Major Joints of the Lower Limb (Excluding the Ankle Joint) Flashcards
List the types of joints.
1 - Fibrous.
2 - Cartilaginous.
3 - Synovial.
List 2 examples of fibrous joints.
1 - Sutures.
2 - Syndesmoses.
List the types of cartilaginous joints.
- Primary / synchondroses.
- Secondary / symphyses.
What is the difference between synchondroses and symphyses?
- A synchondrosis is where the bones are joined by hyaline cartilage.
- A symphysis is where the bones are joined by fibrocartilage.
List the types of synovial joint.
1 - Pivot.
2 - Hinge.
3 - Saddle.
4 - Plane / gliding.
5 - Condyloid / ellipsoidal.
6 - Ball and socket.
What type of joint is the hip joint?
A ball and socket synovial joint.
Which structure increases the depth of the socket of the hip joint and shoulder joint?
A labrum (ring of cartilage).
How does the pelvic girdle of a female differ from that of a male?
It is lighter, thinner and wider.
List the bones that compose the pelvic girdle.
1 - Ilium.
2 - Ischium.
3 - Pubis.
How does the pelvis move when the thigh extends and flexes?
It rotates anteriorly with thigh extension and rotates posteriorly with thigh flexion.
List the ligaments of the hip joint.
1 - Iliofemoral.
2 - Pubofemoral.
3 - Ischiofemoral.
List the movements that are resisted by the iliofemoral ligament.
1 - Extension.
2 - Internal rotation.
3 - External rotation.
List the movements that are resisted by the pubofemoral ligament.
1 - Abduction.
2 - External rotation.
List the movements that are resisted by the ischiofemoral ligament.
1 - Adduction.
2 - Internal rotation.
What is the normal range of the angle of inclination of the hip?
125 degrees to 135 degrees.
What is the angle of inclination?
The angle formed by the meeting of the axis of the shaft of a bone with the axis of the neck and head.
What is coxa vara?
A deformity of the hip where the angle of inclination of the femur is less than 125 degrees.
What is coxa valga?
A deformity of the hip where the angle of inclination of the femur is more than 135 degrees.
What are the consequences of coxa vara?
- Shortens the limb.
- Increased effectiveness of abductors.
- Reduced load on femoral head.
- Increases load on femoral neck.
What are the consequences of coxa valga?
- Lengthens the limb.
- Reduces effectiveness of abductors.
- Increases the load on the femoral head.
- Reduces the load on the femoral neck.
What is the angle of anteversion?
The angle of the femoral neck in the transverse plane.
What is the normal angle of anteversion of the femur?
The femoral neck is normally rotated anteriorly 12 - 14 degrees with respect to the femur.
How is the apparent length of the lower limb measured?
From the umbilicus to the medial malleolus.
How is the true length of the lower limb measured?
From the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial malleolus.
When might the true length of the lower limb be affected?
- With a congenitally short limb.
- With a fracture of one of the long bones of the lower limb.
When might the apparent length of the upper limb be affected?
With a dislocation at the hip joint.
List the hip flexors.
1 - Iliopsoas.
2 - Rectus femoris.
3 - Sartorius.
4 - Pectineus.
List the hip extensors.
1 - Gluteus maximus.
The hamstrings:
2 - Semimembranosus.
3 - Semitendinosus.
4 - Long head of biceps femoris.
List the bones of the knee joint.
1 - Femur.
2 - Tibia.
3 - Patella.
What type of joint is the knee joint?
A hinge synovial joint.
List the nerves that supply structures of the knee joint.
1 - Femoral nerve.
2 - Obturator nerve.
3 - Common peroneal nerve.
4 - Tibial nerve.
Which joints compose the knee joint?
- 2 condylar joints (formed by the condyles of the femur and tibia).
- 1 gliding joint (formed by the patella and the patellar surface).
How do the articular surfaces of the tibia differ from that of the femur (where the tibia articulates with the femur)?
The surfaces of the femoral condyles are convex whereas the surfaces of the tibial condyles are flat (hence tibial plateaus).
How is the fit between the articular surfaces of the tibia and femur improved?
By interposing fibrocartilagenous plates (menisci) between the tibia and femur.
How do menisci improve the articulation of the femur and tibia?
By deepening the articular surfaces of tibial plateaus.
Why does strengthening the quadriceps muscles also strengthen the knee joint?
Because the extracapsular ligaments of the knee joint are derived from tendons of the quadriceps muscles.
Which muscles constitute the quadriceps muscles?
1 - Vastus lateralis.
2 - Vastus medialis.
3 - Vastus intermedius.
4 - Rectus femoris
List the possible movements of the knee joint.
1 - Flexion.
2 - Extension.
3 - Rotation.
List the muscle(s) that are responsible for flexion of the knee.
1 - Gracilis.
2 - Gastrocnemius.
3 - Soleus.
The hamstrings:
4 - Semimembranosus.
5 - Semitendinosus.
6 - Long head of biceps femoris.
List the muscle(s) that are responsible for extension of the knee.
The quadriceps:
1 - Vastus lateralis.
2 - Vastus medialis.
3 - Vastus intermedius.
4 - Rectus femoris.
List the muscle(s) that are responsible for internal rotation of the knee.
1 - Semimembranosus.
2 - Popliteus.
Pes anserinus:
3 - Semitendinosus.
4 - Gracilis.
5 - Sartorius.
Why is capsule absent at the front of the knee joint?
Because this permits the synovial membrane to pouch upwards beneath the quadriceps tendon, forming the supra-patellar bursa.
Where is the quadriceps tendon?
Just above the kneecap.
What is the function of bursae?
To provide a cushion between bones and tendons / muscles.
What is the function of the patellar tendon?
To attach the patella to the tibia.
Which structures strengthen the knee joint capsule at the medial and lateral sides of the patella?
Expansions of tendons of vastus medialis and vastus lateralis.
Which structure strengthens the knee joint capsule posteriorly?
The oblique popliteal ligament.
Where is the ligamentum patellae?
Is it extracapsular or intracapsular?
- It is an extracapsular ligament.
- It attaches superiorly to the lower border of the patella, and inferiorly to the tuberosity of the tibia.
From which structure is the ligamentum patellae derived?
It is a continuation of the central portion of the common tendon of the quadriceps muscles.
Which structure separates the ligamentum patellae from the synovial membrane of the knee joint capsule?
The infrapatellar fat pad.
Which structure separates the ligamentum patellae from the tibia?
A small infrapatellar bursa.
Where is the lateral collateral ligament / fibula collateral ligament?
Is it extracapsular or intracapsular?
- It is an extracapsular ligament.
- It attaches superiorly to the lateral condyle of the femur, and inferiorly to the head of the fibula.
Which structure separates the lateral collateral ligament from the lateral meniscus?
The tendon of the popliteus muscle.
Where is the medial collateral ligament / tibial collateral ligament?
Is it extracapsular or intracapsular?
- It is an extracapsular ligament.
- It attaches superiorly to the medial condyle of the femur, and inferiorly to the medial surface of the shaft of the tibia.
- It attaches firmly to the edge of the medial meniscus.
Is the oblique popliteal ligament extracapsular or intracapsular?
Extracapsular.
From which structure is the popliteal ligament derived?
The semimembranosus muscle.
In relation to which structures are the cruciate ligaments named anterior or posterior?
Their tibial attachments.
What are the functions of the cruciate ligaments?
- They are the main bond between the femur and tibia.
- The anterior cruciate ligament prevents posterior displacement of the femur, whereas the posterior cruciate ligament prevents anterior displacement of the femur.
Are the cruciate ligaments extracapsular or intracapsular?
- They are intracapsular ligaments.
- However, they are excluded from the synovial cavity by a covering of synovial membrane.
Where does the anterior crucitae ligament attach?
- Superiorly at the lateral condyle of the femur.
- Inferiorly at the anterior intercondylar area of the tibia.
Where does the posterior crucitae ligament attach?
- Superiorly at the medial condyle of the femur.
- Inferiorly at the posterior intercondyloid fossa of the tibia.
Which movement would cause the cruciate ligaments to become taught?
Knee extension.
Which mensicus is most commonly damaged?
The medial meniscus (damaged 20x more often than the lateral meniscus).
List the muscle(s) that are responsible for external rotation of the knee.
1 - Biceps femoris.
2 - Tensor fasciae latae.
