Proximal Lower Extremity

Question 1

the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is a branch of which plexus?

Answer 1

lumbar plexus

Question 2

the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve passes just medial to what feature of the pelvis?

Answer 2

lateral femoral cutaneous nerve passes just medial to the anterior superior iliac spine

compression causes pain on lateral thigh (called meralgia paresthetica)

Question 3

meralgia paresthetica

Answer 3

pain on lateral thigh caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

Question 4

the great saphenous vein ascends the thigh to drain into the ___ vein at the ____

Answer 4

great saphenous vein drains into femoral vein at saphenous hiatus

Question 5

the neurovascular structures of the thigh lie within the femoral triangle. Describe the borders of the femoral traingle

Answer 5

base: inguinal ligament (running from pubic tubercle to anterior superior iliac spine)
medial border: sartorius muscle
lateral border: adductor longus

Question 6

the neurovascular structures within the femoral triangle are deep or superficially located?

Answer 6

superficial - allows for palpation of femoral pulse and central access through both femoral artery and vein

Question 7

femoral nerve is composed of ventral rami of which lumbar spinal nerves?

Answer 7

2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbar spinal nerves make up femoral nerve

Question 8

what does femoral nerve innervate (and how so)

Answer 8

femoral nerve provides motor innervation to muscles of anterior thigh, cutaneous sensation to anterior thigh and medial leg as far distal as the great toe

Question 9

what artery supplies most of the muscle of the thigh (be specific)?

Answer 9

profunda (deep) femoral artery

proximal portion of femoral artery is called common femoral until branch point of the deep femoral artery

Question 10

this branch of the profunda (deep) femoral artery supplies the lateral thigh and has a branch which ascends superiorly to join the plexus around the greater trochanter. What is?

Answer 10

lateral femoral circumflex artery

medial femoral circumflex artery supplies medial thigh

Question 11

where are femoral hernias commonly found in women?

Answer 11

the femoral canal, medial to the femoral sheath and inferior to the inguinal ligament

Question 12

what are the medial and lateral attachments of the inguinal ligament?

Answer 12

medial: pubic tubercle
lateral: anterior superior iliac spine

Question 13

the adductor group of the thigh is supplied by the __ nerve, while the anterior group is supplied by the ___ nerve

Answer 13

adductor group - innervated by obturator nerve

anterior group - innervated by femoral nerve

Question 14

what muscles make up the adductor group of the thigh?

Answer 14

adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and the gracilis

Question 15

what type of hernia may cause pain and weakness of the medial thigh?

Answer 15

obturator hernia - compression of obturator nerve at the obturator foramen, where the obturator nerve passes from the pelvis into the thigh

Question 16

the femoral vessels pierce the gap in the tendon of the adductor ___ (called the adductor hiatus) to become the ___ vessels

Answer 16

femoral muscles pierce tendon of adductor magnus to become popliteal vessels

Question 17

the cutaneous terminal branch of the femoral nerve is the ___

Answer 17

saphenous nerve - supplies sensation to the medial leg as distal as base of great toe

Question 18

the tensor fascia lata muscle inserts on the ____ which inserts distally on the ____

Answer 18

tensor fascia lata muscle inserts on iliotibial tract which inserts distally on lateral tibial condyle

Question 19

where does the gluteus maximus insert

Answer 19

posterior border of iliotibial tract

Question 20

cruciate incision

Answer 20

make a cross with scalpel

Question 21

what does acetabular labrum do

Answer 21

rim of fibrocartilage which reinforces and deepens the acetabulum (where head of femur sits)

Question 22

all muscles of lateral thigh are innervated by ____

Answer 22

superior gluteal nerve

Question 23

this ligament of the head of the femur provides some of its blood supply. What is?

Answer 23

ligamentum teres

Question 24

this important nerve is found approximately halfway between the greater trochanter and the ischial tuberosity in the buttocks. What is?

Answer 24

sciatic nerve

Question 25

this muscle is a landmark of the buttocks because the sciatic nerve emerges inferiorly and the superior and inferior gluteal nerves emerge superior and inferior, respectively. What is?

Answer 25

piriformis muscle

Question 26

which of these is NOT supplied by the superior gluteal nerve:
gluteus medius
gluteus minimus
tensor fascia lata
gluteus maximus

Answer 26

gluteus maximus is supplied by INFERIOR gluteal nerve