Lower Limb Flashcards
Superficial and Deep gluteal muscles, as well as nerve innervation
Superficial
- glut max (inferior gluteal nerve)
- glut medius, glut minimus, tensor fascia latae (superior gluteal nerve)
Deep (all nerves from the sacral plexus)
- Piriformis
- Superior Gemeli
- Obturator Internus
- Inferior Gemeli
- Quadratus femoris
Sciatic nerve - where does it exit the pelvis, what does it supply and where does it split?
Exits in the greater sciatic foramen (most lateral structure), inferiorly to the piriformis
Supplies posterior thigh, all leg and foot muscles and most of the skin via splitting into the tibial and common fibular branches
Separates in the distal thigh
Anterior compartment of the thigh - muscles (4), function and nerve innervation
Flexors of hip
- Pectineus
- Iliopsoas
- Sartorius
Extensors of hip
- Quadriceps femoris
All are supplied the femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4), EXCEPT Psoas major (L1, L2, L3)

Medial compartment of the thigh - muscles (5), function and nerve innervation
Adductors of thigh
- Adductor longus
- Adductor brevis
- Adductor magnus
- Gracillis
- Obturator externus
All supplied by the obturator nerve EXCEPT the hamstring part of adductor magnus (tibial nerve)

Posterior compartment of the thigh - muscles (3), function and nerve innervation
Extensors of thigh and flexors of leg
- Semimembranosus
- Semitendonosus (this is the one used for ACL repairs)
- Biceps femoris (short head and long head)
All tibial nerve EXCEPT short head of biceps femoris (common fibular nerve)

Anterior compartment of the leg - muscles (4), function and nerve innervation
Dorsiflexion of ankle and extensors of toes
- Tibialis anterior
- Extensor digitorum longus
- Extensor hollicis longus
- Fibularis tertius
All supplied by Deep Fibular Nerve

Lateral compartment of the leg - muscles (2), function and nerve innervation
Eversion of the foot and weak plantarflexion of the ankle
- Fibularis longus
- Fibularis brevis
(NB - tendons of both of these pass posteriorly to the lateral malleolus)
Both supplied by the superficial fibular nerve

Posterior compartment of the leg - muscles (7), function and nerve innervation
Superficial - plantarflexors of ankle
- Gastrocnemius
- Soleus
- Plantaris
Deep - flexors of toes and plantarflexors of ankle
- Popliteus
- Flexor hallucis longus
- Flexor digitorum longus
- Tibialis posterior
All innervated by the tibial nerve

What are the 4 ligaments of the hip joint?
Ileofemoral
Pubofemoral
Ischiofemoral
Ligament to the head of the femur (a.k.a. ligamentum teres)

What form the 4 boundaries of the popliteal fossa?
Superolaterally - biceps femoris
Superomedially - semimembranosus
Inferiorly - medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius
What is the other name for the Achilles tendon?
Testing the ankle jerk relfex of this tendon is testing which nerve roots?
The Calcaneal tendon (combination of both gastrocnemius and soleus)
Ankle jerk relfex tests S1 and S2 nerve roots

What are the contents of the femoral triangle?
Femoral Nerve - only one not in the femoral sheath
Femoral Artery
Femoral Vein
Femoral canal (containing fat and lymph)

Where do femoral hernias occur?
In the femoral canal
Describe the arterial blood supply of the lower limb
Common iliac splits into internal and external iliac
External iliac > femoral artery @ inguinal ligament
Femoral artery > popliteal artery @ adductor canal
Popliteal artery gives off anterior tibial artery (which gives rise to dorsal pedis and dorsal arch) and posterior tibial artery (which gives rise to the fibular artery)

Describe the venous blood supply of the lower limb
Small saphenous vein and Great saphenous vein drain the leg
Also the Fibular veins and Posterior Tibial veins which come together to form the Popliteal vein
The Sural veins are also found in the popliteal fossa and drain into the popliteal vein, as does the small saphenous vein. The popliteal vein then goes on to become the femoral vein
Both the femoral vein and the great saphenous vein drain into the Common femoral vein

What is contained in the neurovascular bundle within the popliteal fossa?
Tibial nerve
Popliteal vein
Popliteal artery
(Popliteal lymph nodes are located along the popliteal vein)
Name that nerve supply!
- gluteal region (superficial)
- gluteal region (deep)
- anterior compartment of thigh
- medial compartment of thigh
- posterior compartment of thigh
Gluteal (superficial) - superior and inferior gluteal nerves
Gluteal (deep) - sacral plexus
Anterior thigh - femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Medial thigh - Obturator (L2-L4) - except hamstring part of adductor magnus! (tibial)
Posterior thigh - sciatic (L4-S3) - except short head of biceps femoris! (common fibular)

Name that nerve supply!
- Anterior compartment of the leg
- Lateral compartment of the leg
- Posterior compartment of the leg
Anterior - deep fibular nerve
Lateral - superficial fibular nerve
Posterior - tibial nerve
