lower limb Flashcards
(104 cards)
2 pelvic bones form pelvic girdle
Transfers weight of the body to lower limb
The hip is of ball and socket synovial variety with spherical articular surfaces. There are 3 axes in the joint: horizontal, vertical, and antero- posterior.
The hip has 3 DOF; flexion/extension (Transverse axis) ; abduction/adduction (ant-post axis) ; and medial/lateral rotation (Vertical axis) Circumduction, the combination of these three movements, occurs in the hip joint.
hip joint
The femoral head forms about 2/3 of a sphere of diameter 4-5 Cm. The head is supported by the neck of femur, the axis of which runs superiorly, medially and anteriorly.
The head in the adult forms an angle of 125 (inclination angle) with the femoral shaft to place the knee under the weight-bearing line of the head of the femur.
If the neck-shaft angle is smaller (i.e. 90 degrees), the deviation is called ___ and there is a decrease in leg length.
coxa vara
Both of these structural changes also lead to decreased muscle strength because of changes in torque from alterations in muscle lever arms and length-tension relationships. (coxa valga and coxa vara)
- Valga and Vara cause muscle imbalance.
- If a normal adults has vara and valga the idnv will be more prone to dislocation of the head of the femur
An increase in the neck -shaft angle is called ____ and results in an increase of limb length.
coxa valga
Both of these structural changes also lead to decreased muscle strength because of changes in torque from alterations in muscle lever arms and length-tension relationships. (coxa valga and coxa vara)
*Valga and Vara cause muscle imbalance.
*If a normal adults has vara and valga the idnv will be more prone to dislocation of the head of the femur
The head in the adult forms an acute angle of 10 -30 with the femoral plane
(angle of anteversion)
The angle of anteversion normally decreases with growth and development of the child, causing orthopedists to be conservative in treatment of children who walk with in -toeing
an increase in this angle is called anteverted femur and is one factor that is considered to cause in -toeing, or pigeon toes as well as
genu valgum
A decrease in the angle is called retroverted femur, which may lead to out-toeing (lateral rotation) during standing and walking as well as
genu varum during standing.
in an umbrella term to encompass both anteversion and retroversion
*torsion angle
shows the extent of coaptation between the superior aspect of the head of femur and the acetabulum.
It also indicates the size of the area through which the body weight is transferred to the head of the femur.
This angle is measured between the a vertical line passing through the femoral head and another line joining the center of the femoral head to the superior acetabular rim.
The wiberg angle (angle from the edge of the acetabulum to the awning - process protruding out)
is hemispherical and is bounded by the acetabular rim. The central part of the cavity (acetabular fossa) is deeperand is non-articular. The acetabulum is directed laterally, inferiorly, and anteriorly.
Acetabulum
When joint forces are decreased, synovial fluid once again returns to the joint space to provide lubrication and nutrition to the articular cartilages.
is lined by a horseshoe-shaped articular cartilage, which is interrupted inferiorly by the deep acetabular notch.
Only the lunate surface of the acetabulum
permits movement of the ligamentum teres and importantly serves as a reservoir for synovial fluid when the hip is heavily loaded.
The acetabular fossa
Anatomic and Mechanical Axes of the Femur
The anatomic axis of the femur is represented by a line passing through the femoral shaft.
The mechanical axis is represented by a line connecting the centers of the hip and knee joints, which is typically a vertical line in the standing position.
is a fibrocartilaginous ring inserted into the acetabular rim. It deepens the acetabulum and fills out the various gaps of the acetabular rim.
The acetabular labrum
is attached to either side of the acetabular notch and is also attached to the labrum. The labrum has 3 surfaces: internal, central, and peripheral.
Transverse acetabular lig (TAL)
of the head of the femur (ligamentum capitis femoris) (4) is a flattened fibrous band 3 to 3.5 Cm. long which arises from the acetabular notch and runs at the floor of the acetabular fossa before its insertion into the fovea femoris capitis. It is embedded in fibro-adipose tissue within the acetabular fossa and is lined by the synovial membrane.
The ligamentum teres (LT)
This ligament is extremely strong (breaking force equivalent to 45 Kg. weight) and its primary function is to carry the vascular supply to the head of the femur.
Tension on the ligamentum teres does not occur until the extreme positions of abduction, flexion, and lateral rotation OR adduction, extension, and medial rotation are achieved.
*the obturator artery is the only artery that supplies the head of the femur. If it gets obstructed it can lead to necrosis of the head of the acetabulum
The capsule is like a cylindrical sleeve running from the hip bone to the upper end of the femur. Medially it is inserted into the acetabular rim, and laterally to a line which runs along the intertrochanteric line and at the junction of the lateral and middle thirds of the femoral neck .
hip joint capsule
The capsule of the hip is strengthened by powerful ligaments anteriorly and posteriorly.
is a fan shaped ligament that has two thick borders known as superior and inferior bands. It covers the hip joint anteriorly and superiorly. (Y ligament)
The iliofemoral ligament
is anterior and inferior to the hip, limiting lateral rotation.
The pubofemoral ligament
The ischiofemoral ligament:
is posterior and inferior, limiting medial rotation
Role of the Hip Joint Ligaments in Movements
In flexion and hyperextension:
In the erect position , the ligaments are under moderate tension. During hyperextension of the hip all the ligaments become taut as they wind round the femoral neck. Of all these ligaments the inferior band of the iliofemoral ligament is under the greatest tension as it runs nearly vertically and so is responsible for checking the posterior tilt of the pelvis. During flexion of the hip all the ligaments are relaxed.
➢ In lateral and medial rotation:During lateral rotation of the hip the trochanteric line moves away from the acetabular rim with the result that all the anterior
ligaments of the hip become taut , while the ischiofemoral ligament is slackened. During medial rotation of the hip the converse obtains.
➢ In adduction and abduction: During adduction the superior band of iliofemoral ligament becomes taut and the inferior band tenses up only slightly, while
the pubofemoral & ischiofemoral ligaments are slackened.During abduction the iliofemoral ligament is slackened while the pubofemoral and ischiofemoral ligaments tense up
There are several factors helping in coaptation of the hip joint.
- Gravity: to the extent that the roof of the acetabulum covers the femoral head, the latter is pressed against the acetabulum by a force equal and opposite to the weight of the body.
- Atmospheric pressure: the negative pressure deep in the acetabular fossa prevents the head of the femur from
dislocation. A force of 45 lbs is required in adult cadavers to laterally distract the joint 3 mm, but when the capsule is punctured, the femur can be distracted about 8 mm without significant traction force. - Ligaments: their function varies according to the position of the hip. In the erect position or in extension, the ligament are under tension and are efficient in securing coaptation; in flexion the ligaments are relaxed and the femoral head is not powerfully applied to the acetabulum.
- Muscles: which play a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of the joint. Their function is reciprocally balanced Thus anteriorly the muscles are very few and the ligaments powerful while posteriorly the muscles predominate.
➢ Note: the position of flexion (loose packed position) is
therefore a position of instability because of the slackness of the ligaments. When a measure of adduction is added to the flexion, as in sitting position with legs crossed legs a relatively mild force applied along the femoral axis is enough to cause posterior dislocation of the hip joint.
Accessory Motions(hip joint)
Normal accessory motions at the hip include distal traction, and lateral, anterior, and posterior gliding
➢ The closed-packed position for the hip is hyperextension, medial rotation, and abduction
Axes of Motion and Movements
Although there are an ‘infinite’ number of axes around which hip movement may occur (and all passing through the femoral head), three perpendicular axes are used for descriptive purposes.
- Flexion – Extension
- Abduction – Adduction
- Medial and Lateral Rotation