so that adductor magnus will pull along the line of the femur and the head of the femur back into the socket
What are the two types of hip dislocation?
Traumatic and congenital
Rotation of the knee only occurs during
flexion