Muscles of the Lower Limbs Flashcards
Name the muscles acting on the hip joint (ball and socket)
Flexors/Extensors
Abductors/Adductors
Medial/Lateral Rotators
Name the muscles acting on the knee joint (condylar)
Extensors/Flexors, Medial/Lateral
Rotators of flexed knee
Name the muscles acting on the ankle (hinge) and foot
Plantarflexors/Dorsiflexors
Inverters/Everters
Name the muscles acting on the toes (hinge)
Flexors/extensors
What are the movements that occur at the hip joint?
Flexion Extension Abduction Adduction Medial (internal) rotation Lateral (external) rotation (Circumduction)
Name the different types of fascia you get in the lower limb.
Superficial fascia
Deep fascia
Fascia lata
Crural fascia
Describe the components of superficial fascia.
Fat, cutaneous nerves, lymphatics, superficial veins and arteries.
Describe the functions of the deep fascia.
Decrease friction
Aids venous return
Form intermuscular septa for compartments
Where is the fascia lata?
In thigh deep fascia
Thickened lateral side is the iliotibial band/tract ITB
Where is the crural fascia?
In leg deep fascia
Thickening of this fascia forms retinaculum/retinacula in the foot.
How many compartments are the lower limbs arranged in?
3 (anterior, posterior, medial)
What noticable feature does the posterior compartment contain?
Sciatic nerve
What noticable feature does the medial compartment contain?
Blood vessels
What is the iliotibial tract?
Thickened band of deep fascia in the thigh (fascia lata)
What is the function of the iliotibial tract?
Provides attachments for gluteus maximus and tensor fascia latae muscles
Stabilizes the femur on tibia (allows knee extensors to relax when standing)
Extends from iliac crest to lateral condyle of tibia
Name the main hip joint extensor
Gluteus maximus
Where does the nerve supply for the inferior gluteal come from?
L5, S1,2
Name all the hip joint extensors.
Gluteus maximus
Biceps femoris
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
What 3 muscles are known as the hamstring muscles?
Biceps femoris
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
They are knee flexors and rotators as well
Where is the semitendinosus, semimembranosus and long head of the biceps femoris from?
From the ischial tuberosity
Where does the short head of the biceps femoris come from?
From lower linea aspera
What are the muscles in the two regions that contribute to hip extension called?
Superficial gluteal group
Posterior thigh group
What is the posterior thigh group innervated by?
They are innervated by the sacral plexus-tibial n L4,5-S1,2,3
What are the hip joint flexor muscles?
Iliopsoas
Rectus femoris
Sartorius
What plane is the iliopsoas in, in proportion to the hip?
Anterior of hip
What makes up the iliopsoas?
Iliacus
Psoas Major
Where does the rectus femoris attach?
Attaches above hip joint to tibial tuberosity via patella ligament
Name the different muscles of the quadriceps femoris group.
Rectus femoris Vastus lateralis Vastus medialis Vastus intermedius *** All end in quadriceps tendon & patella & to tibial tuberosity via the patella ligament***
Which two groups in the anterior thigh region contribute to hip flexion?
Pelvic group (iliopsoas) Anterior thigh group
What innervates the pelvic group and anterior thigh group?
Lumbar plexus (L1-4)
Name the hip joint abductors.
Gluteus medias
Gluteus minimus (both to greater trochanter and laterally placed) (superficial gluteal group)
Tensor fascia lata (innervated by the sacral plexus)
What is a sign for weak hip abductor muscles?
Trendelenburg sign
Where does the nerve come from that innervates the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus?
Innervated by nerve from sacral plexus - superior gluteal n (L4,5,S1)
What is the Trendelenburg sign/gait?
Damage to the nerve from sacral plexus - pelvis wil drop on opposite side and give this gait.
What are the hip joint adductors?
Medial thigh group:
- adductor magnus
- adductor longus
- adductor brevis
- pectineus
- gracilis
Which compartment hosts the hip adductors?
Medial compartment
What innervates the hip adductors?
Innervated by the lumbar plexus - obturator nerve (L2-4)
Which is the largest of the adductors?
Adductor magnus
Which is the most superficial of the adductors?
Gracilis
What are the lateral rotators of the hip joint?
Deep gluteal group
- piriformis
- gemelli superior & inferior
- obturator muscles-internus & externus
- quadratus femoris
What are the medial rotators of the hip joint?
Superficial gluteal group
- gluteus medius
- gluteus minimus
Antero-lateral muscle - tensor fascia latae
Which are the stronger rotators of the hip joint? Medial or lateral
Lateral rotators
Describe the location of the piriformis.
Starts inside the pelvis from sacrum & through the greater sciatic foramen to greater trochanter
Which muscle is the deepest of the gluteals?
Gluteus minimus
Name the extensor muscles of the knee joint.
Quadriceps femoris
Name the flexor muscles of the knee joint.
Hamstrings, gastrocnemius, sartorius
Name the medial rotators of the knee joint.
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Sartorius, gracilis, popliteus
Name the lateral rotators of the knee joint.
Biceps femoris
What muscles in two regions contribute to knee flexion?
Posterior thigh group
Posterior leg group
What innervates the posterior thigh group and posterior leg group?
Tibial division of the sciatic nerve (L4,5,S1,2,3) from sacral plexus