Muscles of Lower Limb Flashcards by Isobel Ritchie

What is the innervation and function of psoas major (anterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = anterior rami of lumbar nerves (L1,L2,L3)

FUNCTION (works conjointly with psoas minor) =
Flexion of thigh at hip joint
Stabilises hip joint

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What is the innervation and function of pectineus (anterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve (L2,L3)

FUNCTION =
Adduction of thigh
Flexion of thigh
Assists with medial rotation of thigh

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What is the innervation and function of psoas minor (anterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = anterior rami of lumbar nerves (L1,L2)

FUNCTION (acts conjointly with psoas major) =
Flexion of thigh at hip joint
Stabilises hip joint

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What is the innervation and function of sartorius (anterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve (L2,L3)

FUNCTION = 
Flexion of thigh at hip joint 
Abduction of thigh at hip joint 
Lateral rotation of thigh at hip joint 
Flexion at knee joint

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What is the innervation and function of quadriceps femoris (anterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve (L2,L3,L4)

rectus femoris (steadies hip joint)
vastus lateralis
vastus medialis
vastus intermedius

FUNCTION =
Extension of leg at knee joint

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What is the innervation and function of adductor longus (medial thigh)?

INNERVATION = obturator nerve (L2,L3,L4)

FUNCTION =
Adduction of thigh

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What is the innervation and function of adductor brevis (medial thigh)?

INNERVATION = obturator nerve (L2,L3,L4)

FUNCTION =
Adduction of thigh
Flexion of thigh

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What is the innervation and function of adductor magnus (medial thigh)?

INNERVATION = obturator nerve (L2,L3,L4) (adductor part) & sciatic nerve (L4) (hamstring)

FUNCTION =
Adduction of thigh
Flexion of thigh (adductor part)
Extension of thigh (hamstring)

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What is the innervation and function of gracilis (medial thigh)?

INNERVATION = obturator nerve (L2,L3)

FUNCTION =
Adduction of thigh
Flexion of leg
Accessory medial rotation of leg

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What is the innervation and function of obturator externus (medial thigh)?

INNERVATION = obturator nerve (L3,L4)

FUNCTION =
Lateral rotation of thigh
Steadies head of femur in acetabulum

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What is the adductor hiatus? What structures run through it?

ADDUCTOR HIATUS = opening between aponeurotic distal attachment of adductor part of adductor magnus and the tendinous distal attachment of the hamstring part

Femoral artery & vein

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What are the borders of the femoral triangle? What are its contents?

SUPERIOR = inguinal ligament

MEDIAL = lateral border of adductor longus

LATERAL = sartorius

APEX = medial border of sartorius where it crosses the lateral border of the adductor longus

FLOOR = lateral: iliopsoas medial: pectineus

ROOF = fascia lata

Contents (lateral to medial) = femoral nerve, artery, & vein (nerve is not in femoral canal)

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What is the innervation and function of gluteus maximus (superficial gluteal)?

INNERVATION = inferior gluteal nerve ([L5],[S1],S2)

FUNCTION =
Powerful extension of flexed femur at hip joint
Lateral stabiliser of hip and knee joints
Lateral rotation of thigh
Abduction of thigh

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What is the innervation and function of gluteus medius (superficial gluteal)?

INNERVATION = superior gluteal nerve ([L4],[L5],S1)

FUNCTION =
Abduction of femur at hip joint
Holds pelvis secure over stance leg & prevent pelvic drop on opposite side during walking
Medially rotates thigh

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What is the innervation and function of gluteus minimus (superficial gluteal)?

INNERVATION = superior gluteal nerve ([L4],[L5],S1)

FUNCTION =
Same as gluteus medius

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What is the innervation and function of piriformis (deep gluteal)?

INNERVATION = branches from L5,S1,S2

FUNCTION =
Lateral rotation of extended femur at hip joint
Abduction of flexed femur at hip joint

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What is the innervation and function of obturator internus (deep gluteal)?

INNERVATION = nerve to obturator internus

FUNCTION =
Lateral rotation of extended femur at hip joint
Abducts flexed femur at hip joint

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What is the innervation and function of the gemelli (deep gluteal)?

INNERVATION = nerve to obturator internus (gemellus superior) and nerve to quadratus femoris (gemullus inferior)

FUNCTION =
Lateral rotation of extended femur at hip joint
Abduction of flexed femur at hip joint

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What is the innervation and function of quadratus femoris (deep gluteal)?

INNERVATION = nerve to quadratus femoris (L5,S1)

FUNCTION =
Lateral rotation of femur at hip joint

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What is the innervation and function of tensor fasciae latae (deep gluteal)?

INNERVATION = superior gluteal nerve ([L4],[L5],S1)

FUNCTION =
Stabilises the knee in extension

What spaces in the pelvis do nerves and arteries run through?

Greater sciatic foramen = nerves and vessels supplying the gluteal region and leg

superior gluteal nerve
inferior gluteal nerve
sciatic nerve
posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
nerve to quadratus femoris

Lesser sciatic foramen = nerves and vessels supplying the perineum
(region between anus and urethral opening)

(+ pudendal nerve & nerve to obturator internus leave pelvis via greater sciatic foramen but enter perineum via lesser sciatic foramen)

What is the innervation and function of iliacus (anterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve ([L2],L3)

FUNCTION =
Flexion of thigh at hip joint

What is the innervation and function of vastus medialis (anterior thigh) (quadriceps femoris)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve (L2,[L3],[L4])

FUNCTION =
Extension of leg at knee joint

What is the innervation and function of vastus intermedius (anterior thigh) (quadriceps femoris)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve (L2,[L3],[L4])

FUNCTION =
Extension of leg at knee joint

What is the innervation and function of vastus lateralis (anterior thigh) (quadriceps femoris)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve (L2,[L3],[L4]) FUNCTION = Extension of leg at knee joint

What is the innervation and function of rectus femoris (anterior thigh) (quadriceps femoris)?

INNERVATION = femoral nerve (L2,[L3],[L4]) FUNCTION = Flexion of thigh at hip joint Extension of leg at knee joint

What is the innervation and function of biceps femoris (posterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = long head - tibial part of sciatic nerve (L5,[S1],S2) short head - common fibular part of sciatic nerve ``` FUNCTION = Flexion of leg at knee joint Extension of thigh at hip joint Lateral rotation of thigh at hip joint Lateral rotation of leg at knee joint ```

What is the innervation and function of semitendinosus (posterior thigh)?

INNERVATION = tibial part of sciatic nerve (L5,[S1],S2) ``` FUNCTION = Flexion of leg at knee joint Extension of thigh at hip joint Medial rotation of thigh at hip joint Medial rotation of leg at knee joint ```

What is the innervation and function of semimembranosus (posterior thigh)?

What are the boundaries of the popliteal fossa (diamond-shape)?

SUPERIOR = - medial: distal ends of semitendinosus & semimembranosus - lateral: distal end of biceps femoris INFERIOR = - medial: medial head of gastrocnemius - lateral: lateral head of gastrocnemius and plantaris ROOF = fascia (continuous with fascia lata of thigh and deep fascia of leg) FLOOR = - capsule of knee joint - surfaces of tibia and femur - popliteus

What are the contents of the popliteal fossa?

Superficial -> Deep - tibial & common fibular nerves (+ branch of tibial = sural cutaneous nerve) - popliteal artery & vein (roof: saphenous vein and posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh)

Where can you palpate the femoral artery?

Mid-inguinal point (halfway between ASIS and pubic symphysis)

What is the innervation and function of tibialis anterior (anterior leg)?

INNERVATION = deep fibular nerve (L4,[L5]) FUNCTION = Dorsiflexion of foot and ankle joint Inversion of foot Dynamic support of medial arch of foot

What is the innervation and function of extensor digitorum longus (anterior leg)?

INNERVATION = deep fibular nerve ([L5],[S1]) FUNCTION = Extension of lateral four toes Dorsiflexion of foot at ankle joint

What is the innervation and function of extensor hallucis longus (anterior leg)?

INNERVATION = deep fibular nerve ([L5],[S1]) FUNCTION = Extension of great toe Dorsiflexion of foot at ankle joint

What is the innervation and function of fibularis tertius (anterior leg)?

INNERVATION = deep fibular nerve ([L5],[S1]) FUNCTION = Dorsiflexion of foot at ankle joint Eversion of foot

What is the innervation and function of fibularis longus (lateral leg)?

INNERVATION = superficial fibular nerve ([L5],[S1],S2) FUNCTION = Eversion of foot Plantarflexion of foot at ankle joint Supports arches of foot

What is the innervation and function of fibularis brevis (lateral leg)?

INNERVATION = superficial fibular nerve ([L5],[S1],S2) FUNCTION = Eversion of foot

What is the innervation and function of plantaris (superficial posterior leg)?

INNERVATION = tibial nerve ([S1],[S2]) FUNCTION = Flexion of knee Plantarflexion of foot at ankle joint

What is the innervation and function of gastrocnemius (superficial posterior leg)?

INNERVATION = tibial nerve ([S1],[S2]) FUNCTION = Flexion of knee Plantarflexion of foot at ankle joint

What is the innervation and function of soleus (superficial posterior leg)?

INNERVATION = tibial nerve ([S1],[S2]) FUNCTION = Plantarflexion of foot at ankle joint

What is the innervation and function of popliteus (deep posterior leg)?

INNERVATION = tibial nerve (L4->S1) FUNCTION = Stabilises knee joint by resisting lateral rotation of tibia on femur Unlocks knee joint by laterally rotating femur on fixed tibia

What is the innervation and function of tibialis posterior (deep posterior leg)?

INNERVATION = tibial nerve (L4,L5) FUNCTION = Inversion of foot Plantarflexion of foot at ankle joint Supports medial arch of foot during walking

What is the innervation and function of flexor digitorum longus (deep posterior leg)?

INNERVATION = tibial nerve ([S2],S3) FUNCTION = Flexion of lateral four toes

What is the innervation and function of flexor hallucis longus (deep posterior leg)?

INNERVATION = tibial nerve ([S2],S3) FUNCTION = Flexion of great toe

What are the differentials for a swelling in the popliteal fossa?

- aneurysm (popliteal artery or vein) - lymphadenopathy - Baker's cysts (herniation of gastrocnemius/semimembranosus OR synovial effusion) - tumour

What structures are located behind the medial malleolus?

Tom, Dick, And Very Naughty Harry ``` Tendon of tibialis posterior Tendon of flexor digitorum longus Tibial artery Tibial vein Tibial nerve Flexor hallucis longus ```

Where does the sciatic nerve divide into the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve?

Proximal to the knee (sometimes in the pelvis)