Special Areas of the Lower Limb

Femoral Triangle

• Triangular space in the superoanterior third of the thigh; found at the junction b/w the trunk & the lower limb

• Femoral artery pulse can be palpated here

Borders & Floor of the Femoral Triangle

Borders:

• 1. Inguinal Ligament

• 2. Sartorius Muscle

• 3. Adductor Longus Muscles

Floor:

• A. Iliopsoas Muscle

• B. Pectineus Muscle

Contents of the Femoral Triangle

Content from medial → lateral:

• Femoral vein

• Femoral artery

• Femoral nerve

V.A.N. drives out of femoral triangle (medial → lateral)

Adductor Canal

• Compartment found b/w the quadriceps femoris muscles & the medial femoral muscles

• Found deep to the satorius muscle

Contents of the Adductor Canal

• Femoral artery

• Femoral vein

• Saphenous nerve (branch of the femoral nerve)

Popliteal Fossa

• Diamond-shaped area in the back of the knee

• Popliteal artery pulse is difficult to palpate due to depth

Content of the Popliteal Fossa

Content from deep → superficial:

• Popliteal artery (deep)

• Popliteal vein (deep)

• Tibial nerve (superficial)

• Common fibular nerve (superficial)

(Tibial nerve & common fibular nerve are same level superficial)

Tarsal Tunnel

• Important relationship of structures located posterior to the medial malleolus

• Bound by flexor retinaculum

• Begins at the medical malleolus & ends at the calcaneus

• Also known as “Tom, Dick, And Nervous Harry”

Contents of the Tarsal Tunnel

Contents from medial malleolus (anterior) to calcaneous (posterior):

• Tendon of tibialis posterior muscle

• Tendon of flexor digitorum longus muscle

• Posterior tibial artery

• Tibial nerve

• Tendon of flexor hallucis longus muscle