Anterior and Medial Thigh SDL Flashcards
(115 cards)
What are the muscles of the thigh surrounded by?
Fascia lata
How are the muscles of the thigh divided into anterior, medial and posterior compartments?
The fascia lata forms three intermuscular septa that run deep into the thigh and attach to the linea aspera of the femur

How does the fascia lata respond when the muscles of the thigh contract? What is the purpose of this?
The fascia lata does not stretch to accommodate their outward movement; instead the fascia lata resists the contracting muscles which helps to compress the veins of the thigh and aid venous return.
What is the iliotibial tract?
A thickened band of the fascia lata on the lateral side of the thigh

What muscles insert on the iliotibial tract?
Gluteus maximus and tensor fascia lata (TFL)

Describe the course of iliotibial tract. Where does it insert?
The iliotibial tract runs down the lateral aspect of the thigh, over the lateral part of the knee joint and inserts onto the lateral aspect of the tibia.

What is the function of the iliotibial tract?
It acts to stabilise the hip and knee
What is the main bulk of the anterior thigh formed by? What are the other muscles in the anterior thigh?
- Quadriceps muscles form the bulk
- Sartorius
- Pectineus
- Iliopsoas
What muscles comprise the quadriceps femoris?
- Vastus intermedius
- Vastus lateralis
- Vastus medialis
- Rectus femoris

What innervates the quadriceps muscles?
The femoral nerve (L2-4)
How do the quads insert?
They converge onto a common tendon - the quadriceps tendon - which runs anterior to the knee joint and onto the patella. The patellar ligament then connects the patella to a bony protuberance on the proximal anterior tibia called the tibial tuberosity.
Which quad muscle contributes to flexion of the hip?
Rectus femoris
Where does rectus femoris originate? Where do the vasti originate?
Rectus femoris - AIIS
Vasti - femur

Common action of the quad?
Extension of the knee (but rectus femoris also flexes hip)
How is the knee jerk reflex performed?
To test the knee jerk reflex, the patient sits on a couch with the leg dangling or the knee is flexed with the examiner supporting the weight of the leg with their arm. The examiner palpates for the patella and the tibial tuberosity, finds the halfway point between the two (i.e. the patella ligament) and taps with the tendon hammer.

What does the knee jerk reflex test?
This reflex tests the femoral nerve and the spinal nerves that it contains, i.e. L2, 3 and 4.
What would you expect to see with a normal knee jerk reflex?
Sudden kicking movement of the lower leg in response to a sharp tap on the patellar tendon
What part of the femoral triange does pectineus form?
The medial part of the floor
What part of the femoral triange does iliopsoas form?
The lateral part of the floor
What are the actions of pectineus?
Contributes to both flexion and adduction of the hip joint
What is pectineus innervated by?
Femoral nerve
Origin of pectineus? Insertion?
Origin: the pectineal line of pubis on the superior pubic ramus
Inserts: pectineal line on the femur (just inferior to the lesser trochanter)
What makes sartorius recognisable?
Lies obliquely across the thigh
Does sartorius act strongly on its own?
No - it has several actions, but does not act strongly on its own; generally, it is a muscle that assists others














































