Thigh Muscles Flashcards
1
Q
The musculature of the the thigh can be split into which three sections?
A
Anterior
Medial
Posterior
2
Q
Which nerve innervates the anterior compartment thigh muscles?
A
Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
3
Q
As a general rule, the anterior muscles of the thigh act to…
A
Extend the leg at the knee joint
4
Q
How many major muscles are there in the anterior thigh?
A
3
5
Q
Name the three major muscles of the anterior thigh
A
Pectineus
Sartorius
Quadriceps femoris
6
Q
The end of which muscle passes into the anterior compartment of the thigh?
A
Iliopsoas
7
Q
The iliopsoas consists of which two muscles? Why are they often considered to be one muscle?
A
Psoas major
Iliacus
Originate in different places but join to form a common tendon
8
Q
Where does the psoas major originate?
Where does the iliacus originate?
A
Lumbar vertebrae
Iliac fossa of the pelvis
9
Q
Where do both the psoas major and iliacus (iliopsoas) attach/insert?
A
Lesser trochanter of the femur
10
Q
What is the action of the iliopsoas?
A
Flexes the lower limb at the hip joint
Assists with lateral rotation at the hip
11
Q
What nerve innervates the psoas major?
What nerve innervates the iliacus?
A
Anterior rami of L1-L3
Femoral nerve
12
Q
How many muscles makes up the quadriceps femoris?
A
4
13
Q
Name the 4 quadriceps femoris muscles
A
Vastus Lateralis
Vastus Intermedius
Vastus Medialis
Rectus femoris
14
Q
The muscles of the quadriceps femoris all attach to the…
A
Patella via the patella tendon
15
Q
The patella attaches to the tibia by the…
A
Patella ligament
16
Q
What is the main function of the quadriceps femoris?
A
Extends the knee
17
Q
What is the proximal attachment of the vastus lateralis?
A
Greater trochanter and lateral lip of linea aspera
18
Q
What is the function of the vastus lateralis?
A
Extends knee joint
Stabilises the patella
19
Q
Which nerve innervates all the quadriceps femoris muscles?
A
Femoral nerve
20
Q
What is the proximal attachment of the vastus intermedius?
A
Anterior and lateral surfaces of the femoral shaft
21
Q
What is the action of the vastus intermedius?
A
Extends the knee joint
Stabilises the patella
22
Q
What is the proximal attachment of the vastus medialis?
A
Intertrochanteric line and medial lip of the linea aspera
23
Q
What is the action of the vastus medialis?
A
Extends the knee joint
Stabilises the patella
24
Q
Where does the rectus femoris originate and attach?
A
Originates from the ilium
Attaches to the patella by the quadriceps femoris tendon
25
What is the action of the rectus femoris?
Extends the knee
Flexes the leg at the hip joint
26
What is the longest muscle in the body?
Sartorius
27
Is the sartorius positioned relatively deep or superficial compared to the other muscles in the leg?
Superficial
28
Where does the sartorius originate and attach?
Originates - anterior superior iliac spine
Attaches - superior, medial surface of the tibia
29
What is the action of the sartorius?
Hip - flexor, abductor and lateral rotator
Knee - flexor
30
Which nerve innervates the sartorius?
Femoral nerve
31
The anterior thigh muscles generally act as...
The medial thigh muscles generally act as...
The posterior thigh muscles generally act as...
Extenders of the knee
Hip abductors
Flexors of the knee
32
The pectineus forms the __________ of the femoral triangle
Base
33
Where does the pectineus originate and attach?
Originates - pectineal line on anterior surface of the pelvis
Attaches - pectineal line on the posterior side of the femur
34
What is the function of the pectineus?
Adducts and flexes at the hip joint
35
What nerve innervates the pectineus?
Femoral nerve
| May receive branches form the obturator nerve
36
Which muscle can be used to test for femoral nerve palsy?
How is this test carried out?
Quadriceps femoris
Patient supine, asked to extend the knee against resistance - if damaged contraction of the quadriceps femoris will be absent
37
Which muscle of the quadriceps crosses both the knee and hip joints?
Rectus femoris
38
What is the innervation of the psoas major?
Anterior rami of L1-L3
39
The muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh are collectively known as the...
Hip adductors
40
How many medial thigh (hip adductor) muscles are there?
5
41
Name the 5 hip adductor (medial thigh muscles)
```
Gracilis
Obturator externus
Adductor brevis
Adductor longus
Adductor magnus
```
42
All the medial thigh muscles are innervated by which nerve? Where does this nerve arise from?
Obturator nerve
Lumbar plexus
43
Arterial supply to the medial thigh is via which artery?
Obturator artery
44
Which is the largest muscle of the medial thigh?
Adductor magnus
45
Where does the adductor magnus lie in relation to the other medial thigh muscles?
Posterior to the others
46
The adductor magnus can be divided functionally into which 2 parts?
Adductor part
Hamstring part
47
Where does the adductor part of the adductor magnus originate and attach?
Originates - inferior rami of the pubis and rami of ischium
Attaches - linea aspera of the femur
48
Where does the hamstring part of the adductor magnus originate and attach?
Originates - ischial tuberosity
Attaches - adductor tubercle and medial supracondylar line of the femur
49
What is the action of the adductor magnus?
Both parts of it adduct the thigh at the hip
50
As well as both adducting the thigh, what unique function do the adductor portion and hamstring portion of the adductor magnus each have?
Adductor portion - flexes the thigh
Hamstring - extends the thigh
51
What is the innervation of the adductor and hamstring portions of the adductor magnus?
Adductor portion - obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Hamstring prison - tibial nerve (L4-S3)
52
The adductor longus partially covers which two muscles?
Adductor brevis and magnus
53
The adductor longus forms the ________ border of the femoral triangle
Medial
54
Where does the adductor longus originate and attach?
Originates - pubis
Attaches - to the linea aspera of the femur
55
What is the action of the adductor longus?
Adduction and medial rotation of the thigh at the hip
56
What roots contribute to the obturator nerve?
L2-L4
57
The adductor brevis is a short muscle lying underneath which other muscle?
The adductor longus
58
The adductor brevis lies between the anterior and posterior divisions of...
What is the clinical significance of this?
The obturator nerve
Can be used as an anatomical landmark to identify the aforementioned branches
59
Where does the adductor brevis originate and attach?
Originates - body of pubis and inferior pubic rami
Attaches - linea aspera on the posterior surface of the femur
60
What is the function of the adductor brevis?
Adduction of the thigh at the hip
61
Where is the obturator externus muscle located in the medial thigh?
Most superiorly
62
Where does the obturator externus muscle originate and attach?
Originates - membrane of the obturator foramen
Attaches - posterior aspect of the greater trochanter
63
What is the action of the obturator externus?
Laterally rotates the thigh
64
The gracilis is the most _______________ and _________ of the medial thigh muscles
Superficial
Medial
65
Which joints does the gracilis cross?
Both the hip and knee joint
66
Which muscle of the medial thigh can sometimes be transplanted into the hand or forearm to replace a damaged muscle?
Gracilis
67
Where does the gracilis originate and attach?
Originates - inferior rami of the pubis
Attaches - medial surface of the tibia
68
What is the function of the gracilis?
Adduction of the thigh
Flexion of the leg
69
'Groin strain' is commonly as a result of strain to which muscles?
The adductor muscles in the thigh
70
Groin injuries usually occur in which sports?
Sports that require explosive movement or extreme stretching
71
Treatment of any muscle strain, including strain of the adductor muscles (groin strain) should utilise which protocol?
RICE
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
72
In groin strain, which part of the adductor muscles of the thigh are usually damaged?
Proximal parts - tearing near their bony prominences near the pelvis
73
From which nerve plexus does the obturator nerve arise?
Lumbar plexus
74
Which two nerves innervate the adductor magnus?
Tibial
| Obturator
75
Which is the most superior of the medial thigh muscles?
Obturator externus
76
The muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh are collectively known as...
The hamstrings
77
How many muscles are in the posterior compartment of the thigh?
3
78
Name the three muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh
Biceps femoris
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
79
The posterior thigh muscles form prominent tendons where?
Medially and laterally at the back of the knee
80
The posterior muscles of the thigh generally act to...
Extend the thigh at the hip
| Flex the knee
81
Which nerve innervates the posterior muscles of the thigh?
Sciatic nerve
82
Which roots contribute to the sciatic nerve?
L4-S3
83
Name the muscles in the posterior thigh from medial to lateral
Semimembranosus
Semitendinosus
Biceps femoris
84
The biceps femoris consists of...
2 heads - long head and a short head
85
Which is the most lateral of the posterior thigh muscles?
Biceps femoris
86
Where can the tendon of the biceps femoris be palpated?
Lateral aspect of the posterior knee
87
Where does the long head and short head of the biceps femoris originate?
Long head - ischial tuberosity of the pelvis
| Short head - linea aspera on posterior surface of the femur
88
Where do both the long head and short head of the biceps femoris attach?
Head of the fibula
89
What is the main action of the biceps femoris?
Flexion at the knee
90
As well as flexion at the knee, the biceps femoris also...
Extends at the hip
| Laterally rotates at the hip and knee
91
What nerve innervates the long head and short head of the biceps femoris?
Long head - tibial part of sciatic nerve
Short head - common fibular part of sciatic nerve
92
What two branches of the sciatic nerve innervate the different muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh?
Tibial part
Common fibular part (only the short head of the biceps femoris)
93
Where does the semitendinosus lie in relation to the biceps femoris? What muscle does it largely cover?
Medial to the biceps femoris
Covers semimembranosus
94
Where does the semitendinosus originate and attach?
Originates - ischial tuberosity of the pelvis
Attaches - medial surface of the tibia
95
What is the action of the semitendinosus?
Flexion of the legs at the knee joint
Extension of the thigh at the hip
Medially rotates the thigh and the leg
96
What nerve innervates the semitendinosus?
Tibial part of sciatic nerve
97
The semimembranosus is located under which muscle?
Semitendinosus
98
Where does the semimembranosus originate and attach?
Originates - ischial tuberosity of the pelvis (more superiorly)
Attaches - medial tibial condyle
99
What is the function of the semimembranosus?
Flexion at the knee
Extension at the hip
Medial rotation at the hip/thigh
100
Which nerve innervates the semimembranosus?
Tibial part of sciatic nerve
101
A hamstring strain refers to excessive _________ or __________ of the muscles fibres
Stretch
Tearing
102
Damage to muscle fibres is likely to have what effect on surrounding blood vessels?
Rupture them causing a haematoma
103
What contains the haematoma in a hamstring strain?
Fascia lata
104
Treatment of any muscle strain should utilise which protocol?
RICE
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
105
What is an avulsion fracture?
When a fragment of bone breaks away from the main body of bone
106
Describe what happens in an avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity
In what sort of sports are these common?
Tendons of the hamstrings tear off a piece off the ischial tuberosity
Sprinting, football, hurdling (rapid contraction and relaxation)
