Anterior and Medial compartments of the thigh
Dr. Heba Kalbouneh Associate Professor of Anatomy and Histology Terms Related to Movements Movement Definition Flexion A movement that decreases the angle between two body parts Extension A movement that increases the angle between two body parts Abduction A movement away from the midline Adduction A movement towards the midline Medial (internal) rotation A rotational movement towards the midline Lateral (external) rotation A rotational movement away from the midline Elevation A movement in a superior direction Depression A movement in an inferior direction Protraction Anterior movement of the jaw Retraction Posterior movement of the jaw Opposition The movement that involves grasping of the thumb and fingers Movement Definition Supination A rotational movement where the forearm and palm are turned outwards Pronation A rotational movement where the forearm and palm are turned inwards Dorsiflexion Movement at the ankle, so that the foot points more superiorly Plantarflexion Movement at the ankle, so that the foot points inferiorly
Inversion The movement of the sole towards the median plane – so that the sole faces in a medial direction Eversion The movement of the sole away from the median plane – so that the sole faces in a lateral direction Circumduction A conical movement of a body part. Circumduction is a combination of flexion, extension, adduction and abduction. Plantarflexion of foot
The foot points inferiorly Dorsiflexion of foot
The foot points more superiorly Inversion of foot The movement of the sole towards the median plane – so that the sole faces in a medial direction Eversion of foot
The movement of the sole away from the median plane – so that the sole faces in a lateral direction Superficial veins are those closer to the surface of the body, and have no corresponding arteries. They return blood from skin and subcutaneous structures by anastomosing (inter-connecting) with deep veins
Deep veins are deeper in the body and accompany the principle arteries and usually have the same name
Superficial veins can be seen under the skin Superficial veins of lower limb Large veins embedded in the subcutaneous (superficial) fascia are: Great (long) saphenous vein Drains the medial end of the dorsal venous arch. Small (short) saphenous vein Drains the lateral end of the dorsal venous arch.
At the knee. The great saphenous vein’s surface marking is classically one hand's breadth posterior to the medial border of the patella or just posterior to the medial condyle of the femur. Superficial veins of lower limb
Great (long) saphenous vein Passes up the medial side of the leg, knee, and thigh Ascends in company with the Saphenous nerve Passes through the Saphenous opening Joins the femoral vein (in front of medial malleolus)
Small (short) saphenous vein Passes up the back of the leg to penetrate the deep fascia and join the popliteal vein in the popliteal fossa Ascends in company with the Sural nerve (behind lateral malleolus)
The normal flow of blood in the lower limbs is from skin and subcutaneous tissues to the superficial veins, which drain by perforating veins to the deep veins, which in turn drain into the iliac veins and inferior vena cava
Perforating vein
Deep vein Superficial vein Fascia lata: Is a strong fibrous sheet that surrounds the whole of the thigh like a tight trouser. Thick on its lateral side to form the iliotibial tract
Saphenous opening is an oval opening in the upper part of the fascia lata of the thigh. Its center lies 1.5 inch below and lateral to the pubic tubercle and is about 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide
The saphenous opening is filled with loose connective tissue called the cribriform fascia Iliotibial tract Tensor Is a strong wide fascia band (thickening Gluteus latae of the deep fascia maximus (fascia lata)) on the lateral side of the thigh) attached above to the iliac tubercle and below to the lateral condyle of tibia.
Receives the insertion of tensor fascia latae and gluteus maximus muscles Deep fascia of the thigh (fascia lata)
Fascia lata is connected to the linea aspera by three intermuscular septa; 1-Medial intermuscular septum 2-Lateral intermuscular septum 3-Posterior intermuscular septum Anterior Fascial Compartments of the Thigh
Contents of the Anterior Fascial Compartment of the Thigh 1-Muscles: Sartorius, iliacus, psoas, and quadriceps femoris, pectineus 2-Blood supply: Femoral artery 3-Nerve supply: Femoral nerve
Note: Not all the contents of the anterior compartment have the same function. For example illopsoas is the main flexor of the thigh at the hip joint while quadriceps femoris is the main extensor of the leg at the knee joint Origin: Iliac fossa Iliacus Insertion: with psoas into lesser trochanter Nerve supply: Femoral nerve Action: Flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh is fixed, it flexes the trunk on the thigh as in sitting up from lying down
Lesser trochanter Psoas Origin: Transverse processes, bodies, and intervertebral discs of the 12th thoracic and lumbar vertebrae Insertion: With iliacus into lesser trochanter Nerve supply: Lumbar plexus Action: Flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh is fixed, it flexes the trunk on the thigh as in sitting up from lying down Iliopsoas
Quadriceps femoris Rectus femoris
Origin: Straight head: anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) Reflected head: ilium above acetabulum Insertion: Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tibial tuberosity Nerve supply: Femoral nerve Action: Extension of leg at knee joint; flexes thigh at hip joint Vastus lateralis
Vastus= Great or Wide
Origin: Shaft of femur Insertion: Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tibial tuberosity Nerve supply: Femoral nerve Action: Extension of leg at knee joint Vastus medialis
Origin: Shaft of femur Insertion: Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tibial tuberosity Nerve supply: Femoral nerve Action: Extension of leg at knee joint; stabilizes patella Vastus intermedius
Origin: Shaft of femur Insertion: Quadriceps tendon into patella, then via ligamentum patellae into tibial tuberosity Nerve supply: Femoral nerve Action: Extension of leg at knee joint; articularis genu retracts synovial membrane
Sartorius Origin: Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) Insertion: Upper medial surface of shaft of tibia (SGS) Nerve supply: Femoral nerve Action: Flexes, abducts, laterally rotates thigh at hip joint; flexes and medially Sartor = Tailor rotates leg at knee joint
Helps rotate the leg to the cross-legged position
This name was chosen in reference to the cross-legged position in which tailors once sat
The upper medial surface of shaft of tibia The combined tendons of insertion are termed is called SGS area for pes anserinus the attachments of 3 (goose foot) muscles:
Sartorius Gracilis Semitendinosus Pectineus
Origin: Pectineal line of pubis Insertion: Pectineal line of femur Nerve supply: Femoral nerve Action: Flexes and adducts thigh at hip joint Psoas Femoral nerve Is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus (L2, 3, and 4). It emerges from the lateral border of the psoas muscle Leaves the abdomen by passing through the gap behind the inguinal ligament Enters the thigh lateral to the femoral artery and the femoral sheath Innervates all muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh Innervates skin over the anterior and medial aspects of the thigh, the medial aspect of the knee, leg and the foot (as far as the ball of the big toe)
Femoral vein
Femoral artery Note that the femoral nerve does not enter the thigh within the femoral sheath
Cutaneous branches 1- Medial cutaneous nerve of the thigh 2- Intermediate cutaneous nerve of the thigh 3- Saphenous nerve
Muscular branches L2 Iliacus Pectineus Sartorius L3 Quadriceps femoris
L4 Articular branches Hip joint Knee joint Femoral nerve L2 L3 L4
Iliacus
Inguinal ligament
Pectineus
Sartorius Quadriceps femoris Femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve
Ilio-inguinal nerve
Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh
Obturator nerve
Femoral nerve (Intermediate and medial cutaneous nerves of thigh)
Lateral Medial THE SAPHENOUS NERVE Femoral Runs downward and nerve medially. It emerges between the tendons of sartorius and gracilis It then runs down in Femoral nerve company with the great (Intermediate and Saphenous saphenous vein. medial cutaneous nerve nerves of thigh) It passes in front of the medial malleolus
Femoral nerve (Saphenous nerve) Supplies the medial side of the knee, leg and foot as far as the ball of the big toe Saphenous nerve
The saphenous nerve accompanies the femoral artery through the adductor canal, but does not pass through the adductor hiatus with the femoral artery. Rather, the saphenous nerve penetrates the deep fascia and appears between the sartorius and gracilis muscles on the medial side of the knee, and continues down the medial side of the leg to the foot, and supplies skin on the medial side of the knee, leg, and foot. Medial Fascial Compartment of the Thigh Can you think of a bone that can be suitable to provide an origin for an adductor muscle of the hip joint? The Pubic bone
Would you be able to think of a bone that can be a good insertion FOR the adductor muscles ? The femur Medial fascial compartment of the Thigh
Contents of the Medial Fascial Compartment of the Thigh 1- Muscles: Pectineus, Adductor Longus, Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus, Gracilis Obturator externus 2-Nerve supply: Obturator nerve 3-Blood supply: Profunda femoris artery and obturator artery
In the practical session Remember that the adductor muscles are arranged in three layers in similar way to that of the pages of the book The first layer (page) contains: pectineus and adductor longus The second layer contains: adductor brevis only The third layer contains: adductor magnus only Action of the adductor muscles as a group
1- Adduct the thigh, although adduction of the thigh is not important in the mechanism of walking and standing
2-Because their origin is in front of the hip joint (in a plane that is in front of the hip joint) they can flex the thigh at the hip joint
3- They assist in medial rotation of the thigh Gracilis
Origin: Body, inferior ramus of pubis, ramus of ischium Insertion: Upper part of shaft of tibia on medial surface (SGS) Nerve supply: Obturator nerve Action: Adducts thigh at hip joint; flexes leg at knee joint Adductor longus
Origin: Body of pubis, inferior to pubic tubercle Insertion: Posterior surface of shaft of femur (linea aspera) Nerve supply: Obturator nerve Action: Adducts thigh at hip joint Adductor brevis
Origin: Body and inferior ramus of pubis Insertion: Posterior surface of shaft of femur (linea aspera) Nerve supply: Obturator nerve Action: Adducts thigh at hip joint Adductor magnus
Origin: Adductor part: Inferior ramus of pubis, ramus of ischium Hamstring part: ischial tuberosity Insertion: Adductor part: Posterior surface of shaft of femur Hamstring part: adductor tubercle of femur Nerve supply: Adductor part: obturator nerve Hamstring part: sciatic nerve Action: Adducts thigh at hip joint; hamstring portion extends thigh at hip joint Obturator nerve
Arises from the lumbar plexus (L2, 3, and 4) anterior divisions Emerges on the medial border of the psoas muscle Enters the thigh by passing through the obturator canal It divides into anterior and posterior divisions Supplies all muscles in the medial compartment except the hamstring part of adductor magnus and pectineus L2 Supplies obturator externus Supplies the skin on the medial side of upper thigh
L3
L4
Femoral nerve (Intermediate and medial cutaneous nerves of thigh) L2
L3 Psoas L4
Femoral nerve
Obturator nerve Descends on the anterior Descends on the posterior surface of adductor brevis surface of adductor brevis
The anterior division The posterior division Muscular branches to 3 muscles : Muscular branches to 2 muscles : Gracilis, Adductor brevis, Adductor longus Obturator externus Adductor part of the adductor magnus Articular branches to the hip joint Articular branches to the knee joint Cutaneous branches to the skin on the medial side of the thigh.
Referred pain Is the pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus. Hilton’s law states that the nerves crossing a joint supply 1-The muscles acting on it 2-The skin over the joint 3-The joint itself
For example, The hip receives fibres from the femoral, sciatic and obturator nerves. It is important to note that these nerves also supply the knee joint and, for this reason, it is not uncommon for a patient, particularly a child, to complain bitterly of pain in the knee and for the cause of the mischief, the diseased hip, to be overlooked Articularis Genu
Origin: Anterior surface of distal part of the shaft of the femur Insertion: Proximal part of the suprapatellar bursa (an extension of the synovial cavity of the knee joint) It is often part of the vastus intermedius. This muscle lies deep to the vastus intermedius
Pulls the bursa away from the knee joint during extension
Articularis: joint Genu: knee Superficial fascia of the thigh
Contents: 1- Cutaneous nerves 2- Superficial arteries 3- Superficial veins 4- Superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Skin of the thigh Genitofemoral nerve
Ilioinguinal nerve
Femoral nerve (Intermediate and medial cutaneous nerves of thigh) 2 3
1
Superficial arteries: 1- Superficial external pudendal artery: passes medial to external genitalia 2- Superficial epigastric artery: passes upward toward the umbilicus 3- Superficial circumflex iliac artery: Femoral passes laterally toward the iliac crest triangle
All these are branches of femoral artery
Lateral Medial 2 3
1
Superficial veins: Great saphenous vein and its tributaries The superficial veins that correspond to the superficial branches of the femoral artery drain into the great saphenous vein Femoral triangle
Lateral Medial Superficial inguinal lymph nodes Lies below the inguinal ligament Divided into two groups; horizontal and vertical. A-The horizontal group lies below and parallel to the inguinal ligament. B-The vertical group lies along the terminal part of Saphenous vein.
Lymph nodes cannot be palpated or seen unless they are enlarged
Remember that if the patient presented to you with an enlarged superficial inguinal lymph nodes you should ask about and check the below mentioned areas
Both groups (horizontal and vertical) receive superficial lymph vessels from:
1- All the lower limb 2- Gluteal region 3- Perineum (Lower half of anal canal, Distal urethra, Genitalia of both sexes (but not the testes)) 4- Anterior abdominal wall below umbilicus
The efferent lymph vessels from the superficial inguinal nodes pass through the saphenous opening in the deep fascia and join the deep inguinal nodes The horizontal group of lymph nodes
Great saphenous vein Saphenous opening transmits the great saphenous vein, some superficial branches of the femoral artery, and lymph vessels
Great saphenous vein