Posterior Leg Flashcards
gluteal region: boundaries
-superior- iliac crest
-medial- natal cleft (cleft between buttocks -> aka intergluteal cleft)
-inferior- gluteal sulcus (crease inferior to gluteal fold
-gluteal fold is formed by inferior border of gluteus maximus muscle
gluteal fascia
-superficial fascia- fatty and continuous with abdomen and thigh
-deep fascia- gluteal fascia that is continuous inferiorly with fascia latae
-splits to enclose gluteus maximus and covers the superficial surface of gluteus medius
sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments
-sacrum to hip bones
-sacrotuberous- passes from sacrum to ischial tuberosity
-sacrospinous- projects from sacrum to ischial spine
-greater sciatic foramen
-lesser sciatic foramen
gluteal region muscles
-gluteus maximus- most powerful extensor
-gluteus medius
-gluteus minimus
-tensor fascia latae
gluteus maximus
-innervation- inferior gluteal nerve
-supply- superior and inferior gluteal arteries
-extends the thigh (hip extensor) from flexed position (as opposed to standing)
-climbing stairs, rising from sitting
-walking, heel strike
-gluteus maximus slows forward motion of trunk by arresting flexion of hip
-weak gluteus maximus- lurch trunk backward to interrupt forward motion during heal strike -> compensates for lack of hip extension
-laterally rotates thigh
gluteus medius, minimus, and tensor fascia latae
-hip abductors -> prevents pelvic from dropping or sagging on contralateral side
-innervation- superior gluteal nerve
-supply- superior gluteal artery
-gluteus medius and minimus- abduct and medially rotate thigh (less important), steadies pelvis on leg when opposite leg is raised
-tensor fascia latae- flex, abduct, and medially rotate thigh -> stabilize the extended knee
trendelenburg gait
-weakness of hip abductors (gluteus medius, minimus, and tensor fasciae latae)
-compensated gait- pt leans towards weak side to compensate for weakness
-uncompensated gait- pelvis sags on contralateral side of weakness
-trendelenberg test- standing on both feet equally -> stable
-if you lift one foot and pelvis sags to upsupported side -> +
-+ test -> functional impairment often due to superior gluteal nerve lesion or fracture of femur
-L4-S3 region
-can be caused by improper gluteal injection damaging sciatic n
-can cause foot slap (but for other reasons)
lateral/external rotators
-collaboratively rotate thigh
-dynamically stabilize the hip joint
-work with medial rotators of hip to hold head of femur in the acetabulum
-landmarks orthopedic surgery on hip joint
-superior to inferior:
-piriformis
-superior gemellus
-obturator internus
-inferior gemellus
-quadratus femoris
-obturator internus, inferior gemellus, and quadratus femoris- sometimes called tricpes coxae bc tendons are merged
cutaneous innervation of gluteal region
-provided by superior, middle, and inferior cluneal (clunial) nerves
-superior and medial- branches of dorsal primary rami
-inferior- posterior cutaneous nerveof thigh
-posterior femoral nerve also supplies part of perineum and majority of posterior thigh
gluteal region: motor innervation
-gluteal muscles- superior gluteal nerve (gluteus medius and minimus) and inferior gluteal nerve (gluteus maximus)
-lateral hip rotators- direct branches from sacral plexus
-pudendal nerve travels towards perineum and sciatic nerve innervates structures in posterior thigh and leg -> these pass through gluteal region but dont innervate anything in it
gluteal region: blood supply
-superior and inferior gluteal arteries -> branches of internal iliac artery
-superior gluteal artery exits through greater sciatic foramen superior to piriformis
-superior gluteal artery supplies more superior gluteal muscles -> 3 gluteal muscles and tensor fasciae latae
-inferior gluteal artery- exits greater sciatic foramen inferior to piriformis
-inferior supplies gluteus maximus and lateral rotators
-also supplies superior portions of muscles in posterior compartment of thigh
-internal pudendal artery- exits greater sciatic foramen inferior to piriformis and goes around ischial spine and passes through lesser sciatic foramen to perineal region
gluteal intramuscular injections
-commonly done to administer drugs
-numerous neurovascular structures lying deep to gluteus maximus -> only inject in “safe area”
-safe area- between posterior superior iliac spine and superior aspect of greater trochanter (of femur)
-inferior to this line -> sciatic nerve could be damaged (especially if pt has sciatic anomaly)
greater and lesser sciatic foramina
-greater sciatic foramen:
-piriformis- landmark in gluteal region due to its location in greater sciatic foramen
-structures pass through greater sciatic foramen -> exiting superior or inferior to piriformis
-superior to piriformis -> superior gluteal artery vein and nerve
-inferior to piriformis- inferior gluteal artery, vein, and nerve, sciatic nerve, posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
-lesser sciatic foramen- obturator internus muscle
-internal pudendal artery and nerve exit via greater sciatic foramen and re-enter via lesser sciatic foramen
muscles of posterior compartment of thigh
-semitendinosus and semimembranosus- tibial nerve (from sciatic)
-bicep femoris- long head- tibial n; short head- common fibular n
-ALL- deep femoral artery and inferior gluteal artery
-ALL- extend thigh at hip, flexes leg at knee
-ALL- sciatic nerve
hamstring muscles
-origin on ischial tuberosity
-cross hip and knee joint
-innervated by tibial nerve
-true- semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and long head of biceps femoris
-portion of adductor magnus that takes origin from ischial tuberosity-> hamstring position of muscle (innervated by tibial nerve)
-not a true hamstring bc it doesnt cross the knee joint
-short head of bicep femoris is NOT a hamstring bc it doesnt cross hip joint and is innervated by common fibular nerve
pes anserinus
-goose foot
-conjoined tendons of 3 muscles that insert on medial aspect of proximal tibia
-anterior to posterior:
-sartorius
-gracilis
-semitendinosus
-help to stabilize medial knee joint
-SarGent Muscles
posterior thigh cutaneous innervation
-sensory innervation- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
posterior thigh motor innervation
-sciatic nerve (branch of sacral plexus (ventral primary rami L4-S3)
-sciatic nerve is composed of 2 nerves bundled together in 1 connective tissue sheath
-posterior thigh- tibial nerve innervates hamstring muscles (semitendinous, semimembranosus, and long head biceps femoris)
-common fibular/common peroneal nerve innervates short head of biceps femoris
sciatic nerve
-from greater sciatic foramen inferior to piriformis
-splits into two divisions-> tibial and common fibular -> superior to popliteal fossa
-can emerge separately through greater sciatic foramen -> variation in way they exit
-sometimes -> sciatic nerve splits more superiorly -> common fibular nerves can pass or THROUGH or OVER piriformis
sciatica
-sciatic neuritis
-MC forms of radiculopathy
-symptoms that result from general compression/irritation of 1 or more nerve roots that give rise to sciatic nerve (L4-S3)
-pain (sometimes severe) in lower back, buttocks and/or various parts of leg and foot
-numbness, muscular weakness, pins and needles, tingling, difficulty moving or controlling leg
-unilateral
-causes- compression of L4-S1 nerves by disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, disc degeneration
-pseudo-sciatica- similar symptoms caused by compression usually of muscular origin (more peripheral sciatic nerve)
posterior thigh blood supply
-perforating branches of deep femoral artery and inferior gluteal artery
hip joint osteology
-hip joint is ball and socket synovial joint between head of femur and acetabulum of hip bone
-comprised of femur head, fovea, neck
-fovea- depression of femoral head where ligamentum teres attaches
-2 elevated areas- form transition points of neck and shaft of femur ->
-intertrochanteric line- anterior attachment site of fibrous capsule
-intertrochanteric crest- posterior attachment site to fibrous capsule