Lower Limb Anatomy

Anterior

Front

Posterior

Back

Ventral

Belly (front)

Dorsal

back

Superior

Top

Inferior

Bottom

Medial

Toward Midline

Lateral

Away from midline

Proximal

Toward trunk/ origin

Distal

Away from trunk/ origin

superficial

towards surface

deep

away from surface

transverse plane

Sagittal plane

Frontal Plane

Four regions of the lower limb

Gluteal, thigh, leg, foot

bones of gluteal region of lower limb

2 hip bones, sacrum

bones of thigh region of lower limb

femur

bones of leg region of lower limb

tibia/ fibula

bones of foot region of lower limb

tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges

types of synovial joints

uniaxial

biaxial

multiaxial

nonaxial

four characteristics of synovial articulations

layer of cartilage

synovial membrane

joint capsule (made up of ligaments)

joint cavity

hip joint type of articulation

synovial (multiaxial)

function of hip joint

flexion/ extension, adduction/ abduction, rotation

ligaments in hip

Posterior Ischiofemoral, Anterior iliofemoral (aka Y ligament)

Function of Anterior Iliofemoral ligament

limits hip extension and allows for standing for a long period of time without much muscular effort

Joints in Sacrum

Lumbosacral Joint (Cartilaginous) Sacroiliac Joint (Synovial [nonaxial])

Ligament in lumbosacral joint

iliolumbar ligament

function of sacroiliac joint

transfers weight from vertebral column to sacrum

ligaments in sacroiliac joint

sacroiliac ligament, sacrotuberous ligament, sacrospinous ligament

functions of sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments

prevent anterior rotation of sacrum which distributes force from column to lower limb

iliolumbar ligament

sacroiliac ligament

sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligament

Anterior Iliofemoral ligament