The Pelvic Girdle, Femoral Triangle, Lumbar Plexus & Sacral Plexus Flashcards
What type of joint is the hip joint?
A ball and socket synovial joint.
What type of joint is the knee joint?
A hinge synovial joint.
What type of joint is the ankle joint?
A mortise and tenon synovial joint.
List the bones that form the pelvis.
1 - Left innominate bone.
2 - Right innominate bone.
3 - Sacrum.
List the joints of the pelvis.
What types of joints are these?
1 - 2 x Sacroiliac joints (fibrous).
2 - 1 x pubic symphysis (a symphysis is a secondary cartilaginous joint).
What is the function of relaxin?
Relaxin loosens joints of the pelvis in preparation for childbirth.
List the two cavities into which the pelvis can be divided.
1 - The greater / false pelvis.
2 - The lesser / true pelvis.
What defines the boundary between the cavities of the pelvis?
The arcuate line (or pelvic brim).
List the muscles contained within the greater pelvis.
1 - Iliacus.
2 - Psoas major.
Why are the two cavities of the pelvis named true / false?
Because the false pelvis is part of the abdomen (not the pelvis).
Which artery supplies the contents of the lesser pelvis?
The internal iliac artery.
What comprises most of the contents of the lesser pelvis?
The urogenital apparatus.
What can be used to determine the lateral side of the innominate bone of the hip?
The acetabulum.
What can be used to determine the posterior side of the innominate bone of the hip?
The ischial tuberosity.
What is the tri-radiate cartilage?
The cartilage that unites the constituent bones of the innominate bone of the hip until they are fully fused.
List the bones that constitute the innominate bone of the hip.
1 - Ilium.
2 - Ischium.
3 - Pubis.
When does the tri-radiate cartilage disappear?
What is the significance of this?
- When the constituent bones of the innominate bone of the hip fuse at around 15-25 years of age.
- Can be used in forensic investigations to determine the a person’s age.
List 2 palpable bony landmarks of the ilium.
1 - Anterior superior iliac spine.
2 - Iliac crest.
Give an example of a palpable bony landmark of the ischium.
The ischial tuberosity.
Give and example of a palpable bony landmark of the pubis.
The pubic tubercle.
What is the significance of the palpable bony landmark of the anterior superior iliac spine?
It is the proximal attachment of the inguinal ligament.
What is the significance of the palpable bony landmark of the iliac crest?
1 - It is indicative of the L3/4 intervertebral disc.
2 - It is the point of termination of the descending aorta.
What is the significance of the palpable bony landmark of the ischial tuberosity?
It is the common site of origin of the hamstring muscles.
What is the significance of the palpable bony landmark of the pubic tubercle?
1 - It is the distal attachment of the inguinal ligament.
2 - It is used for determining the position of the pubic symphysis (just medial to the tubercle).
List the intracapsular and extracapsular ligaments of the hip joint.
Intracapsular:
1 - The ligament of head of femur.
Extracapsular:
1 - Iliofemoral ligament.
2 - Pubofemoral ligament.
3 - Ischiofemoral ligament.
how do intracapsular fractures differ from extracapsular fractures?
- If the fracture involves the femoral head or neck, it is intracapsular.
- If the fracture involves the features of the trochanter, it is extracapsular.
List the muscles of the gluteal region.
1 - Gluteus minimus.
2 - Gluteus medius.
3 - Gluteus maximus.
4 - Piriformis.
5 - Gemellus superior.
6 - Gemellus inferior.
7 - Quadratus femoris.
8 - Obturator internus.
List the nerves involved in the innervation of the gluteal region.
1 & 2 - Superior and inferior gluteal nerves.
3 - Sciatic nerve.
4 - Pudendal nerve.
List the hip flexor muscles.
1 - Iliacus.
2 - Psoas major.
3 - Rectus femoris.
4 - Sartorius.
5 - Pectineus.
List the hip extensor muscles.
1 - Gluteus maximus.
Hamstrings:
2 - Semimembranosus.
2 - Semitendinosus.
3 - Long head of biceps femoris.
Which artery is the main source of arterial supply to the lower limb?
The femoral artery.
Of which artery is the femoral artery a continuation?
From which artery does this artery originate?
- The external iliac artery.
- This originates from the common iliac artery.
List the major branches given by the femoral artery.
1 - Profunda femoris.
2 - Superficial femoral artery.
List 3 important branches of the profunda femoris.
1 - Medial circumflex branch.
2 - Lateral circumflex branch.
3 - Perforating branches (4).
Why is the medial circumflex branch of the profunda femoris artery important clinically?
Because it supplies most of the blood to the head and neck of the femur.
List 3 branches of the superficial femoral artery.
1 - Superficial circumflex iliac artery.
2 - Superficial inferior epigastric artery.
3 - Superficial external pudendal artery.
Of which artery is the popliteal artery a continuation?
The femoral artery.
Into which arteries does the popliteal artery divide?
The anterior and posterior tibial arteries.
Of which artery is the dorsalis pedis artery a continuation?
The anterior tibial artery.
Into which arteries does the dorsalis pedis divide?
1 - The first dorsal metatarsal artery.
2 - The deep plantar artery.
Into which arteries does the posterior tibial artery divide?
The medial and lateral plantar arteries.
Which arteries are the main source of arterial supply to the foot?
The medial and lateral plantar arteries.
How do the number of valves differ between deep and superficial veins of the lower limb?
The deep veins have more valves than superficial veins.
Which vein is responsible for most veinous drainage of the lower limb?
The great saphenous vein.
Which vein drains the medial part of the foot?
The great saphenous vein.
Which vein drains the lateral part of the foot?
The small saphenous vein.
From which two plexuses is the nerve supply to the lower limb derived?
1 - Lumbar plexus.
2 - Sacral plexus.
What are the spinal nerve roots of the nerve supply to the lower limb?
L1-S4.
What are the spinal nerve roots of the lumbar plexus?
L1-Half of L4.
What are the spinal nerve roots of the sacral plexus?
Half of L4 - S4.
Which dermatomal areas are supplied by the lumbar plexus?
Most of the front of the lower limb.
List the dermatomal areas that are supplied by the sacral plexus.
1 - Most of the back of the lower limb.
2 - The saddle area.
3 - The perineal area.
What is an axial line?
The line of junction of two dermatomes supplied from discontinuous spinal levels.
What marks out the pre-axial and post-axial territories of the lower limb?
The great and small saphenous veins.
What is the difference between a sensory nerve territory and a dermatome?
- A dermatome is the area of skin supplied by a particular spinal nerve.
- A sensory nerve territory is the area of skin supplied by a particular cutaneous nerve (may be more or less specific than a dermatome).
When would a sensory nerve territory be more specific than a dermatome?
When one spinal nerve is the source of multiple cutaneous nerves.
When would a sensory nerve territory be less specific than a dermatome?
When multiple spinal nerves are the source of one / fewer cutaneous nerves.
