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
Identify the structures visible in the proximal area of the femur
Describe the structure and function of the head in the proximal area of the femur
- 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
Describe the structure and function of the neck in the proximal area of the femur
- Structure: cylindrical, projecting in a superior and medial direction
- Function: connects the head of the femur with the shaft
Describe the structure and function of the greater trochanter in the proximal area of the femur
- Structure: bony projection angled superiorly and posteriorly, lateral to the neck
- Function: attachment site for many of the muscles in the gluteal region
Describe the structure and function of the lesser trochanter in the proximal area of the femur
- 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
Describe the structure and function of the intertrochanteric line in the proximal area of the femur
- 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
Describe the structure and function of the intertrochanteric crest in the proximal area of the femur
- Structure: ridge of bone that connects the two trochanters on the posterior surface of the femur
- Function: attachment site for quadratus femoris (quadrate tubercle)
What is the pectineal line?
The pectineal line is the line formed when the intertrochanteric line passes the lesser trochanter on the posterior surface of the proximal femur
What are linea aspera?
Linea aspera are roughened ridges of bone found on the posterior surface of the femoral shaft
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
Describe the features of the linea aspera in the distal region of the posterior femur
- Linea aspera widens and forms the floor of the popliteal fossa
- The medial and lateral borders form the medial and lateral supracondylar lines
Identify the structures visible on the anterior surface of the distal femur
Identify the structures visible on the posterior surface of the distal femur
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
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
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
Describe the structure, function and innervation of the psoas major muscle
- Structure: insert as the same tendon with the illiacus
- Function: hip flexion, lateral rotation (both muscles)
- Innervation: anterior rami of L1-3
State the origin and attachment of the psoas major
- Origin: lumbar vertebrae
- Attachment: lesser trochanter of the femur (with illiacus)
Describe the structure, function and innervation of the illiacus muscle
- Structure: insert as the same tendon with the psoas major
- Function: hip flexion, lateral rotation (both muscles)
- Innervation: femoral nerve
State the origin and attachment of the illiacus muscle
- Origin: iliac fossa of the pelvis
- Attachment: lesser trochanter of the femur (with psoas major)
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
- Function: knee extension and stabilises the patella
- Innervation: femoral nerve
State the origin and attachment of the vastus lateralis muscle
- Origin: greater trochanter and the lateral lip of linea aspera
- Attachment: base of patella
State the function and innervation of the vastus intermedius muscle
- Function: knee extension and stabilises the patella
- Innervation: femoral nerve
State the origin and attachment of the vastus intermedius muscle
- Origin: anterior and lateral surfaces of the femoral shaft
- Attachment: base of the patella
State the function and innervation of the vastus medialis muscle
- Function: knee extension and stabilises the patella
- Innervation: femoral nerve
State the origin and attachment of the vastus medialis muscle
- Origin: anterior and lateral surfaces of the femoral shaft
- Attachment: base of patella
State the function and innervation of the rectus femoris muscle
- Function: hip flexion, knee extension
- Innervation: femoral nerve
State the origin and attachment of the rectus femoris muscle
- Origin: ilium (superior to the acetabulum)
- Attachment: base of patella
Describe the structure, function and innervation of the sartorius muscle
- Structure: superficial, long and thin, runs in an inferomedial direction
- Function: hip flexion, knee flexion, abduction, lateral rotation
- Innervation: femoral nerve
State the origin and attachment of the sartorius muscle
- Origin: anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
- Attachment: superomedial surface of the tibia
Describe the structure, function and innervation of the pectineus muscle
- 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)
State the origin and attachment of the pectineus muscle
- 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)