The Thigh, Knee Joint, Leg & Popliteal Fossa

Question 1

What features are found at the proximal extremity of the femur?

Answer 1

• Head.
• Neck.
• Greater trochanter.
• Lesser trochanter.

Question 2

What features are found at the distal extremity of the femur?

Answer 2

• Medial condyle.

- Lateral condyle.

Question 3

What is the greater trochanter?

Answer 3

A large rectangular projection at the junction of the body and neck of the femur.

Question 4

What is the main feature of the body of the femur?

Answer 4

The linea aspera (a roughened ridge).

Question 5

What is the function of the linea aspera?

Answer 5

it is a site of attachment for muscles.

Question 6

What forms the medial and lateral supracondylar lines?

Answer 6

The medial and lateral lips of the linea aspera.

Question 7

How does the appearance of the medial and lateral condyles of the femur change from posterior to anterior?

Answer 7

• Posteriorly, they are separated by a deep intercondylar notch.
• Anteriorly, they blend with each other.

Question 8

What is the fovea capitis?

Answer 8

A pit in the head of the femur.

Question 9

What is the function of the fovea capitis?

Answer 9

It is a site of attachment of the ligamentum teres.

Question 10

What angle does the neck of the femur make with the body in the coronal plane?

Answer 10

125 degrees.

Question 11

What is the intertrochanteric crest?

Answer 11

The line that unites the greater and lesser trochanter.

Question 12

What is the function of the pits on the femoral neck?

Answer 12

They are sites through which blood vessels run.

Question 13

List the soft tissue layers of the thigh from superficial to deep.

Answer 13

1 - Skin.

2 - Superficial fascia.

3 - Deep fascia (fascia lata).

4 - Intermuscular septa (medial, lateral and posterior).

Question 14

List the muscular compartments of the thigh.

Answer 14

1 - Anterior compartment.

2 - Medial compartment.

3 - Posterior compartment.

Question 15

What are muscles of the anterior compartment of the thigh known as?

Answer 15

The quadriceps.

Question 16

List the muscles of the anterior compartment of the thigh.

Answer 16

1 - Vastus lateralis.

2 - Vastus medialis.

3 - Vastus intermedius.

4 - Rectus femoris.

Question 17

What is the medial compartment of the thigh known as?

Answer 17

The adductor compartment.

Question 18

List the muscles of the medial compartment of the thigh.

Answer 18

1 - Pectineus.

2 - Adductor brevis.

3 - Adductor longus.

4 - Adductor magnus.

Question 19

What are the muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh known as?

Answer 19

Hamstrings.

Question 20

List the muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh.

Answer 20

1 - Biceps femoris.

2 - Semitendinosus.

3 - Semimembranosus.

Question 21

List the nerves that innervate the compartments of the thigh.

Answer 21

• Anterior compartment: femoral nerve.
• Medial compartment: obturator nerve.
• Posterior compartment: sciatic nerve.

Question 22

What are the nerve roots of the femoral nerve?

Answer 22

L2-4.

Question 23

What are the nerve roots of the obturator nerve?

Answer 23

L2-4.

Question 24

What are the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 24

L4-S3.

Question 25

List the arteries that supply arterial blood to the compartments of the thigh.

Answer 25

• Anterior compartment: femoral artery.
• Medial compartment: obturator artery.
• Posterior compartment: Perforating branches of profunda femoris.

Question 26

What is crural fascia?

Answer 26

The deep fascia of the leg that is continuous with the fascia lata of the thigh.

Question 27

List the soft tissue layers that compartmentalise the leg.

Answer 27

1 - Fascia lata.

2 - An interosseus membrane between the tibia and fibula.

Question 28

What are tibial plateaus?

How many are there?

Answer 28

• Flattened surfaces at the superior surface of the tibia.

- There is one medial and one lateral tibial plateau.

Question 29

What articulates with the distal end of the tibia?

Answer 29

The talus.

Question 30

Where does the fibula lie in relation to the tibia?

Answer 30

Posterolaterally.

Question 31

What is the function of the tibia?

How does this compare to the function of the tibia?

Answer 31

• The main function of the tibia is the provide sites for muscle attachment.
• The tibia’s main function is to bear weight.

Question 32

List the compartments of the leg.

Answer 32

1 - Anterior compartment.

2 - Lateral compartment.

3 - Posterior compartment.

Question 33

List the extracapsular ligaments of the knee joint.

Answer 33

1 - Ligamentum patellae.

2 - Lateral collateral ligament.

3 - Medial collateral ligament.

4 - Oblique popliteal ligament.

Question 34

List the intracapsular ligaments of the knee joint.

Answer 34

1 - Anterior cruciate ligament.

2 - Posterior cruciate ligament.

Question 35

Why is the medial meniscus damaged more commonly than the lateral miniscus?

Answer 35

Because the lateral miniscus is more mobile.

Question 36

What is the popliteal fossa?

Answer 36

A diamond shaped space behind the knee.

Question 37

What covers the popliteal fossa?

Answer 37

The deep popliteal fascia.

Question 38

What is the clinical significance of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 38

An arterial pulse of the leg can be taken here.

Question 39

What are the borders of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 39

Superiorly: The tendons of the hamstring muscles.

Medially: Tendons of semitendinosus and semimembranosus.

Laterally: Tendon of biceps femoris.

Inferiorly: Medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius.

Question 40

List the nerves that are contained within the popliteal fossa.

Answer 40

1 - Tibial nerve.

2 - Common peroneal nerve.

3 - Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve.

Question 41

List the contents of the popliteal fossa (other than nerves).

Answer 41

1 - Popliteal artery.

2 - Popliteal vein.

3 - Lesser saphenous vein.

4 - Popliteal lymph nodes.