Muscles In The Anterior Compartment Of The Thigh Flashcards
What nerve innervates the anterior muscles of the thigh? What is its nerve root?
Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
What two muscles make up the iliopsoas?
Psoas major and iliacus
What is are the attachments of the iliopsoas muscle of the thigh?
Psoas muscle- originates from the lumbar vertebrae
Iliacus - originates form the iliac fossa of the pelvis
Insert together onto the lesser trochanter of the femur
What is the action of the iliopsoas muscle of the thigh?
Flexes the lower limb at the hip and assists in lateral rotation at the hip
How is the iliopsoas muscle of the thigh innervated?
Psoas major- anterior rami of L1-3
Iliacus- femoral nerve
What 4 muscles make up the quadriceps femoris?
Vastus lateralis
Vastus intermedius
Vastus medialis
Rectus femoris
What is the main function of the quadriceps femoris?
Extension of the knee
How is the quadricep femoris attached to the tibia indirectly?
All the muscles unite proximal to the knee and distally attach to the patella via the Patella tendon. The patella attaches to the tibia by the patella ligament.
What is the attachment of the vastus lateralis of the quadricep femoris in the thigh?
Originates from the greater trochanter and the lateral lip of linea aspera
Attached to the patella via the patella tendon
What is the attachment of the vastus intermedius of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Originates from the anterior and lateral surfaces of the femoral shaft
Attached to the patella via the patella tendon
What is the attachment for the vastus medialis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Originates from the intertrochanteric line and medial lip of the linea aspera
Attached to the patella via the patella tendon
What is the attachment of the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Originates from the ilium (just superior to the acetabulum)
Runs straight down leg and attaches to the patella by the quadriceps femoris tendon
What is the action of the vastus lateralis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Extends the knee joint and stabilised the patella
What is the action of the vastus intermedius of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Extends the knee joint and stabilised the patella
What is the action of the vastus medialis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh? What makes it so good at its function?
Extends the knee joint and stabilised the patella, particularly due to its horizontal fibres at the distal end
What is the action of the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
It flexes the leg at the hip joint and extends at the knee joint (it is the only muscle of the quadriceps to cross both the hip and knee joints)
What nerve innervates vastus lateralis of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Femoral nerve
What nerve innervates the vastus intermedius of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Femoral nerve
What nerve innervates the vastus medialis of the quadricep femoris of the thigh?
Femoral nerve
What nerve innervates the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris of the thigh?
Femoral nerve
Where in the thigh is the sartorius?
Long and thin, running across the thigh in a inferomedial direction. Positioned more superficially than the other muscles
What are the attachments of the sartorius muscle of the thigh?
Originates from the anterior superior iliac spine and attaches to the superior, medial surface of the tibia
What is the action of the sartorius muscle of the thigh?
At the hip joint, it is a flexor, abductor and lateral rotator
At the knee joint, it is a flexor
What nerve innervates the sartorius muscle of the thigh?
Femoral nerve
What does the pectineus muscle form the base of?
Femoral triangle
What are the attachments of the pectineus muscle of the thigh?
Originates from the pectineal line on the anterior surface of the pelvis
Attcahes to the pectineal line on the posterior side of the femur, just inferior to the lesser trochanter.
What is the action of the pectineus muscle of the thigh?
Adduction and flexion at the hip
What nerve innervates the pectineus muscle of the thigh?
Femoral
May also receive a branch form obturator nerve
How can the quadriceps femoris be used clinically?
To check the femoral nerve in case of suspected nerve palsy.
Patient needs to extend knee against resistance
Damage to which nerve root would effect the femoral nerve?
L3.
