Skeleton and Anatomy of the Lower Limb

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the skeleton, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and joints of the human lower limb based on the provided lecture notes.

Femur

The longest bone in the body, measuring approximately $45\,cm$ long, with an upper end consisting of a head, neck, and two trochanters.

Acetabulum

The lateral socket of the hip bone formed by the ilium, pubis, and ischium, which articulates with the head of the femur to form the hip joint.

Angle of the femoral neck

The angle formed between the neck and the shaft of the femur, which is approximately $125^\circ$.

Linea aspera

The posterior border of the shaft of the femur in its middle $1/3$, formed of two lips that split upward and downward.

Adductor tubercle

A projection on the medial condyle of the femur that serves as the attachment point for the ischial part of the adductor magnus.

Hip joint

A ball and socket synovial joint formed by the articulation between the acetabulum of the hip bone and the head of the femur.

Sartorius

A muscle of the anterior compartment of the thigh that performs flexion of the hip and flexion of the knee joint.

Iliopsoas

The main flexor muscle of the hip joint, inserted into the lesser trochanter of the femur.

Femoral Triangle

A region bounded superiorly by the inguinal ligament, laterally by the sartorius muscle, and medially by the adductor longus.

Femoral Sheath

A fascial structure with three compartments: lateral (containing the femoral artery), middle (containing the femoral vein), and medial (the femoral canal).

Femoral Canal

The medial compartment of the femoral sheath, which is the site where femoral hernias can occur.

Adductor Canal (Subsartorial Canal)

A passage located between the vastus medialis and the adductor muscles, containing the femoral artery, femoral vein, and saphenous nerve.

Sciatic Nerve

The largest nerve originating from the sacral plexus ($L4, 5, S1, 2, 3$) which terminates in the middle of the back of the thigh by dividing into the tibial and common peroneal nerves.

Gluteus Maximus

The main extensor of the hip joint, used for activities like walking upstairs or standing up from a sitting position.

Iliotibial Tract

A thickened lateral part of the deep fascia of the thigh that fixes the femur on the tibia during standing to maintain erect posture.

Deep Peroneal Nerve

The nerve supplying the anterior compartment of the leg; its injury leads to the deformity known as foot drop.

Superficial Peroneal Nerve

The nerve supplying the lateral compartment of the leg, specifically the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles.

Popliteal Fossa

A diamond-shaped space behind the knee joint containing the popliteal artery, popliteal vein, and the tibial and common peroneal nerves.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)

A structure inside the knee joint that prevents hyperextension and anterior displacement of the tibia.

Medial Meniscus

A C-shaped fibrocartilage inside the knee joint that is more liable to injury because it is fixed and attached to the medial collateral ligament.

Great Saphenous Vein

A superficial vein that begins at the medial end of the dorsal venous arch, passes in front of the medial malleolus, and ends in the femoral vein.

Small Saphenous Vein

A superficial vein that begins at the lateral end of the dorsal venous arch, passes behind the lateral malleolus, and ends in the popliteal vein.

Inversion

The medial rotation of the foot occurring at the subtalar and talo-calcaneo-navicular joints, primarily performed by the tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior.

Eversion

The lateral rotation of the foot primarily performed by the peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, and peroneus tertius.

Retinacular arteries

The main arterial supply to the head of the femur, primarily arising from the medial circumflex femoral artery.

Foot bones count

The skeleton of the foot consists of $7$ tarsal bones, $5$ metatarsal bones, and $14$ phalanges.

Plantar Aponeurosis

A thickening of the deep fascia of the sole that protects plantar vessels/nerves and supports the longitudinal arch of the foot.

Avascular Necrosis

A clinical condition occurring in fractures of the femoral neck due to the interruption of the retinacular arteries supplying the head of the femur.