The Hip Joint Flashcards
Name the hip deformity caused by a neck shaft angle that is less than 120 degrees.
Coxa vara
Name the hip deformity caused by a neck shaft angle that is more than 120 degrees.
Coxa valga
State (and explain) the pattern of blood supply to the head of the femur in adults and its implication.
- Retrograde blood supply; blood passes from distal to proximal along the femoral neck to the femoral head. Reticular vessels (major blood supply to the head of femur in adults) arise from ascending cervical branches which come from the extracapsular arterial ring formed anteriorly by LCFA and posteriorly by MCFA.
DIAGRAM - Implication: femoral neck fracture will lead to avascular necrosis of the head of the femur.
State the function of the pubofemoral ligament.
It prevents overabduction of the hip joint by tightening during extension and abduction movements.
What are the stability factors of the hip joint?
- Depth of the acetabulum and narrowing of its mouth by the acetabular labrum
- Strong ligaments e.g. …
- Strength of surrounding muscles
- Length and obliquity of neck of femur
What is the main arterial supply to the head of the femur?
retinacular arteries (which arise from the extra capsular arterial ring [remember what forms the ring anteriorly and posteriorly])
State the myotomes of the following movements of the hip joint:
a) flexion, adduction and medial rotation [Acronym: FAdM]
b) extension, abduction and lateral rotation [EABL]
a) L2, L3
b) L4, L5
For each movement of the hip joint, state the muscles responsible for each:
1. Flexion
2. Adduction
3. Internal rotation/medial rotation
4. Extension
5. Abduction
6. External rotation/lateral rotation
- iliopsoas, rectus femoris, pectineus, sartorius
- gracilis, adductor group
- Iliopsoas, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus
- gluteus maximus, hamstrings (include the hamstring part of adductor magnus)
- gluteus minimus, gluteus medius
- gluteus maximus and small muscles
