S4) The Thigh Flashcards
What is the femur?
The femur is the only bone in the thigh and acts to transmit forces from the tibia to the hip joint
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Identify the structures visible in the proximal area of the femur
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Describe the structure and function of the head in the proximal area of the femur
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- Structure: smooth surface with a depression on the medial aspect (ligament of head of femur attaches)
- Function: articulates with the acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip joint
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Describe the structure and function of the neck in the proximal area of the femur
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- Structure: cylindrical, projecting in a superior and medial direction
- Function: connects the head of the femur with the shaft
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Describe the structure and function of the greater trochanter in the proximal area of the femur
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- Structure: bony projection angled superiorly and posteriorly, lateral to the neck
- Function: attachment site for many of the muscles in the gluteal region
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Describe the structure and function of the lesser trochanter in the proximal area of the femur
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- Structure: smaller bony projection, on the posteromedial side of the femur, inferior to the neck-shaft junction
- Function: attachment site for the psoas major and iliacus muscles
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Describe the structure and function of the intertrochanteric line in the proximal area of the femur
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- Structure: a ridge of bone running inferomedially on the anterior surface of the femur, connecting the two trochanters
- Function: attachment site for the iliofemoral ligament
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Describe the structure and function of the intertrochanteric crest in the proximal area of the femur
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- Structure: ridge of bone that connects the two trochanters on the posterior surface of the femur
- Function: attachment site for quadratus femoris (quadrate tubercle)
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What is the pectineal line?
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The pectineal line is the line formed when the intertrochanteric line passes the lesser trochanter on the posterior surface of the proximal femur
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What are linea aspera?
Linea aspera are roughened ridges of bone found on the posterior surface of the femoral shaft
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Describe the features of the linea aspera in the proximal region of the posterior femur
- Pectineal line → medial border of the linea aspera
- Gluteal tuberosity → lateral border of the linea aspera
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Describe the features of the linea aspera in the distal region of the posterior femur
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- Linea aspera widens and forms the floor of the popliteal fossa
- The medial and lateral borders form the medial and lateral supracondylar lines
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Identify the structures visible on the anterior surface of the distal femur
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Identify the structures visible on the posterior surface of the distal femur
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Describe the articulations of the medial and lateral condyles of the distal femur
- Posterior & inferior surfaces articulate with the tibia and menisci
- Anterior surface articulates with the patella
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Describe the structure and function of the intercondylar fossa in the distal femur
- Structure: a depression on the posterior surface of the femur, between the two condyles
- Function: contains two facets for attachment of internal knee ligaments
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Where do the posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments of the knee attach to on the distal femur?
- Facet for attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament – found on the medial wall of the intercondylar fossa (large, rounded, flat)
- Facet for attachment of anterior cruciate ligament – found on the lateral wall of the intercondylar fossa (smaller)
Identify the 4 muscles found in the anterior thigh
- Pectineus
- Sartorius
- Quadriceps femoris muscles
- Iliopsoas
Which two individual muscles compose the illiopsoas muscle?
- Psoas major
- Illiacus
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Describe the structure, function and innervation of the psoas major muscle
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- Structure: insert as the same tendon with the illiacus
- Function: hip flexion, lateral rotation (both muscles)
- Innervation: anterior rami of L1-3
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State the origin and attachment of the psoas major
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- Origin: lumbar vertebrae
- Attachment: lesser trochanter of the femur (with illiacus)
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Describe the structure, function and innervation of the illiacus muscle
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- Structure: insert as the same tendon with the psoas major
- Function: hip flexion, lateral rotation (both muscles)
- Innervation: femoral nerve
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State the origin and attachment of the illiacus muscle
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- Origin: iliac fossa of the pelvis
- Attachment: lesser trochanter of the femur (with psoas major)
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Which 4 muscles compose the quadriceps femoris?
- Rectus femoris
- Vastus medialis
- Vastus intermedius
- Vastus lateralis
State the function and innervation of the vastus lateralis muscle
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- Function: knee extension and stabilises the patella
- Innervation: femoral nerve
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State the origin and attachment of the vastus lateralis muscle
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- Origin: greater trochanter and the lateral lip of linea aspera
- Attachment: base of patella
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State the function and innervation of the vastus intermedius muscle
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- Function: knee extension and stabilises the patella
- Innervation: femoral nerve
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State the origin and attachment of the vastus intermedius muscle
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- Origin: anterior and lateral surfaces of the femoral shaft
- Attachment: base of the patella
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State the function and innervation of the vastus medialis muscle
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- Function: knee extension and stabilises the patella
- Innervation: femoral nerve
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State the origin and attachment of the vastus medialis muscle
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- Origin: anterior and lateral surfaces of the femoral shaft
- Attachment: base of patella
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State the function and innervation of the rectus femoris muscle
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- Function: hip flexion, knee extension
- Innervation: femoral nerve
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State the origin and attachment of the rectus femoris muscle
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- Origin: ilium (superior to the acetabulum)
- Attachment: base of patella
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Describe the structure, function and innervation of the sartorius muscle
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- Structure: superficial, long and thin, runs in an inferomedial direction
- Function: hip flexion, knee flexion, abduction, lateral rotation
- Innervation: femoral nerve
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State the origin and attachment of the sartorius muscle
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- Origin: anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
- Attachment: superomedial surface of the tibia
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Describe the structure, function and innervation of the pectineus muscle
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- Structure: flat muscle, forms the base of the femoral triangle (transitional muscle between anterior thigh and medial thigh)
- Actions: hip flexion, adduction
- Innervation: femoral nerve (& obturator nerve)
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State the origin and attachment of the pectineus muscle
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- Origin: pectineal line on the anterior surface of the pelvis
- Attachment: pectineal line on the posterior side of the femur (inferior to the lesser trochanter)
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