Lower Limb: Anteromedial Thigh, Hip and Knee Joints Flashcards
Most of the adductor muscles of the thigh attach to where?
the posterior aspect of the femur - linea aspera
What allows greater mobility of the femur at the hip joint because it places the head and neck more perpendicular to the acetabulum?
angle of inclination
What is advantageous for bipedal walking; however, it imposes considerable strain on the neck of the femur?
angle of inclination
If the angle of inclination decreases, what is there a higher risk of?
fracture because there would be more weight on the head and neck of the femur
What forms the connection between the lower limb and the pelvic girdle?
the hip joint
What type of joint is the hip joint?
a multiaxial ball and socket type of synovial joint
What joint is designed for stability over a wide range of movement?
the hip joint
During standing, the weight of the upper body is transferred through the (1) to the (2)
- hip bones
- heads of femurs
The head of the femur is covered with articular cartilage, except for a medial placed depression or pit, the (…)
fovea for the ligament of the head of the femur
What is the hip joint reinforced by?
- anteriorly and superiorly: iliofemoral ligament
- inferiorly and anteriorly: pubofemoral ligament
- posteriorly: ischiofemoral ligament
What is a strong ligament that attaches to the AIIS, acetabular rim proximally, and the inertrochanteric line to prevent hyperextension of the hip joint during standing?
iliofemoral ligament
What ligament arises from the obturator crest of the pubic bone and merges with the fibrous layer of the joint capsule, tightens during extension and abduction of the hip joint, and resists excessive abduction of the hip joint?
pubofemoral ligament
What ligament is weak and arises from the ischial part of the acetabular rim and attaches to the neck of the femur, medial to the base of the greater trochanter?
ischiofemoral ligament
What do each of these ligaments do:
- iliofemoral ligament
- pubofemoral ligament
- ischiofemoral ligament
- resists extension
- resists abduction
- resists extension
What pulls the femoral head medially into the acetabulum, increasing stability and are reciprocally balanced when doing so?
Both hip muscles (medial and lateral rotators of the thigh) and ligaments
What are the hip movements?
- flexion, extension
- abduction, adduction
- medial, lateral rotation
- circumduction
What is the deep fascia of the lower limb called? What does it do?
fascia lata
- limits contraction (outward extension of contracting muscles)
- increases venous compression
What does the fascia lata attach to and is continuous with?
- superiorly, the inguinal ligament, pubic arch, body, and tubercle
- Scarpa’s fascia of the inferior abdominal wall inferior to the inguinal ligament
The thigh muscles are separated into three fascial compartments, (…), formed by the (…)
- anterior, medial, and posterior compartment
- formed by the fascia lata
The walls of the thigh compartments are formed by the fascia lata and three (…) that arise from the deep aspect of the fascia lata and attach to the (…) on the posterior aspect of the femur
- fascial intermuscular septa
- linea aspera
The (…) intermuscular septum is strong; the other two septa are relatively weak. The (…) is continuous with the lateral intermuscular septum.
- lateral
- iliotibial tract
The (…) is deep to the skin and consists of loose connective tissue that contains a variable amount of fat, cutaneous nerves, superficial veins, lymphatic vessels, and lymph nodes
subcutaneous tissue (superficial fascia)
The subcutaneous tissue of the hip and thigh is continuous with what?
- inferior part of the anterolateral abdominal wall
- buttocks
The (…) of the thigh is especially strong, investing the limb like an elastic stocking. This fascia limits (…) of contracting muscles, making muscular contraction more efficient in compressing the veins to push blood toward the heart. This fascia is also called the (…)
- deep fascia
- outward extension
- fascia lata
- What are the main actions of the anterior thigh compartment?
- What are the main actions of the medial thigh compartment?
- What are the main actions of the posterior thigh muscles?
- knee extension, hip flexion
- hip adduction
- knee flexion, hip extension
As generalization, what innervates this compartments:
- anterior thigh compartment (ilium)
- medial thigh compartment (pubis)
- posterior compartment (ischium)
- femoral nerve (L2-L4)
- obturator nerve (L2-L4)
- tibial branch of sciatic nerve (L4-S3)
What are the exceptions of innervation to the thigh compartments and what do they innervate?
- superior gluteal nerve: tensor fascia lata
- common fibular (peroneal n): biceps femoris-short head m
- Increasing the angle at a joint is (1)
- Decreasing the angle at a joint is (2)
- flexion
- extension
Innervation of the lower limb arises from what?
ventral rami of spinal nn (dorsal rami innervate the back)
What nerves form the lumbosacral plexus (L1-S4)?
A. subcostal (T12)
B. iliohypogastric (L1)
C. ilioinguinal (L1)
D. genitofemoral (L1-L2)
E. lateral femoral cutaneous (L2-L3)
F. femoral (L2-L4)
G. obturator (L2-L4)
H. lumbosacral trunk (L4-L5)
What is a mnemonic for the lumbosacral plexus?
“I, I Get Laid On Fridays”
iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, genitofemoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, obturator, femoral
What nerve is near the psoas major?
genitofemoral nerve
What nerve passes through the deep inguinal ring into the inguinal canal and out via the superficial inguinal ring? (goes through both rings)
genitofemoral n (L1-L2)
What nerve passes into the inguinal canal through a space between the IAO and transversus abdominis exit via the superficial inguinal ring only?
ilioinguinal n (L1)
- In men, the genital branch of the genitofemoral n innervates the (…) and terminates (…)
- In women, it accompanies the (…) and terminates (…)
- cremasteric muscle (GSE)
- on the skin in the upper, anterior part of scrotum (GSA)
- the round ligament of uterus
- on the skin of the mons pubis and labium majora (GSA)
The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve provides GSE (motor) and GSA (sensory) where?
- GSE: cremasteric m
- GSA: anterior scrotum + skin over labia majora
What nerve arises from the anterior rami of nerves L1 and L2 and pierces the psoas major muscle?
genitofemoral nerve
The femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve provides what type of fibers?
GSA - sensory
The femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve passes into the thigh, crossing under the (…) where it is (…) to the femoral artery. It passes superficially to innervate the (…)
- inguinal ligament
- lateral
- skin over the upper central part of the anterior thigh
What provides cutaneous innervation to the femoral triangle area and anterolateral scrotum?
femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve
What provides cutaneous innervation to the upper medial thigh, root of the penis, and anterior scrotum so it is important in males?
ilioinguinal nerve
The lumbosacral plexus derives from the ventral primary rami of the lumbar and sacral plexuses, which provides (…) fibers
motor and sensory fibers
The lumbar plexus provides motor and sensory nn to where?
- abdominal wall
- pelvic areas
- anterior and medial compartment of the thigh
The sacral plexus provides motor and sensory nn to where?
- part of the pelvis
- posterior thigh, leg, ankle, and foot muscles (tibial n)
- most of the lower leg, ankle and foot muscles (common fibular n)
- entire foot
What nerves of the lumbosacral plexus are purely cutaneous? What about cutaneous and motor?
- ilioinguinal n. and lateral femoral cutaneous n. (GSA)
- genitofemoral n. (GSA & GSE)
Most terminal branches of the lumbosacral plexus are (…)
mixed fiber nerves (mixed functional modalities)
Skeletal muscles receive GSE fibers, which are (…) and GSA fibers, which are (…)
- somatic motor fibers
- somatic sensory fibers
Proprioception describes the feeling in space where your body parts are. There is more proprioception in the (…); so if proprioception is off, you will have (…) issues
- feet/legs
- balance issues
Cutaneous innervation has GSA fibers provided by (…) and GVE fibers provides by (…)
- somatic sensory fibers
- sympathetic fibers
Innervation of glands and blood vessels, erector pili mm in the skin are innervated by what?
only sympathetic (GVE) fibers
Dermatomes are areas of the skin supplied by branches of a single spinal nerve. What do these parts of the spinal cord provide dermatome innervation to?
- lumbar spinal cord
- upper sacral cord
- lower sacral cord
- anterior and medial aspects of thigh
- posterior aspect of thigh
- largely confined to perineum
- The ilioinguinal n provides GSA fibers where?
- The genitofemoral n provides GSA and GSE fibers where?
- The lateral femoral cutaneous n provides GSA fibers where?
- skin of scrotum/labia majora, mons pubis, medial thigh
-
genital branch: GSA-anterior surface scrotum/labia majora; GSE-cremasteric m
femoral branch: GSA: skin lateral to femoral triangle - skin on anterolateral thigh
What is a group of skeletal muscles innervated by a single spinal n?
myotome
What is the clinical relevance of myotome testing?
Neurological examination:
- intactness of nerve root (muscle weakness)
- spinal cord nerve lesion/injury
- location of injury
- Myotome is (…) testing
- Dermatome is (…) testing
- DTR is (…) testing
- muscle testing
- sensation testing (sharp and soft sensation)
- reflex testing (integrity of sensory and motor neurons pathway)
The hip flexor myotome (iliopsoas) are associated with what spinal nerve?
L2
The knee extension myotome (quadriceps) are associated with what spinal nerve?
L3
The ankle dorsiflexor myotomes (tibialis anterior) are associated with what spinal nerve?
L4
The long toe extensor myotome (extensor hallucis and digitorum longus) are associated with what spinal nerve?
L5
The ankle plantarflexor myotome (gastrocnemius/soleus) are associated with what spinal nerve?
S1
The toe abductor myotome (abductor hallucis/plantar interossei) are association with what spinal nerve?
S2
What are the 3 ways to test spinal nerve function? They are each tested bilaterally
- myotome
- dermatome
- DTR (deep tendon reflexes)
- What muscles are included in the anterior thigh compartment?
- What is this generally innervated by?
- What are the common actions?
- iliopsoas, quadriceps femoris, sartorius, pectineus
- femoral n
- hip flexion and knee extension, rotation
- What is the chief hip flexor?
- What is the great extensor of the knee?
- What allows for hip and knee flexion and lateral hip rotation?
- What allows for hip flexion, assists in medial hip rotation, AND adducts the thigh?
- iliopsoas
- quadriceps femoris
- sartorius
- pectineus
What is the function of the rectus femoris m?
- hip flexion
- knee extension
(…) is formed by the merger of two muscles, the psoas major and iliacus. They lie in the posterior abdominal wall and greater pelvis
iliopsoas