Midterm II

Clinical Anatomy - ATTH 5P01

vertebral body

thick, disc-shaped anterior part of a vertebra that bears weight and provides support for the vertebral column

vertebral foramen

main opening in each vertebra that allows the passage of the spinal cord

spinous process

posterior projection on each vertebra that acts as an attachment site for muscles, ligaments and fasciae

transverse processes

lateral projections on each vertebra (in lumbar vertebrae, these structures are shorter)

vertebral arch

structure of the vertebrae that includes the spinous and transverse processes, as well as the laminae and pedicles

lamina

bony structure of the vertebrae that connects the spinous and transverse processes

pedicle

bony structure of the vertebrae that connects the transverse processes to the vertebral body

articular facets

structures of the vertebrae (superior/inferior) that allow for the articulation between adjacent vertebrae

mammillary processes

small tubercles located on the posterior aspect of the superior articular processes of lumbar vertebrae that serve as an attachment site for the intertransversarii and multifidus muscles

spondylolysis (pars fracture)

stress fracture of the pars interarticularis (thinnest part of the vertebral arch); common in adolescent athletes exposed to repetitive lumbar hyperextension

spondylolisthesis

occurs if there are pars fractures on both sides of the vertebrae

kyphosis

posterior-directed curve of the spine (thoracic/sacral)

lordosis

anterior directed curve of the spine (cervical/lumbar)

scoliosis

abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

pelvic girdle

bony structure that supports and protects the lower abdominal viscera and reproductive organs; consists of 2 coxal bones

coxal bone

“hip bone”; consists of the ilium, ischium and pubis

iliac crest

long, superior edge of the ilium that begins at the ASIS and extends around the side of the torso to end at the PSIS; acts as an attachment site for quadratus lumborum and the abdominals

acetabulum

bony socket formed by the ilium, ischium and pubis that acts as the articulation point for the femur

iliac fossa

concave, anterior surface of the ilium; acts as an attachment site for iliacus

greater sciatic notch

bony indentation on the posterior aspect of the ilium that allows for the passage of the sciatic nerve

superior pubic ramus

bony aspect of the pubis that extends laterally to form part of the acetabulum and the obturator foramen; acts as an attachment site for muscles

inferior pubic ramus

bony aspect of the pubis that extends towards the ischium to form part of the obturator foramen

obturator foramen

foramen of the pelvis that is formed by part of the ischium and pubis that allows the passage of the obturator nerve, artery and vein

ischial tuberosities

posteroinferior aspects of the ischium that form “sits bones”

sacrospinous ligament

ligament that runs from the ischial spine to the sacrum, creating the greater sciatic foramen

sacrotuberous ligament

ligament that runs from the sacrum to the ischial tuberosity, creating the lesser sciatic foramen

greater trochanter

large bony prominence on the lateral side of the proximal femur; acts as the attachment site for hip muscles

lesser trochanter

small bony prominence on the posteromedial side of the proximal femur; acts as the attachment site for iliopsoas

intertrochanteric line

bony ridge on the anterior side of the femur that extends between the greater and lesser trochanters

intertrochanteric crest

bony ridge on the posterior side of the femur that extends between the greater and lesser trochanters

fovea

depression on the head of the femur that acts as the attachment site for the ligament of the head of the femur

coxa valga

angle of inclination of > 139°

coxa vara

angle of inclination of < 126°

retroversion

angle of torsion of < 10°

anteversion

angle of torsion of > 20°

linea aspera

rough, longitudinal ridge on the posterior femoral shaft that serves as a major attachment site for thigh muscles

medial supracondylar ridge

ridge on the posterior distal femoral shaft that extends from the linea aspera medially

lateral supracondylar ridge

ridge on the posterior distal femoral shaft that extends from the linea aspera laterally

medial epicondyle

prominent projection on the medial femoral condyle that provides attachment for the tibial collateral ligament

lateral epicondyle

prominent projection on the lateral femoral condyle that provides attachment for the fibular collateral ligament

patella

large sesamoid bone that is embedded within the quadriceps femoris tendon; protects the knee joint and acts as an anatomical pulley

medial facet

medial aspect of the posterior patella that articulates with the medial condyle of the femur

lateral facet

lateral aspect of the posterior patella that articulates with the lateral condyle of the femur

tibial tuberosity

attachment site for the patellar ligament

intervertebral discs

amphiarthrotic symphysis joints located between the vertebrae that provide shock absorption and cusioning

zygapophysial (facet) joint

planar diarthrosis joint located between the superior and inferior articular facets of the vertebrae

anterior longitudinal ligament

ligament that runs vertically along the anterior aspect of the vertebral bodies

ligamentum flavum

ligament that runs vertically along the anterior aspect of the laminae and forms the posterior wall of the spinal canal

sacroiliac (SI) joint

planar diarthrosis joint between the sacrum and the ilium that connects the axial skeleton to the lower extremities

pubic symphysis

amphiarthrotic symphysis joint between the pubic bones

pubofemoral ligament

ligament located between the pubis and the femur

iliofemoral ligament

ligament located between the ilium and the femur

ischiofemoral ligament

ligament located between the ischium and the femur

transverse acetabular ligament

ligament that connects the labrum together

iliopectineal (iliopsoas) bursa

bursa that reduces friction between the iliopsoas tendon and the anterior hip capsule during flexion

trochanteric bursa

bursa that cushions between the greater trochanter and the gluteus maximus/iliotibial tract

gluteofemoral bursa

bursa that separates the gluteus maximus from the origin of the vastus lateralis

ischial bursa

bursa that cushions the ischial tuberosity during sitting/weight bearing

ischial bursitis

inflammation of the bursa over the ischial tuberosity caused by prolonged sitting or repetitive friction from the hamstrings/gluteus maximus

knee

hinge diarthrosis joint between the femur and the tibia/fibula; allows for slight rotation

tibial (medial) collateral ligament

ligament that spans from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial tibia and resists valgus forces at the knee

fibular (lateral) collateral ligament

ligament that spans from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula and resists varus forces at the knee

anterior cruciate ligament

ligament that spans from the anterior tibia to the lateral condyle of the femur and prevents anterior translation of the tibia and hyperextension of the knee

posterior cruciate ligament

ligament that spans from the posterior tibia to the medial condyle of the femur and prevents posterior translation of the tibia

menisci (medial/lateral)

fibrocartilage discs that sit on the tibial plateau and cradle the femoral condyles; provide shock absorption, joint lubrication and load distribution

Q-angle

anatomical measurement that represents the line of pull of the quadriceps on the patella; affected by wider pelvises, increased femoral anteversion, increased knee valgus and external tibial rotation

lumbar plexus

formed by the ventral primary rami of L1-L3 and part of L4 with a small contribution of T12; branches into the femoral nerve, saphenous nerve and obturator nerve

femoral nerve

branch of the lumbar plexus (L2-4) that travels deep to the inguinal ligament and within the femoral triangle; innervates anterior thigh muscles and hip adductors

saphenous nerve

branch of the femoral nerve (and lumbar plexus - L2-4) that innervates the medial leg and ankle (peripheral sensation)

obturator nerve

branch of the lumbar plexus (L2-4) that travels through the obturator foramen and along the medial thigh; innervates hip adductors and gracilis

superior gluteal nerve

branch of the sacral plexus (L4-S2) that innervates gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and the tensor fasciae latae

inferior gluteal nerve

branch of the sacral plexus (L4-S2) that innervates gluteus maximus

sciatic nerve

branch of the sacral plexus (L4-S3) that innervates semimembranosus, semitendinosus and adductor magnus; branches off into tibial and common fibular nerve to innervate lower leg muscles

sural nerve

nerve formed from a branch from both the tibial and common fibular nerves that innervates the lateral border of the leg, ankle and foot (peripheral sensation)

sciatica

compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve; characterized by low back, buttock and leg pain, numbess/weakness in legs, tinging in legs, difficulty moving or controlling legs

tibial nerve

branch of the sciatic nerve that innervates the lower leg muscles and the plantar surface of the foot/heel (peripheral sensation); splits into medial and lateral plantar nerve branches as well as the sural nerve

common fibular nerve

branch of the sciatic nerve that innervates the lower leg muscles and the dorsal surface of the foot (peripheral sensation); splits into superficial and deep fibular nerve branches as well as the sural nerve

common iliac artery

terminal branch of the abdominal aorta that arises at the level of the L4 vertebra and supplies blood to the pelvis and lower limb

external iliac artery

continuation of the common iliac artery (O: SI joint) that runs along the medial border of psoas major before becoming the femoral artery as it passes the inguinal ligament

femoral artery

continuation of the external iliac artery (O: inguinal ligament) that supplies blood to nearly the entire lower limb

deep femoral artery

branch of the femoral artery that supplies blood to the hip joint, femoral head and deep muscles of the thigh

popliteal artery

branch of the femoral artery that runs through the popliteal fossa and divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries to supply blood to the leg and foot

anterior tibial artery

branch of the popliteal artery that supplies blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and is connected to the posterior tibial artery through anastomoses of dorsalis pedis, dorsal arch and plantar arch arteries

posterior tibial artery

branch of the popliteal artery that supplies blood to the posterior leg and plantar surface of the foot; connected to the anterior tibial artery through anastomoses of dorsalis pedis, dorsal arch and plantar arch arteries

fibular artery

branch of the posterior tibial artery that supplies blood to the lateral compartment of the lower leg and the fibula

small saphenous vein

vein that collects blood from superficial veins of the leg and foot and drains into the popliteal vein

great saphenous vein

vein that collects blood from the superficial veins of the lower leg and drains into the femoral vein

femoral vein

vein that receives drainage from popliteal vein and runs through the femoral triangle; drains into the external iliac vein

femoral triangle

anatomical region that serves as a major passageway for the femoral nerve, artery and vein; bordered by the inguinal ligament (superior), sartorius and adductor longus