The Lower Limb Flashcards
Give the muscles that make up the medial compartment of the thigh
Adductor magnus Adductor longus Adductor brevis Obturator externus Gracialis
State the muscles that make up the anterior compartment of the thigh
Ilipsoas - psoas major and iliacus
Quadriceps femoris - vastus medialis, intermedius and lateralis, and rectus femoris
Satorius
Pectineus
What is the most superficial and medial muscle in the medial compartment of the thigh?
Gracialis
What is the smallest, most superior muscle of the medial compartment of the thigh?
Obturator externus
What is the largest muscle of the medial compartment and where is it located in relation to the other muscles?
Adductor magnus
Posterior
What is the longest muscle in the body that is located in the thigh?
Sartorius
What nerve innervates the majority of the anterior compartment of the thigh, and what is the exception?
Femoral nerve
Psoas major - anterior rami of L1-L3
Function of the psoas major
Flex the lower limb at the hip and assists in lateral rotation
Innervation of psoas major
Anterior rami of L1-L3
Function of iliacus
Flex the lower limb at the hip and assists in lateral rotation
Innervation of iliacus
Femoral nerve
What muscles make up the ilipsoas?
Psoas major
Iliacus
What muscles make up the quadriceps femoris
Vastus medialis
Vastus intermedius
Vastus lateralis
Rectus femoris
Function of the vastus muscles
Extend the knee
Innervation of the vastus muscles
Femoral nerve
Innervation of the rectus femoris
Femoral nerve
Function of the sartorius
Flexes, abducts and laterally rotates at the hip joint
Flexes at the knee
Innervation of sartorius
Femoral nerve
Function of pectineus
Adduction and flexion at the hip joint
Innervation of pectineus
Femoral nerve
How and why would you test the quadriceps femoris?
Do for suspected femoral nerve damage.
Patient lies supine with the knee slightly flexed. Ask the patient to extend the leg and resist the movement. Should be able to clearly see the contraction.
Which nerve and artery supplies the majority of the medial compartment of the thigh?
What is the exception?
Obturator nerve
Obturator artery
Hamstring part of adductor magnus innervated by the tibial nerve
Function of the two parts of the adductor magnus.
Adductor part - adducts and flexes the thigh
Hamstring part - adducts and extends the thigh
Innervation of the two parts of adductor magnus
Adductor - obturator nerve
Hamstring - tibial nerve
Function of adductor longus
Adducts and medially rotates the thigh
Innervation of adductor longus
Obturator nerve
Function of adductor brevis
Adduction of the thigh
Innervation of adductor brevis
Obturator nerve
Function of obturator externus
Lateral rotation of the thigh
Innervation of obturator externus
Obturator nerve
Function of gracialis
Adduction of the thigh at the hip and flexion of the leg at the knee
Innervation of gracialis
Obturator nerve
Describe injury to the adductor muscles and the treatment you would recommend.
‘Groin strain’
Proximal part of the muscles affected, tearing near their bony attachments
RICE protocol - rest, ice, compression, elevate
Describe the main function of the fibula.
An attachment for muscles
What if the lateral surface of the fibula that extends inferiorly called?
Lateral malleolus
Describe how the lateral malleolus is prone to fracture
Forced external rotation of the ankle so force is exerted on it by the talus, causing a spiral fracture.
Or eversion causing a transverse fracture.
Describe the main function of the tibia
Weight bearing
Articulates at the knee and ankle joints
Describe the intercondylar eminence
Two tubercles and a roughened area which are the main sites for attachments of the menisci and ligaments of the knee joint.
Where does the patellar ligament attach on the tibia?
Tibial tuberosity
What marks the posterior surface of the tibial shaft?
Scleal line
What is attached to the lateral border of the tibial shaft?
Interosseus membrane
What part of the distal tibia articulates with the tarsal bones to form the ankle joint?
Medial malleolus
What does the head of the femur articulate with at the hip?
Acetabulum of the pelvis
What is the importance of the head of the femur being thin?
Allows for increased range of movement at the hip joint
Describe the difference between the greater and lesser trochanters (aside from size)
Greater - originates from anterior shaft. Site of attachment for abductor and lateral rotator muscles of the leg.
Lesser - projects from posteromedial side. Psoas major and iliacus attach here.
What is the intertrochantic line in the femur?
A ridge of bone connecting the two trochanters where the iliofemoral ligament attaches.
Describe the intertrochantic crest of the femur.
A ridge of bone which connects the two trochanters. Has a quadrate tubercle where the quadratus femoris attaches.
Describe the difference between intracapsular and extracapsular fractures of the proximal femur.
Intracapsular - Common in the elderly, can damage the femoral circumflex artery causing avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Leg is shortened with toes pointed inward.
Extracapsular - more common in the young. Blood supply remains intact. Leg shortened and laterally rotated.
The femoral shaft has linea aspera, which is rough ridges of bone. Describe what this changes into proximally, distally, and on the lateral border.
Proximally - pectineal line
Lateral border - Gluteal tuberosity
Distally - widens to form the floor of the popliteal fossa.
Describe a fracture of the femoral shaft.
Relatively uncommon as it requires a lot of force.
Tend to be spiral fractures with leg shortening
May cause femoral nerve palsy (weakness of the quadriceps primarily) and must ensure that the blood supply hasn’t been damaged.
What type of joint is the knee?
Hinge synovial joint
What type of joint is the hip?
Ball and socket synovial joint
Where is the primary attachment for extensor muscles of the thigh?
Posterior ilium
Where is the primary attachment for flexor muscles of the thigh?
Anterior ilium
Where can the tensor of fascia lata be found?
Deep within the lateral fascia
Describe the changes from the aorta into the thigh.
Aorta Common iliac (Internal iliac --> obturator) External iliac Femoral artery (Popliteal artery) and Deep artery of the thigh - Perforating arteries - Lateral/medial humeral circumflex
Describe the passage of the great saphenous vein to the femoral vein.
From the foot, passes anterior to the medial malleolus, up the medial surface of the thigh, then posterior to the medial condyle of the femur to the saphenofemoral junction where it becomes the femoral vein.
Describe the passage of the small saphenous vein.
Passes up the posterior calf and inserts into the popliteal vein.
Give the borders of the femoral triangle.
Superior - inguinal ligament
Lateral - medial border of sartorius
Medial - medial border of adductor longus
Give the contents of the femoral triangle from lateral to medial.
Femoral nerve
Femoral artery
Femoral vein
Some lymph
Where can the femoral artery be palpated?
At the mid-inguinal point.
Midway between the pubic symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
Describe the femoral sheath and it’s contents.
Fascia coming together. Contains femoral artery and vein, and some lymph vessels and nodes.
Has a hole for the great saphenous vein
Describe the lacuna ligament.
Passes round the medial side of the femoral canal.
Is moon-shaped.
Describe the femoral canal.
Within the femoral sheath, contains just the lymph nodes. Allows slight distention of the femoral vein.
Describe herniation of the intestine into the femoral canal.
The femoral ring is a weak point.
The lacuna ligament may then constrict the blood supply, causing avascular necrosis.
Why is there minimal rotation of the tibia and fibula when the leg is extended?
The collateral ligaments are tighter
What bone of the foot articulates with the leg?
Talus
Describe the importance of the suprapatellar bursa.
Prevents rubbing on the patellar groove. Connects round and through the knee which means that an infection can easily pass deep into the joint.
What are osteophytes?
Bone spurs.
Commonly form at joints due to arthritis.
Describe how you could test for rupture of the calcaneus (achilles) tendon.
Grip the gastronemius and squeeze.
Foot won’t flex if the tendon has ruptured.
If a patient came in with a fractured fibula, what would you look for to see if they had damaged their fibular nerve?
Foot drop
What is the pelvic outlet?
The lowermost ring of bones in the pelvis
What is the acetabulum?
The socket part of the hip joint.
What two ligaments pass across the pelvis to form the sciatic frame?
Sacrospinous ligament
Sacrotuberous ligament.
What is the function of the intercondylar notch in the femur?
Stops the tibial tuberosities catching in flexion, and makes room for the cruciate ligaments.
Describe an upper tibial fracture
Also known as a bumper fracture. Causes huge swelling and pain.
Check for popliteal artery, tibial and common perineal nerve damage.
Can lead to osteoarthritis at the knee and compartment syndrome.
Describe a fracture of the tibial and fibular shafts.
Pain and swelling
Neurovascular injury
May be an open fracture so check for infection
Can lead to compartment syndrome
Describe a Pott’s fracture
Bimalleolar ankle fracture
Commonly a tackle injury
Can lead to arthritis
Describe an intertrochantic fracture
Limb shorter and externally rotated
Can’t weight bear
Swelling
No ischaemia
Describe a femoral shaft fracture
Occurs most commonly in young aducts
Can cause serious blood loss, shock, pain and swelling.
High risk for a fat embolus due to yellow marrow.
Describe how you would conduct a Trendelenburg test.
Ask the patient to stand unassisted on each leg in turn.
If positive, the pelvis will drop on the side of the unsupported leg.
Look for the level of the iliac crest on both sides.
State which nerve the Trendelenburg tests, and why.
Superior gluteal nerve
Gluteus minimus and medius normally contract when the contralateral leg is raised, preventing the unsupported pelvis from dropping on that side.tf
State the muscles that make up the superficial abductors and extenders in the gluteal region
Gluteus maximus
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus
Function of the gluteus maximus
Main extensor of the thigh, assists with lateral rotation.
Only used when force is required.
Innervation of the gluteus maximus
Inferior gluteal nerve
Function of gluteus medius
Abducts and medially rotates the lower limb.
Secures the pelvis during locomotion, preventing pelvic drop of the opposite limb.
Innervation of gluteus medius
Superior gluteal nerve
Function of gluteus minimus
Abducts and medially rotates the lower limb.
Secures the pelvis during locomotion, preventing pelvic drop of the opposite limb.
Innervation of gluteus minimus
Superior gluteal nerve
Function of the piriformis
Key landmark in the gluteal region
Innervation of piriformis
Nerve to piriformis
Function of obturator internus
Lateral rotation and abduction
What muscle forms the lateral wall of the pelvic cavity?
Obturator internus
Innervation of obturator internus
Nerve to obturator internus
Function of the superior and inferior gemelli
Lateral rotation and abduction
What separates the superior and inferior gemelli
Obturator internus tendon
State the deep muscles of the gluteal region
Piriformis
Obturator internus
Superior and inferior gemelli
Quadratus femoris
Innervation of the superior and inferior gemelli
Superior - nerve to obturator internus
Inferior - nerve to quadratus femoris
Function of quadratus femoris
Lateral rotation
Innervation of quadratus femoris
Nerve to quadratus femoris
Describe how the piriformis is an important landmark of the gluteal region.
Divides into anterior/superior parts.
Division determines the name of the vessels/nerves that supply the area.
Can be used to locate the sciatic nerve which enters the gluteal region directly inferior to the piriformis and is visible as a flat band.
What is the ligamentum teres?
Ligament which passes into the head of the femur from the acetabulum with the obturator artery.