Musculoskeletal: Anatomy - Lower limb summary Flashcards
Three compartments of the thigh
Anterior
Posterior
Medial (adductor)
Nerve supply to anterior compartment of the thigh
Femoral nerve (L2-4)
Exceptions are psoas major which is innervated by anterior rami L1-3, and pectineus which may receive a branch of the obturator nerve
Arterial supply to anterior compartment of the thigh
Femoral artery (continuation of the external iliac artery)
Exception is iliopsoas, supplied by iliolumbar artery (amongst others)
Actions of the anterior compartment of the thigh
Primarily hip flexion and knee extension
Others:
- Hip abduction and lateral rotation by sartorius
- Knee flexion by sartorius
- Hip adduction by pectineus
Proximal attachment of rectus femoris
AIIS
Proximal attachment of vastus lateralis
Greater trochanter
Lateral lip of linea aspera
Proximal attachment of vastus intermedius
Femoral shaft
Proximal attachment of vastus medialis
Intertrochanteric crest
Medial lip of linea aspera
Proximal attachment of psoas major
T12-L4
Proximal attachment of iliacus
Iliac fossa
Boundaries of the femoral triangle
Base: inguinal ligament
Lateral: medial border of sartorius
Medial: lateral border of adductor longus
Floor: iliopsoas, pectineus
Roof: cribiform fascia, fascia lata (deep fascia of thigh), skin and subcutaneous tissue
Contents of the femoral triangle
From lateral to medial:
Nerve (femoral)
Artery (femoral)
Vein (femoral)
Empty space (canal)
Lymphatics
Boundaries of the popliteal fossa
Superolateral: biceps femoris tendon
Superomedial: semimembranosus
Inferolateral: lateral head of gastrocnemius, plantaris
Inferomedial: medial head of gastrocnemius
Contents of the popliteal fossa. How are they arranged from medial to lateral and superficial to deep?
Tibial nerve (bisects)
Common fibular nerve
Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
Popliteal artery
Popliteal vein
Small saphenous vein (pierces popliteal fascia and terminates by entering popliteal vein)
Popliteal lymph nodes and vessels
Medial to lateral: artery -> vein -> nerve (remember common fibular needs to go lateral so this is the most lateral structure)
Superficial to deep: I will NVA remember this (nerve -> vein -> artery)
What forms the adductor hiatus?
Distal attachments of adductor and hamstring parts of adductor magnus
Actions of the medial compartment of the thigh
Hip adduction
Others:
- Hip lateral rotation by obturator externus
- Hip extension by hamstring part of adductor magnus
- Hip flexion by adductor part of adductor magnus
Nerve supply to medial compartment of the thigh
Obturator nerve (L2-4)
Exception is hamstring part of adductor magnus which is innervated by tibial part of sciatic nerve (L4-S3)
Arterial supply of medial compartment of the thigh
Obturator artery
Branch of the internal iliac
Proximal attachment of gracilis
Body of pubis
Proximal and distal attachments of obturator externus
Proximal: obturator foramen and surrounding bone
Distal: posterior greater trochanter
Muscles of the anterior compartment of the thigh
- Iliopsoas
- Sartorius
- Quadriceps femoris:
- Rectus femoris
- Vastus lateralis
- Vastus intermedius
- Vastus medialis - Pectineus
Proximal and distal attachments of the two parts of adductor magnus
Adductor part: ischial and inferior pubic rami -> linea aspera
Hamstring part: ischial tuberosity -> adductor tubercle, medial supracondylar line of femur
Proximal and distal attachments of adductor longus
Proximal: pubis
Distal: linea aspera (long fan-shaped)
Why is adductor longus an anatomical landmark in the medial thigh?
Separates anterior and posterior divisions of obturator nerve
Proximal and distal attachments of adductor brevis
Proximal: pubis, inferior pubic rami
Distal: linea aspera (proximal to adductor longus)
Which three muscles form the pes anserinus?
Sartorius
Gracilis
Semitendinosus
Actions of the posterior compartment of the thigh
Hip extension and knee flexion
Others:
- Hip and knee lateral rotation by biceps femoris
- Hip and knee medial rotation by semitendinosus and semimembranosus
Nerve supply of the posterior compartment of the thigh
Sciatic nerve (L4-S3)
Arterial supply of the posterior compartment of the thigh
Inferior gluteal artery
Perforating branches of profunda femoris
Common proximal attachment of the muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh
Ischial tuberosity
Exception is short head of biceps femoris which attaches to linea aspera
Common insertion of biceps femoris
Head of fibula
Distal attachment of semimembranosus
Medial tibial condyle
Boundaries of the adductor canal
Anterolateral: vastus medialis
Medial (roof): sartorius
Posterior: adductor longus and magnus
Where does the adductor canal run?
From apex of femoral triangle to adductor hiatus
Contents of the adductor canal
Femoral artery
Femoral vein (posterior to artery)
Saphenous nerve
Nerve to vastus medialis
Which two muscles form the femoral sheath?
Transversalis
Iliopsoas
Three compartments of the femoral sheath and their contents
Lateral: femoral artery
Intermediate: femoral vein
Medial: femoral canal (with connective tissue, fat, lymphatics +/- deep inguinal lymph node)
Where does the femoral canal run?
From the femoral ring to the proximal saphenous opening
All within the femoral triangle
Boundaries of the femoral ring
Anterior: medial inguinal ligament
Posterior: pectineus
Lateral: femoral vein
Medial: lacunar ligament
Closed by femoral septum
Describe the position of the femoral artery relative to the femoral vein as it traverses the thigh
Base of femoral triangle: lateral to vein
Apex of femoral triangle: anterior to vein
Adductor canal: anteromedial to vein
I.e. crosses over top of vein from lateral to medial within the femoral triangle
Which artery supplies the femoral head and neck?
Medial circumflex femoral
Contents of the greater sciatic foramen
NIP SNIP (infrapiriform):
Nerve to quadratus femoris
Inferior gluteal artery and vein
Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
Sciatic nerve
Nerve to obturator internus
Internal pudendal artery and vein
Pudendal nerve
Suprapiriform:
Superior gluteal artery, nerve and vein
Contents of the lesser sciatic foramen
PINTO:
Pudendal nerve
Internal pudendal artery and vein
Nerve to obturator internus
Tendon of Obturator internus
Function of the superficial gluteal muscles
Primarily hip abduction +/- extension
Others:
- Hip lateral rotation by gluteus maximus
- Hip medial rotation by gluteus medius and minimus, and tensor fascia lata
Distal attachments of gluteus maximus
Gluteal tuberosity
Iliotibial tract -> lateral tibia
What is the main extensor of the hip?
Gluteus maximus
Nerve supply to the superficial gluteal muscles
Gluteus maximus: inferior gluteal n. (L5, S1-2)
All others: superficial gluteal n. (L5, S1)
Actions of gluteus maximus
Hip extension, assists with lateral rotation
Actions of gluteus medius and minimus, and tensor fascia lata
Hip abduction, medial rotation and extension
Actions of the deep gluteal muscles
Lateral rotation
Abduction by all except quadratus femoris
Nerve supply to the deep gluteal muscles
Obturator internus: nerve to obturator internus (L5, S1)
Superior gemellus: nerve to obturator internus (L5, S1)
Inferior gemellus: nerve to quadratus femoris (L5, S1)
Quadratus femoris: nerve to quadratus femoris (L5, S1)
Piriformis: nerve to piriformis (S1-2)
Which three muscles make up the triceps coxae?
Superior gemellus
Inferior gemellus
Obturator internus
Which is stronger: lateral or medial collateral?
Lateral
Which is stronger: anterior or posterior cruciate?
Posterior
Describe the attachments of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments
ACL: from anterior intercondylar tibia to posteromedial aspect of lateral femoral condyle
PCL: from posterior intercondylar tibia to anterolateral aspect of medial femoral condyle
Which is more mobile: medial or lateral meniscus?
Lateral
Medial attached to MCL and more prone to tear
Which bursa can enlarge to produce a Baker’s cyst?
Semimembranosus
Which bursae communicate with the knee joint?
Suprapatellar
Popliteus
Anserine
Gastrocnemius
Which artery pierces the joint capsule to supply the knee joint?
Middle genicular artery (branch of popliteal)
Four muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg
Tibialis anterior
Extensor digitorum longus
Extensor hallucis longus
Fibularis tertius
Actions of the anterior compartment of the leg
Ankle dorsiflexion
Others:
- Inversion by tibialis anterior
- 2nd-5th digit extension by EDL
- Great toe extension by EHL
- Fibularis tertius aids eversion
Nerve supply of the anterior compartment of the leg
Deep fibular nerve (L4-5)
Arterial supply of the anterior compartment of the leg
Anterior tibial artery
Structures passing under the superior extensor retinaculum
From medial to lateral:
Timothy Has A Very Nasty Disease, ParaTyphoid:
- Tibialis anterior
- EHL
- Artery, vein, nerve
- EDL
- Peroneus Tertius
Which muscle of the anterior compartment originates from both the tibia and fibula?
Extensor digitorum longus
Distal attachment of tibialis anterior
Medial cuneiform
Base of 1st metatarsal
Distal attachment of fibularis tertius
Base of 5th metatarsal
Which nerve accompanies the anterior tibial artery?
Deep fibular nerve (L4-5)
What ligament is the principle connection of the tibiofibular syndesmosis?
Interosseous tibiofibular ligament
Which artery becomes the deep plantar artery?
First dorsal metatarsal (from dorsalis pedis -> from anterior tibial)
Describe the course of the anterior tibial artery in the leg
Popliteal becomes anterior tibial at the inferior border of the popliteus
Travels through a gap in the superior interosseous membrane
Descends on IOM between TA and EDL
Becomes dorsalis pedis at ankle joint
Nerve supply of the lateral compartment of the leg
Superficial fibular nerve (L5, S1-S2)
Action of the lateral compartment of the leg
Ankle eversion
Weak plantar flexion
Distal attachment of fibularis longus
Same as tibialis anterior:
- Medial cuneiform
- Base of 1st metatarsal
Distal attachment of fibularis brevis
Base of 5th metatarsal
Which travels above the fibular trochlear on the calcaneus: fibularis longus or brevis?
Fibular brevis travels above
Fibularis longus travels below
Arterial supply of the lateral compartment of the leg
Perforating branches of anterior tibial artery proximally, and fibular artery (branch of posterior tibial) distally
Structures behind the medial malleolus
From anterior to posterior:
Tom, Dick And Very Naughty Harry:
- Tibialis posterior
- flexor Digitorum longus
- posterior tibial (Vein) and (Artery)
- tibial Nerve
- flexor Hallucis longus
Describe the course of the tibial nerve in the leg
Runs down middle of calf deep to soleus
Gives off medial sural cutaneous nerve (forms communicating branch of common fibular to form sural nerve)
Divides into medial and lateral plantar nerves posteroinferior to medial malleolus
Arterial supply of the posterior compartment of the leg
Posterior tibial artery
Which is the larger branch of the popliteal artery: anterior or posterior tibial?
Posterior tibial
Which muscles make up the triceps surae?
Medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius
Soleus
Three superficial muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Plantaris
Which muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg attaches to both tibia and fibula?
Soleus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor digitorum longus (via broad tendon to fibula)
Four deep muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg
Popliteus
Flexor hallucis longus
Flexor digitorum longus
Tibialis posterior
Distal attachment of tibialis posterior
Base of 2nd-4th metatarsals
Navicular tuberosity
Cuneiforms
Cuboid
Sustentaculum tali of calcaneus
Layers of the sole
1st layer: abs flex abs (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi)
2nd layer: quadratus plantae, lumbricals (+ tendons of long flexors)
3rd layer: flex adds flex (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digit minimi brevis)
4th layer: plantar and dorsal interossei (+ tendons of FL, TA, TP)
How many plantar and how many dorsal interossei are there?
3x plantar
4x dorsal
Which has two heads: dorsal or plantar interossei?
Dorsal
Arterial supply of the sole
Posterior tibial artery divides into medial and lateral plantar arteries deep to flexor retinaculum
Passes deep to abductor hallucis in the 1st layer of the sole
Medial longitudinal arch bones
Calcaenus
Talus
Navicular
Cuneiforms
3 medial metatarsals
Three tendons which maintain the medial longitudinal arch
Tibialis anterior
Tibialis posterior
Fibularis longus
Lateral longitudinal arch bones
Calcaneus
Cuboid
2 lateral metatarsals
Transverse arch bones
Cuboid
Cuneiforms
Base of metatarsals
What are the most important factors in maintaining the longitudinal arches?
Plantar aponeurosis
Long plantar ligament
Plantar calcaneocuboid (short plantar) ligament
Plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament
Is the ankle joint more stable in plantar flexion or dorsiflexion?
Dorsiflexion (larger anterior part of talus held in mortise)
Ligaments of the ankle joint
Medial (deltoid)
Lateral:
- Anterior talofibular
- Posterior talofibular
- Calcaneofibular
What is the most commonly torn ligament of the ankle joint?
Anterior talofibular
Nerve roots of the following:
- Femoral nerve
- Obturator nerve
- Sciatic nerve
- Tibial nerve
- Common fibular nerve
- Deep fibular nerve
- Superficial fibular nerve
- Lateral plantar and medial plantar nerve
Femoral: L2-4 (posterior division of anterior rami)
Obturator: L2-4 (anterior division of anterior rami)
Sciatic: L4-S3
Tibial: L4-S3
Common fibular: L4-S2
Deep fibular: L4-S2
Superficial fibular: L4-S1
Lateral and medial plantar nerves: S2-3
Which muscles of the foot are innervated by the medial plantar nerve?
Abductor hallucis
Flexor hallucis brevis
2nd toe lumbrical
Flexor digitorum brevis
All others innervated by lateral plantar nerve
Which intrinsic muscle of the foot involved in great toe movement is NOT innervated by the medial plantar nerve?
Adductor hallucis (innervated by DEEP BRANCH of lateral plantar nerve)