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Lower Limb Anatomy & Physiology

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  • Type of hip joint
    The hip joint is a ball and socket joint formed by the head of femur and acetabulum.
  • Ligaments of the hip joint
    Includes the deep circular zona orbicularis and superficial longitudinal ligaments: ischiofemoral, pubofemoral, and iliofemoral.
  • Movements allowed by the hip joint
    Flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, lateral and medial rotation, and circumduction.
  • Blood supply to the hip joint
    Branches of deep femoral artery (lateral and medial circumflex aa) and branch of obturator artery through ligament of head of femur.
  • Type and components of the knee joint
    Largest synovial modified hinge joint between proximal tibia, distal femur, and posterior patella.
  • Menisci of the knee joint
    Fibrocartilaginous menisci: lateral (circular) and medial (semilunar) with anterior/posterior ends, thick/thin borders, and superior/inferior surfaces.
  • Cruciate ligaments characteristics
    Anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are intracapsular/intraarticular but extrasynovial.
  • Movements of the knee joint
    Extension, flexion, medial and lateral rotation.
  • Ankle joint type and articulations
    Strong synovial hinge joint between inferior tibia, medial malleolus, inferior fibula, lateral malleolus, and trochlear surface of talus.
  • Gluteus maximus nerve and function
    Innervated by inferior gluteal nerve; responsible for extension and lateral rotation at the hip joint.
  • Tensor fascia lata nerve and function
    Innervated by superior gluteal nerve; stabilizes the knee in extension.
  • Muscles innervated by the superior gluteal nerve
    Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fascia lata; involved in thigh abduction at the hip joint.
  • Muscles of the anterior thigh compartment and nerve supply
    Includes sartorius and quadriceps femoris group; innervated by femoral nerve.
  • Actions of sartorius muscle
    Flexes, abducts, laterally rotates thigh; flexes the leg.
  • Posterior thigh muscles and nerve supply
    Biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus; innervated by sciatic nerve.
  • Medial thigh compartment muscles and nerve supply
    Pectineus, adductor longus, gracilis, obturator externus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus; mainly innervated by obturator nerve.
  • Pes anserinus muscles
    Sartorius, semitendinosus, and gracilis muscles insert together at the medial tibia.
  • Anterior leg compartment muscles and nerve
    Tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum, extensor hallucis longus, fibularis tertius; innervated by deep fibular nerve.
  • Lateral leg compartment muscles and nerve
    Fibularis longus and brevis; innervated by superficial fibular nerve.
  • Posterior leg compartment muscles and nerve
    Superficial: triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus), plantaris; deep: popliteus, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus; innervated by tibial nerve.
  • Blood supply to the gluteal region
    Superior and inferior gluteal arteries, branches of internal iliac artery along with obturator artery.
  • Origin and course of femoral artery
    Continuation of external iliac artery; enters thigh below inguinal ligament; passes through femoral triangle and adductor canal; becomes popliteal artery.
  • Branches of profunda femoris artery
    Lateral circumflex femoral artery, medial circumflex femoral artery, and perforating arteries.
  • Popliteal artery origin and branches
    Continuation of femoral artery at adductor hiatus; branches include superior/inferior lateral and medial genicular arteries, sural artery, and median genicular artery.
  • Terminal branches of popliteal artery
    Anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery.
  • Great saphenous vein course
    Begins at medial venous arch of foot; ascends anterior to medial malleolus; passes through saphenous opening; drains into femoral vein.
  • Small saphenous vein course
    Passes behind lateral malleolus; ascends posterior leg; penetrates deep fascia; drains into popliteal vein.
  • Femoral nerve origin and innervation
    From lumbar plexus (L2-L4); enters femoral triangle lateral to vessels; innervates anterior thigh muscles and skin over anterior thigh and medial leg via saphenous nerve.
  • Obturator nerve origin and innervation
    From lumbar plexus (L2-L4); passes through obturator canal; innervates medial thigh muscles and skin.
  • Sciatic nerve characteristics
    Largest nerve (~2cm diameter); from sacral plexus; exits pelvis via sciatic foramen below piriformis; innervates posterior thigh muscles; divides into tibial and common fibular nerves near popliteal fossa.