The Lower Limb

Question 1

Outline the bones that form the pelvic girdle at birth

Answer 1

At birth there are two sets of each:

• ischium
• ilium
• pubis

these articulate at ‘y’ shaped cartilage in acetabulum

Question 2

What is the acetabulum?

Answer 2

The socket of the hip joint

Question 3

What happens to the pelvic girdle after puberty?

Answer 3

Ossification of the cartilage converts the pelvis into 2 single bones - inonimate bones

these articulate with the sacrum (+ coccyx) to form the pelvic girdle

Question 4

What is the ilium?

Answer 4

Uppermost and largest part of the hip bone

Question 5

What is the ischium?

Answer 5

Forms the lower and back part of the hip bone

Situated below the ilium and behind the pubis

Question 6

What is the pubis?

Answer 6

ventral and anterior - situated at the front

Question 7

What is the ASIS?

Answer 7

Anterior superior iliac spine

• Anterior projection of iliac crest
• Provides attachment for inguinal ligament and sartorius muscle

Question 8

Describe the iliac crest

Answer 8

thick curved upper border of the ilium, the most prominent bone on the pelvis

Question 9

What is the pubic tubercle?

Answer 9

Prominent forward-projecting tubercle on superior ramus of pubis
The inguinal ligament attaches to it

Question 10

What is the ischial spine?

Answer 10

Extension of posterior border of the Ischium

Question 11

Describe the ischial tuberosity

Answer 11

Sitting bone (you sit on it)
posterior and inferior tuberosity of the ischium

Question 12

What is the obturator foramen?

Answer 12

Large opening created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis through which nerves and blood vessels pass

Question 13

Where is the greater sciatic notch located?

Answer 13

Lies between posterior inferior iliac spine (above), and the ischial spine (below)
- becomes greater sciatic foramen due to sacrospinous ligament

Question 14

Where is the lesser sciatic notch found?

Answer 14

Below the ischial spine

Question 15

What is the pubic symphysis?

Answer 15

secondary cartilaginous joint of the 2 pubic bones

Question 16

What are the sacro-iliac joints?

Answer 16

This is where the pelvis joins the sacrum

Question 17

What is the sacrospinous ligament?

Answer 17

A thin, triangular ligament in the human pelvis
- Base of ligament attaches to outer edge of sacrum and
coccyx
- Tip attaches to ischial spine

Question 18

What is the sacrotuberous ligament?

Answer 18

Slender, fan-shaped ligament of posterior pelvis located on either side of the body

Question 19

What is the function of the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments?

Answer 19

prevent rotation of the ilium past the sacrum

sacrospinous - across sacrum - greater sciatic notch
sacrotuberous - diagonally sacrum to ischial tuberosity

Question 20

What forms the hip joint?

Answer 20

Head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum

• more congruent than glenohumeral joint
• less mobility and rotation of hip than of shoulder

Question 21

Describe the similarities between upper and lower limb anatomy

Answer 21

A single bone in the thigh/arm
2 bones in leg / forearm
Tarsus / carpus

Question 22

Outline the bones of the lower limb

Answer 22

• Femur
• Tibia
• Fibula
• Patella
• Talus
• Calcaneus
• Metatarsals

Question 23

Describe the femur

Answer 23

Thigh bone
Head forms a ball-and-socket joint with acetabulum
Held in place by ligamentum teres femoris + strong surrounding ligaments

Question 24

What is the tibia?

Answer 24

Shin bone found in lower anterior portion of the leg

2nd largest bone in body

Question 25

What is the fibula?

Answer 25

Calf bone - long, thin and lateral bone of the lower leg | The fibula is smaller and thinner than the tibia

Question 26

What is the role of the fibula?

Answer 26

Stabilises the ankle and supporting the muscles of the lower leg

Question 27

What is the patella?

Answer 27

Knee cap - Flat, circular-triangular bone - Articulates with femur - Protects anterior surface of knee joint

Question 28

What is the talus?

Answer 28

The talus makes up the lower part of the ankle joint (tibia + fibula form upper part) Talus sits above calcaneous (heel)

Question 29

Describe the calcaneus

Answer 29

Heel bone - large, forms foundation of rear foot | Calcaneus connects with the talus and cuboid bones

Question 30

What is the subtalar joint?

Answer 30

Joint formed between talus and calcaneus | - important for normal foot function

Question 31

What is the greater trochanter?

Answer 31

The greater trochanter of the femur is a large, irregular, quadrilateral eminence located laterally

Question 32

What is the lesser trochanter?

Answer 32

A pyramidal prominence that projects from proximal and medial part of the femur shaft

Question 33

Describe the tibial tuberosity

Answer 33

A large oblong elevation on the proximal, anterior aspect of the tibia below medial / lateral condyles end

Question 34

What is the lateral malleolus?

Answer 34

Outside ankle joint | Lateral end of fibula

Question 35

What is the medial malleolus?

Answer 35

Prominence on the inner side of the ankle | Formed by lower end of the tibia

Question 36

What is the significance of the 5th metatarsal?

Answer 36

Conencts ankle with little toe | Base is slightly bulged - styloid process

Question 37

Which bones form the knee joint?

Answer 37

Femur articulates with tibia | Patella is large sesamoid bone at the front of the joint

Question 38

What are the metatarsals and phalanges of the toes?

Answer 38

Same as hand digits have 3 phalanges - middle, proximal, distal phalanx (-ges) big toe (hallux) only has 2 phalanges