Week 4 |Anterior Compartment of the Thigh| Flashcards
“What type of joint is the knee joint?”
“The knee joint is a synovial hinge joint allowing flexion and extension, combined with gliding, rolling, and rotation about a vertical axis. 💡Tip: Think of it as a door hinge, but with more movement!”
“What bones form the knee joint?”“The knee joint consists of three bones: - Femur (distal end) - Tibia (proximal end) - Patella 💡Tip: Use ‘FTP’
What are the two major joint components of the knee?”
“1. Femoro-tibial joint (between femur and tibia) 2. Femoro-patellar joint (between patella and femur) 💡Tip: FT for weight-bearing and FP for patellar movement!”
“What are the extracapsular ligaments of the knee?”
“1. Patellar ligament 2. Fibular (lateral) collateral ligament (cord-like) 3. Tibial (medial) collateral ligament (broad) 4. Oblique popliteal ligament 5. Arcuate popliteal ligament 💡Tip: ‘PFT-OA’ (Patellar, Fibular, Tibial, Oblique, Arcuate) helps recall them!”
“What are the intra-articular ligaments of the knee?”
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) 2. Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) 💡Tip: ACL prevents anterior tibial displacement, PCL prevents posterior tibial displacement. ‘A comes before P’ (ACL first, then PCL).”
What are the two menisci of the knee?”
“1. Medial meniscus (C-shaped, semicircular) 2. Lateral meniscus (O-shaped, almost circular) 💡Tip: Medial is ‘C’ (closer to Center), Lateral is ‘O’ (more Open).”
“What test is used to assess the integrity of the ACL?”
“Lachman Test: - Intact ACL = ‘Firm-end feel’ - ACL Tear = ‘Soft-end feel’ 💡Tip: ‘Lachman for Ligament’ (ACL)!”
“What test is used to assess the integrity of the PCL?”
“Posterior Drawer Test: - Push tibia posteriorly to check for excessive movement, indicating PCL tear. 💡Tip: ‘Drawer pulls back’ (Posterior = backward movement).”
“What is the locking mechanism of the knee joint?”
“The ‘screw-home mechanism’: - During full extension, the femur rotates medially on the tibia, locking the knee. - The popliteus muscle unlocks the knee by laterally rotating the femur.
“What are the contents of the popliteal fossa?”
“1. Popliteal artery (deepest) 2. Popliteal vein 3. Tibial and Common Fibular nerves 4. Small saphenous vein 5. Cutaneous nerves (posterior femoral, medial sural, lateral sural) 💡Tip: ‘NVA’ (Nerve, Vein, Artery - superficial to deep).”
“What is the function of the popliteus muscle?”
“The ‘key to unlocking the knee’: - Flexes the knee - Medially rotates the tibia to unlock the knee from full extension 💡Tip: Remember ‘P’ for Popliteus and Pivot (rotates tibia).” cell
“What are the compartments of the thigh?”
“1. Anterior compartment (Quadriceps, Sartorius, Iliopsoas, Pectineus) 2. Medial compartment (Adductors, Gracilis, Obturator Externus) 3. Posterior compartment (Hamstrings - Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus)
“What is the function of the quadriceps muscles?”
“Quadriceps (Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis, Vastus medialis, Vastus intermedius): - Primary extensor of the knee joint - Rectus femoris also flexes the hip joint 💡Tip: ‘Quads Extend, RF Flexes’!” cell
“What is the function of the medial thigh muscles (Adductors)?”
“1. Adductor brevis & longus: Adduct and flex thigh 2. Adductor magnus: Adducts, flexes, and extends thigh (has two parts) 3. Gracilis: Adducts thigh, flexes leg 4. Obturator externus: Laterally rotates thigh 💡Tip: ‘GAAM’
“What is the innervation of the quadriceps muscles?”
“All quadriceps muscles are innervated by the femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4). 💡Tip: ‘F for Femoral & Four (Quadriceps)’” cell
“What is the function of the hamstring muscles?”
“Hamstrings (Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus): - Extend the thigh at the hip joint - Flex the leg at the knee joint 💡Tip: ‘Hamstrings Help (Extend) and Halt (Flex) movement!’”
“What is the innervation of the hamstrings?”
“All hamstrings are innervated by the tibial division of the sciatic nerve (L4-S3), except the short head of biceps femoris (common fibular nerve). 💡Tip: ‘Sciatic splits: Tibial (most), Fibular (short head)’!”
“What is the adductor hiatus?”
“An opening in the adductor magnus where the femoral artery and vein pass from the anterior thigh to the popliteal fossa. 💡Tip: ‘Adductor Hiatus = Artery Highway’ (Femoral artery → Popliteal artery).”
“What is the function of the iliopsoas muscle?”
”- Flexes the thigh at the hip joint - Stabilizes the hip joint 💡Tip: ‘Iliopsoas Initiates’ (Flexion at the hip).”
“What is the innervation of the iliopsoas?
”- Iliacus: Femoral nerve (L2, L3) - Psoas major: Anterior rami of lumbar nerves (L1, L2, L3) 💡Tip: ‘Psoas gets personal (direct lumbar rami), Iliacus joins Femoral!’”
