Lower Limb Flashcards
(81 cards)
Three ligaments reinforce the hip capsule
• Iliofemoral (Y-shaped): from anterior inferior iliac spine, bifurcates, to each end of the trochanteric line (resists hyperextension)
- by the far the strongest!
- Pubofemoral: from iliopubic junction to blend with the medial aspect of the capsule (resists extension and abduction)
- Ischiofemoral: from the ischium and inserts into the base of the greater trochanter (limits extension)
Describe the blood supply to head of the femur.
- Extracapsular arterial ring at the base of the femoral neck - medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries from Profunda Femoris with smaller contributions from superior and inferior gluteal arteries.
- Retinacular arteries arising from the ascending cervical branches. They give rise to the subsynovial intra articular ring.
- Artery of ligamentum teres - derived from obturator or medial circumflex femoral artery.
- Epiphyseal blood supply — arising primarily from medial and lateral epiphyseal arteries.
- Metaphyseal blood supply — arise from branches of ascending cervical arteries, & subsynovial intraarticular ring.
What are the principal hip flexors at the nerve supply?
Psoas Major - L1-3 Ventral Rami
(Tips of Transverse processes T12-L4)
Iliacus - Femoral Nerve - L2-4
Insert into the lesser trochanter
External Rotators
Gemellus S/I Obturator I (Joint tendon with above 2)/E Piriformis Quad Fem Gluteus Maximus
Hip Flexion
Flexion Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Psoas major (- L1-3 Ventral Rami )
Iliacus
Rectus femoris
Sartorius
Hip Extension
Extension Inferior Gluteal Nerve (L5-S2)
Gluteus maximus
Hip Adduction
Adduction - Obturator nerve (L2-L4) Adductor longus Adductor magnus Adductor brevis Gracilis
Hip Abduction
Abduction Superior Gluteal Nerve (L4-51
Gluteus medius and minimus
Hip External Rotation
External rotation
Piriformis - NT Piriformis (S1-S2) Gemellus superior - Nt Ob Int (L5-S2) Obturator internus - Nt Ob Int (L5-S2) Gemellus inferior - Nt Qf Int (L4-S1) Quadratus femoris - Nt Qf Int (L4-S1) Obturator extemus - Post. Branch of Obturator Nerve L3-L4
Lateral to psoas major muscle
Subcostal nerve (L1) Iliohypcgastric nerve (L1) Ilinguinal nerve (L1)
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (L2, L3)
Femoral nerve (L2 — 4)
Anterior to psoas major muscle
Genitofemoral nerve (L1, L2)
Gen - Skin over scrotum
Fem - Skin over femoral triangle
Medial to psoas major muscle
Obturator nerve (L2 —4)
Through greater sciatic notch to enter gluteal region, inferior to piriformis muscle.
Sciatic nerve (L4 — S3)
Emerges from inferior border of gluteus maximus
Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S1, S2, S3)
posterior thigh and buttock
Femoral Triangle
- Roof: Fascia lata
- Apex: Points inferiorly and continues with the adductor canal
- Superior: The inguinal ligament
- Medial: Medial border of adductor longus • Lateral: Medial border of sartorius
- Floor (medial to lateral): Adductor longus, pectineus and iliopsoas
Contents of femoral sheath
femoral artery, femoral vein and femoral canal. NOT femoral nerve
femoral canal
femoral canal - medial compartment of the femoral sheath, opens superiorly into fem rm ring - contains fat, lymphatics and Cloquet’s node.
Cloquet’s node signficance
Cloquet’s node drains the lower limb, perineum and anterior abdominal inferior to the umbilicus. It may be enlarged in cases of carcinoma or infection at these sites.
Femoral Ring
Femoral ring is the superior opening of the femoral canal.
LMAP/FLIP
- L ateral: Fascia around femoral vein
- M edial: Lacunar ligament
- A nterior: Inguinal ligament
- P osterior: Pectineal ligament
Femoral hernias occur at the femoral ring.
Name the nerve roots of the sacral plexus.
The sacral plexus is formed from the anterior primary rami of L4-5, S1-4.
Note: Sacral nerves from anterior sacral foramina, unite in front of piriformis + joined by lumbosacral trunk (L4, 5)
Name the boundaries of the greater sciatic foramen.
- Anterolaterally: Greater sciatic notch of the ilium
- Posteromedially: Sacrotuberous ligament •Inferiorly: Sacrospinous ligament and the Ischial spine
- Superiorly: Anterior sacroiliac ligament
Name the structures passing through the greater sciatic foramen ABOVE pirifomis.
- Superior gluteal vessels
* Superior gluteal nerve
Name the structures passing through the greater sciatic foramen BELOW piriformis.
- Inferior gluteal nerve + vessels
- Internal pudendal vessels + nerve
- Sciatic nerve
- Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh •Nerve to quadratus femoris
- Nerve to obturator internus
Name the boundaries of the lesser sciatic foramen.
- Anterior: Tuberosity of the ischium
- Superior: Spine of the ischium and sacrospinous ligament
- Posterior: Sacrotuberous ligament