The Thigh and Knee Flashcards
Where is the lumbosarcal plexus located?
Abdomen and pelvis
What does the lumbosacral plexus innervate?
The lower limb
What spinal nerves form the lumbar plexus?
L1-L4
At each vertebral level, paired spinal nerves leave the spinal cord via the intervertebral foramina of the vertebral column. Each nerve then divides into anterior and posterior nerve fibres.
The lumbar plexus begins as the anterior fibres of the spinal nerves L1, L2, L3, and L4.
What are the 6 major branches of the lumbar plexus?
- Iliohypogastric
- Ilioinguinal
- Genitofemoral
- Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh
- Obturator nerve
- Femoral nerve
What spinal nerves form the lumbosacral trunk?
L4 and L5 - these then make connections with nerves from the sacral plexus. Together these form the lumbosacral plexus.
What is the major nerve formed by the lumbosacral trunk?
Sciatic nerve
What 2 parts does the sciatic nerve consist of?
Common fibular part and tibial part
What are the roots of the obturator nerve?
L2, L3, L4
What are the roots of the femoral nerve?
L2, L3, L4
What are the motor functions of the obturator nerve?
Innervates the muscles of the medial thigh:
- Obturator externus
- Adductor longus
- Adductor brevis
- Adductor magnus
- Gracilis
What are the sensory functions of the obturator nerve?
Innervates the skin over the medial thigh.
What are the motor functions of the femoral nerve?
Innervates the muscles of the anterior thigh – the illiopsoas, pectineus, sartorius and quadriceps femoris.
What are the sensory functions of the femoral nerve?
Innervates the skin on the anterior thigh and the medial leg
What forms the sacral plexus?
Formed by the anterior rami (divisions) of the sacral spinal nerves S1, S2, S3 and S4.
It also receives contributions from the lumbar spinal nerves L4 and L5 (lumbosarcal trunk)
How does the sacral plexus begin? How does this then form the lumbosacral trunk?
The sacral plexus begins as the anterior fibres of the spinal nerves S1, S2, S3, and S4.
They are joined by the 4th and 5th lumbar roots, which combine to form the lumbosacral trunk –> this descends into the pelvis to meet the sacral roots as they emerge from the spinal cord.
What are the 2 main destinations of the major nerves of the sacral plexus?
- Remain in pelvis to innervate structures here
- Leave the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen
What is the 1st major branch of the sacral plexus?
Superior gluteal nerve
What are the spinal roots of the superior gluteal nerve?
L4, L5, S1
Motor function of superior gluteal nerve?
Innervates the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and tensor fascia lata
Sensory function of the superior gluteal nerve?
None
Route of the superior gluteal nerve?
The superior gluteal nerve leaves the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen, entering the gluteal region superiorly to the piriformis muscle. It is accompanied by the superior gluteal artery and vein for much of its course.
Route of the inferior gluteal nerve?
The inferior gluteal nerve leaves the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen, entering the gluteal region inferiorly to the piriformis muscle.
It is accompanied by the inferior gluteal artery and vein for much of its course.
Roots of the inferior gluteal nerve?
L5, S1, S2
Motor and sensory function of the inferior gluteal nerve?
Motor Functions: Innervates gluteus maximus.
Sensory Functions: None.
What are the roots of the sciatic nerve?
L4, L5, S1, S2, S3
Motor functions of the sciatic nerve?
Tibial portion – Innervates the muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh (apart from the short head of the biceps femoris), and the hamstring component of adductor magnus. Innervates all the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg and sole of the foot.
Common fibular portion – Short head of biceps femoris, all muscles in the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg and extensor digitorum brevis.
Sensory function of the sciatic nerve?
Tibial portion: supplies the skin of the posterolateral leg, lateral foot and the sole of the foot.
Common fibular portion: supplies the skin of the lateral leg and the dorsum of the foot.
What is the bone of the thigh?
The femur
What does the distal femur articulate with?
The proximal part of the large bone of the leg - the tibia - at the knee joint
How does the femur lie? What is the purpose of this angulation?
- The femur lies obliquely as the knee joint lies directly below the hip joint
- This angulation of the femur returns the body weight to the midline
Anterior view of right distal femur
Posterior view of the distal femur. What are the 2 bony prominences highlighted?
Medial and lateral lips of the linea aspera (important for muscle attachment)
Posterior view of right distal femur. What is highlighted in pink?
Medial and lateral supracondylar lines - sitting just proximal to the condyles
What is highlighted in yellow (posterior view)?
Medial and lateral condyles of the femur
What is highlighted here in black (posterior view)?
Intercondylar notch
What is highlighted here in pink?
Adductor tubercle
What is highlighted in blue (anterior view)?
Patellar surface - articulation with patella of knee cap
Diagram of tibia and fibula
Does the fibula participate in the knee joint?
No but is an important attachment site for one of the posterior thigh muscles
Anterior view of right proximal tibia and fibula
Posterior view of right proximal tibia and fibula
How do the tibia and fibula lie in relation to each other?
Fibula lies laterally and tibia lies medially
What is being pointed to?
Medial and lateral tibial condyles
What is highlighted in pink?
tibial tuberosity
What line is highlighted here?
Sharp anterior border of tibia - can be palpated anteriorly in leg
What is highlighted here in blue?
Head, with the neck lying just underneath
What is highlighted in yellow?
Tibial plateaus - flattened areas on proximal part of tibia that articulate with the femoral condyles
What do the tibial plateaus articulate with?
The femoral condyles
What is highlighted in blue?
Intercondylar tubercles
What is highlighted in purple?
Soleal line
What is circled in green?
Fibular head wih neck just underneath
What is found between the fibula and tibia?
Strong interosseous membrane (has small holes in it to allow for passage of vessels through)
What 3 bones are involved in the knee joint?
- Distal femur
- Proximal tibia
- Patella
What type of joint is the knee joint?
A synovial hinge joint
What movements are allowed at the knee joint?
Flexion and extension
Very small degree of rotation
What 3 articulations are found at the knee joint?
- 2 femorotibial (medial and lateral sides)
- Femoropatellar (between posterior aspect of patella and anterior aspect of distal femur)
The joint surfaces in the knee are incongruent. What adds stability to the knee joint?
- surrounding muscles
- menisci (cartilage)
- ligaments inside (intra-articular) and outside (extra-articular) the joint
Label purple, yellow and blue - structures that aid stability
Purple - intra-articular ligaments
Yellow - extra-artciular ligaments
Purple - surrounding muscles
What are the menisci?
C-shaped regions of fibrocartilage located on the medial and lateral aspects of the knee joint
Function of the menisci?
Tibial plateau deepened by 2 plates of fibrocartilage – the menisci
Functions:
- Increase joint congruency by creating a better fit for the femoral condyles
- Distribute weight evenly across joint
- Shock absorption
- Assist in locking mechanism
The external edges of the menisci are thicker. Why is this?
External edges attach to the fibrous capsule of the joint
Menisci in cadaveric image
Difference in stability of joint in flexion vs extension
Extension :
- Most congruence
- Most stable
Flexion:
- Least congruence
- Least stable
What are the collateral ligaments?
- Lateral/fibula collateral ligament
- Medial/tibial collateral ligament
What ligament is highlighted in purple?
Lateral/fibula collateral
How does the fibular collateral:
- Attach to the meniscus?
- What is its shape?
- What movement does it prevent?
- Cord-like band
- NOT attached to meniscus
- Prevents adduction of the leg at the knee
What ligament is highlighted in blue?
Tibial/medial collateral ligament
How does the tibial collateral:
- Attach to the meniscus?
- What is its shape?
- What movement does it prevent?
- Flat band
- Attached to meniscus
- Prevents abduction of the leg at the knee
What are the cruciate ligaments?
Found inside the knee joint –> intra-articular
How many cruciate ligaments are there?
2 per knee:
- Anterior (ACL)
- Posterior (PCL)
What is the function of the ACL?
- Prevents anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur
- Prevents hyperextension of the knee
When is the ACL most often injured?
When the knee is hyperextended or force is applied anteriorly
What is the function of the PCL?
- Prevents posterior displacement of the tibia on the femur
- Prevents hyperflexion
- Main stabiliser of the flexed knee when weight bearing e.g. walking down hill
When is the PCL most often injured?
Can be inured when landing on the tibial tuberosity with the knee flexed
Posterior view of knee (with lots of tissues removed)
What is highlighted in yellow?
Tibial plat
What is highlighted in black?
Menisci (medial and lateral)
What is highlighted in orange, green and blue?
Orange - Flat bandlike tibial/medial collateral ligament
Green - Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
Blue - Cordlike fibular/lateral collateral ligament
Why are the tibial collateral ligament and the medial mediscus often injured together?
As they are connected
What are the main stabilisers of the knee?
Muscles in the thigh that cross the knee
What are the 3 compartments of muscles in the knee?
- Anterior
- Posterior
- Medial
What are the muscles of the thigh separated by?
Fascial septae and enclosed by a fibrous sleeve called the fascia lata
Where do the extensors of the knee lie?
In the anterior thigh (don’t get confused with the hip)
Where do the flexors of the knee lie?
In the posterior thigh
What is the action of the muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh?
Act upon the hip joint - adduction
What are the muscles of the anterior thigh?
- Iliopsoas
- Quadriceps femoris
- Sartorius
- Tensor fascia lata
- Pectineus
What are the muscles of the anterior thigh innervated by?
Mostly by the femoral nerve
What is the action of iliopsoas?
Flexes the hip –> is the major flexor of the hip
Attachments of iliopsoas?
Iliacus: originates from the iliac fossa
Psoas major: originates from the lumbar vertebrae.
Both pass under the inguinal ligament, form a common tendon and insert onto the lesser trochanter
Innervation of iliopsoas?
The psoas major is innervated by anterior rami of L1-3, while the iliacus is innervated by the femoral nerve.
What is the action of pectineus?
Flexes and adducts the hip
How does pectineus contribute to the femoral triangle?
The pectineus muscle is a flat muscle that forms the base of the femoral triangle
Attachments of pectineus?
It originates from the pectineal line on the anterior surface of the pelvis, and attaches to the pectineal line on the posterior side of the femur, just inferior to the lesser trochanter.
Innervation of pectineus?
Femoral nerve. May also receive a branch from the obturator nerve.
What makes up the quadriceps femoris?
4 muscles, ‘the quads’:
- Vastus Lateralis
- Vastus Intermedius
- Vastus Medialis
- Rectus Femoris
Actions of the quadriceps femoris?
Powerful extensors of the knee –> Extend the knee and stabilise the patella.
EXCEPT rectus femoris which is the only muscle of the quadriceps to cross both the hip and knee joints. It flexes the thigh at the hip joint, and extends at the knee joint.
Innervation of quadriceps femoris?
All 4 innervated by the femoral nerve
Attachments of rectus femoris?
Originates from the anterior inferior iliac spine and the area of the ilium immediately superior to the acetabulum. It runs straight down the leg and attaches to the patella via the quadriceps femoris tendon.