Lower Limb Anatomy Flashcards
What are the three functions of the lower limb?
Locomotion
Support
Balance
What are the 6 regions of the lower limb?
Gluteal Femoral Knee Leg Ankle Foot
What four bones make up the pelvis?
Ilium
Ischium
Pubis
Sacrum
What is the position of the ilium?
Links to the sacrum and extends down to the top of the acetabulum.
What is the position of the ischium?
Forms the posterior inferior part of the pelvis. Links with the pubis to make the obturator foramen.
What is the position of the pubis?
Forms the anterior inferior part of the pelvis. Links with the pubis to make the obturator foramen. Each side is linked by the pubic symphysis.
What is the acetabulum?
The dip into which the head of the femur slots.
Name six points of interest on the ilium.
Iliac fossa Iliac crest Anterior Superior Iliac Spine Posterior Superior Iliac Spine Posterior Inferior Iliac Spine Wing of ilium
Name three points of interest on the pubis.
Pubic crest
Pubic tubercle
Pubic body
What links pubic bones?
Pubic Symphysis
What are the two foramen in the pelvis called?
Pelvic cavity
Obturator foramen
From what levels does the sciatic nerve arise?
L4-S3
What does the sciatic nerve branch into?
Tibial and Common Fibular Nerves
What does the sciatic nerve supply?
Posterior thigh, all leg and foot.
What are the four bones found in the thigh and leg regions?
Femur
Patella
Tibia
Fibula
Name eight major features of the femur.
Head Greater Trochanter Lesser Trochanter Lateral condyle Medial condyle Lateral epicondyle Medial epicondyle Adductor tubercle
Name five major features of the tibia.
Lateral Tibial condyle Medial tibial condyle Intercondylar eminence Tuberosity Medial malleolus
Name one major feature of the fibula.
Lateral malleolus
What is a condyle?
Part of a bone that articulates
What is an epicondyle?
A bone protrusion that is above the condyle.
What two bones make up the hip joint?
Femur and pelvis
What three ligaments encapsule the hip joint?
Iliofemoral ligament
Ischiofemoral ligament
Pubofemoral ligament
What arteries supply the hip joint?
Lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries
Acetabular branch of the obturator artery
Where do the circumflex femoral arteries arise from?
Deep femoral artery
Where does the deep femoral artery arise from?
Common femoral artery
Where does the common femoral artery arise from?
Extension of external iliac artery when it passes through the inguinal ligament.
Where does the acetabular branch of the obturator artery arise from?
Obturator artery
Where does the obturator artery arise from?
Internal iliac artery
What part of the femur does the acetabular branch supply?
Right into the apex of the head.
What seven movements can the hip make?
Flexion Extension Abduction Adduction Medial rotation Lateral rotation Circumduction
Where do nerves enter and exit the pelvis to/from the thigh?
Greater and lesser sciatic foramen.
What separates the greater and lesser sciatic foramen?
Sacrotuberous ligament.
What are the two layers of muscle found in the gluteal region?
Deep and superficial.
What movements do the superficial muscles of the gluteal region do?
Extension, abduction and medial rotation of thigh.
What four muscles make up the superficial muscles of
the gluteal region?
Gluteus maximus
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus
Tensor fascia latae
What nerves supply the superficial muscles of
the gluteal region?
Inferior gluteal nerve (G. Maximus)
Superior gluteal nerve (all others)
Give the main role of each superficial muscles of
the gluteal region.
G. Maximus- Hip extension
G. Medius and G. Minimus- Medial rotation
Tensor Fascia Latae- Abduction
What movements do the deep muscles of the gluteal region do?
Lateral rotation and hip stabilization
What four muscles make up the deep muscles of
the gluteal region?
Obturator internus
Quadratus femoris
Gemelli (superior and inferior)
Piriformis
What nerves supply the deep muscles of
the gluteal region?
Sacral plexus
Give the main role of each deep muscles of
the gluteal region.
All lateral rotation
What happens if you have a damaged superior gluteal nerve?
Trandelenberg gait
What is a Trandelenberg gait?
Weak abduction preventing stabilization gives lurching movement.
Where does the sciatic nerve exit the pelvis?
Greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis
What two nerves make up the sciatic nerve?
Tibial and common fibular nerves
What runs through the femoral triangle?
Femoral nerve Femoral Artery Femoral Vein Deep inguinal lymph nodes NAVY
What is the superior border of the femoral triangle?
Inguinal ligament
What is the medial border of the femoral triangle?
Adductor longus
What is the lateral border of the femoral triangle?
Sartorius
Mnemonic for femoral triangle borders
I add salt
Mnemonic for contents of femoral triangle
NAVY
What is the roof of the femoral triangle?
Deep fascia
What is the floor of the femoral triangle?
Iliopsoas and pectineus muscles
How many compartments does the thigh have?
3
What are the three compartments of the thigh?
Anterior, medial and posterior
What groups of muscles are found in the posterior compartment of the thigh?
Extensors of hip and flexors of knee (hamstrings)
What muscles make up the posterior compartment of the thigh/hamstrings?
Semimembranosus
Biceps femoris
Semitendinosus
What nerve supplies the posterior compartment of the thigh?
Tibial division of sciatic nerve
Why is the semimembranosus called so?
Because it has a flat tendon of origin
Why is the semitendinosus called so?
Because it has a long tendon of insertion
What groups of muscles are found in the anterior compartment of the thigh?
Hip flexors and knee extensors
What are the four hip flexors?
Pectineus
Sartorius
Iliopsoas (psoas major/minor and iliacus)
Rectus femoris
What nerve supplies the anterior compartment of the thigh?
Femoral nerve except for psoas major (L1-3)
What is the tailor’s muscle?
Sartorius
Which is the strongest hip flexor?
Iliopsoas