Thigh and Popliteal Fossa Flashcards
Long bone of femur
Longest bone in the body; very strong
Head of femur
Point of articulation with acetabulum of coxal bone
Neck of femur
Common fracture site
Greater trochanter
Attachment site for several gluteal muscles; point of hip
Lesser trochanter
Attachment site of iliopsoas tendon
Distal Condyles
Medial and lateral (smaller) sites that articulate with tibial condyles
Patella
Sesamoid bone embedded in quadriceps femoris tendon
Proximal and distal joints of femur
Proximal: coxo-femoral
Distal
- patellofemoral
- tibiofemoral
Proximal ligaments of femur (6)
- Iliofemoral
- Pubofemoral
- Ischiofemoral
- Acetabular labrum
- Transverse acetabular
- Ligament of head of femur
Distal ligaments of femur (4)
- Iliotibial track
- Fibular collateral
- Tibial collateral
- Pas anserinus
Muscles compartments of thigh (3)
Anterior (extensor) compartment
Medial (adductor) compartment
Posterior (flexor) compartment
Quadriceps Femoris
Attaches to the patella by the quadriceps femoris tendon and to the tibia by the patellar ligament.
Muscles of anterior compartment
Are primarily extensors of the leg at the knee:
- Two can secondarily flex the hip (sartorius and rectus femoris).
- Are innervated by the femoral nerve.
- Are supplied by the femoral artery and deep femoral artery of
the thigh.
Trajectory of psoas major and iliacus muscle
Pass from the posterior abdominal wall to the anterior thigh by passing deep to the inguinal ligament to insert on the lesser trochanter of the femur.
Powerful flexors of hip joint (2)
Psoas major and Iliacus
Psoas major
Origin: Sides of T12–L5 vertebrae and discs between them; transverse
processes of all lumbar vertebrae
Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur
Nerve: Ventral rami of lumbar nerves (L1, L2, L3)
Fx: Acts jointly with iliacus in flexing thigh at hip joint and in stabilizing hip joint
Iliacus
Origin: Iliac crest, iliac fossa, ala of sacrum, and anterior sacro-iliac ligaments
Insertion: Tendon of psoas major, lesser trochanter, and femur
Nerve: Femoral nerve
Fx: Acts jointly with psoas major in flexing thigh at hip joint and in stabilizing hip joint
Sartorius
Origin: Anterior superior iliac spine and superior part of notch inferior to it
Insertion: Superior part of medial surface of tibia
Nerve: Femoral nerve
Fx: Flexes, ABducts, and laterally rotates thigh at hip joint; flexes knee joint
Rectus femoris
Origin: Anterior inferior iliac spine and ilium superior to acetabulum
Insertion: Base of patella and by patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity
Nerve: femoral nerve
Fx: Extends leg at knee joint, steadies hip joint and, helps iliopsoas to flex thigh at hip
Vastus lateralis
Origin: Greater trochanter and lateral lip of linea aspera
Insertion: Base of patella and by patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity
Nerve: femoral nerve
Fx: Extends leg at knee
Vastus medialis
Origin: Intertrochanteric line and medial hip of linea aspera of femur
Insertion: Base of patella and by patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity
Nerve: femoral nerve
Fx: Extends leg at knee
Vastus intermedius
Origin: Anterior and lateral surface of femoral shaft
Insertion: Base of patella and by patellar ligament to tibial tuberosity
Nerve: femoral nerve
Fx: Extends leg at knee
Femoral triangle location and boundaries
Located on the anterosuperior aspect of the thigh:
- Inguinal ligament: forms the base of the triangle.
- Sartorius muscle: forms the lateral boundary.
- Adductor longus muscle: forms the medial boundary.
Femoral vessels course through this canal and become the popliteal vessels posterior to the knee.
Adductor (Hunter’s) Canal
Content of femoral triangle
Femoral nerve and vessels as they pass beneath the inguinal ligament and gain access to the anterior thigh.
Femoral canal and ring
Canal: most medial portion of the femoral sheath
Ring: lymphatics drain through here to the external iliac lymph nodes.
Weak point and the site for femoral hernias.
Femoral ring and canal
Medial Compartment Thigh Muscles,
- Are primarily adductors of the thigh at the hip.
- Most can secondarily flex and/or rotate the thigh.
- Are largely innervated by the obturator nerve.
- Are supplied by the obturator artery and deep (femoral) artery of the thigh.
Pectineus
Origin: Superior ramus of pubis
Insertion: Pectineal line of femur, just inferior to lesser trochanter
Nerve: Femoral nerve; may receive branch from obturator nerve
Fx: Adducts and flexes hip joint; assists with medial rotation of thigh
ADductor longus
Origin: Body of pubis inferior to pubic crest
Insertion: Middle third of linea aspera of femur
Fx: Adducts hip joint
Nerve: Obturator nerve
ADuctor brevis
Origin: Body and inferior ramus of pubis
Insertion: Pectineal line and proximal part of linea aspera of femur
Nerve: Obturator nerve
Fx: Adducts thigh at hip and, flexes it
Adductor magnus
Origin:
- Adductor part: inferior ramus of pubis, ramus of ischium
- Hamstring part: ischial tuberosity
Insertion:
- Adductor part: gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, medial supracondylar line
- Hamstring part: adductor tubercle of femur
Nerve:
- Adductor part: obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4)
- Hamstring part: tibial part of sciatic nerve (L4)
Fx: Adducts thigh at hip; the adductor part also flexes the thigh at hip and the hamstring part extends it
Gracilis
Origin: Body and inferior ramus of pubis
Insertion: Superior part of medial surface of tibia
Nerve: Obturator nerve (L2, L3)
Fx: Adducts thigh at hip; flexes leg at knee and helps rotate it medially
Obturator externus
Origin: Margins of obturator foramen and obturator membrane
Insertion: Trochanteric fossa of femur
Nerve: Obturator nerve (L3, L4)
Fx: Rotates thigh laterally at hip; steadies femoral head in acetabulum
Semitendinosus
Origin: Ischial tuberosity
Insertion: Medial surface of superior part of tibia
Nerve: Tibial division of sciatic nerve (L5, S1, S2)
Fx: Extends thigh at hip; flexes leg at knee and rotates it medially; with flexed hip and knee, extends trunk
Semimembranosus
Origin: Ischial tuberosity
Insertion: Posterior part of medial condyle of tibia
Nerve: Tibial division of sciatic nerve (L5, S1, S2)
Fx: Extends thigh at hip; flexes leg at knee and rotates it medially; with flexed hip and knee, extends trunk
Biceps femoris
Origin:
- Long head: ischial tuberosity
- Short head: linea aspera and lateral supracondylar line of femur
Insertion: Lateral side of fibula; tendon at this site split by fibular collateral ligament of knee
Nerve:
- Long head: Tibial division of sciatic nerve
- Short head: Common fibular division of sciatic nerve
Fx: Flexes leg at knee and rotates it laterally; extends thigh at hip
