Anatomy of the Anterior and Medial Thigh Flashcards

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering the fascial organization, key bony landmarks, joints, muscles, neurovascular structures, and anatomical spaces of the anterior and medial thigh.

Fascia lata

The deep fascia of the thigh that forms intermuscular septa attaching to the linea aspera and thickens laterally to form the iliotibial band.

Iliotibial Band (ITB)

A thick band of deep fascia running along the lateral aspect of the thigh from the iliac crest to Gerdy's Tubercle that stabilizes the hip and knee joints.

Gerdy's Tubercle

The bony landmark located on the lateral tibial condyle where the iliotibial band inserts.

Screw Home Mechanism

The locking mechanism of the knee joint during full extension in weight-bearing posture that allows the leg to become a stable pillar supported by iliotibial band tension.

Extensor Mechanism of the Knee

The anatomical chain that straightens the leg, consisting of the quadriceps muscles, quadriceps tendon, patella, patellar tendon, and tibial tuberosity.

Patellofemoral Joint

A synovial plane joint formed by the articulation of the patella and the patellar surface (trochlea) of the distal femur.

Tibiofemoral Joint

A synovial hinge joint formed by the articulation of the distal femur and proximal tibia.

Extensor Moment Arm

The lever arm of the quadriceps, which is increased by roughly $30\text{--}50\text{ percent}$ due to the anterior displacement of the quadriceps tendon by the patella.

Patella Contact Area at 10–20 Degrees

The initial contact point located at the apex (inferior pole) of the patella touching the lower part of the femoral trochlea during early knee flexion.

Patella Contact Area at 120–135 Degrees

The contact surface engaged during deep knee flexion, involving the odd facet and edges of the lateral facet.

Active ROM of Hip Flexion

Movement of the thigh towards the trunk with an active range of motion of approximately $120\text{ degrees}$ and a passive range of motion of approximately $145\text{ degrees}$.

Normative ROM of Hip Extension

Movement of the thigh away from the trunk with a normative range of motion of approximately $30\text{ degrees}$.

Normative ROM of Hip Abduction

Movement of the thigh away from the midline with a normative range of motion of approximately $40\text{ degrees}$.

Normative ROM of Hip Adduction

Movement of the thigh towards the midline with a normative range of motion of approximately $20\text{ degrees}$.

Normative ROM of Hip Internal Rotation

Rotation about the mechanical axis of the femur causing toes to point medially, with a normative range of motion of approximately $40\text{ degrees}$.

Normative ROM of Hip External Rotation

Rotation about the mechanical axis of the femur causing toes to point laterally, with a normative range of motion of approximately $50\text{ degrees}$.

Normal ROM of Knee Flexion

Movement of the calf towards the posterior thigh with a normal range of motion of approximately $135\text{ degrees}$.

Normal ROM of Knee Extension

Movement of the calf away from the posterior thigh with a normal range of motion of approximately $0\text{ to }-5\text{ degrees}$.

Sartorius

The longest muscle in the body, originating at the ASIS and inserting below the medial condyle of the proximal tibia via the pes anserinus tendon; acts to flex, abduct, and externally rotate the hip, and flex and internally rotate the knee.

Rectus Femoris

A biarthrodial quadriceps muscle originating from the AIIS (straight head) and superior margin of the acetabulum (reflected head) that flexes the hip and extends the knee.

Vastus Medialis

A teardrop-shaped quadriceps muscle originating from the intertrochanteric line, pectineal line, linea aspera, and medial supracondylar line of the femur that extends the knee.

Vastus Lateralis

The largest muscle of the quadriceps femoris group, originating from the intertrochanteric line, greater trochanter, gluteal tuberosity, and linea aspera to extend the knee.

Vastus Intermedius

A quadriceps muscle originating on the anterior surface of the femoral shaft that inserts into the patella and tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon to extend the knee.

Pes Anserinus

The conjoined tendon of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles attaching in series from anterior to posterior on the medial surface of the proximal tibia.

Gracilis

A long, slender biarthrodial muscle in the medial compartment originating from the ischiopubic ramus and inserting at the pes anserinus; flexes and adducts the hip, flexes the knee, and internally rotates the thigh.

Pectineus

A flat muscle in the superomedial thigh originating from the superior pubic ramus with dual innervation from the obturator and femoral nerves.

Adductor Longus

A large, fan-shaped muscle located in the medial thigh originating from the pubic body and inserting on the middle third of the linea aspera.

Adductor Brevis

A flat, triangular medial thigh muscle located deep to adductor longus, originating from the body of the pubis and inferior pubic ramus.

Adductor Magnus

A large triangular medial thigh muscle containing an adductor part innervated by the obturator nerve and a hamstring part innervated by the sciatic nerve.

Femoral Triangle Borders (SAIL)

The boundaries of the femoral triangle defined by the Sartorius laterally, Adductor longus medially, and the Inguinal ligament as the base.

Femoral Triangle Contents (NAVEL)

Structures in the femoral triangle ordered from lateral to medial: Femoral Nerve, Femoral Artery, Femoral Vein, Femoral Canal, and Lymphatics.

Femoral Sheath

A sleeve of fascia extending towards the apex of the femoral triangle that encloses the femoral artery, femoral vein, and femoral canal, while excluding the femoral nerve.

Femoral Ring

The proximal opening of the femoral canal that acts as a site of potential weakness for femoral hernias.

Adductor Canal (Subsartorial Canal)

A cone-shaped intermuscular passageway in the distal two-thirds of the medial thigh extending from the apex of the femoral triangle to the adductor hiatus.

Adductor Canal Contents

The neurovascular structures contained within the canal: the Femoral Artery, Femoral Vein, and Saphenous Nerve.

Saphenous Opening

An oval opening in the fascia lata that allows the Great Saphenous Vein to pass through to connect with and drain into the deep Femoral Vein.

Deep Femoral Artery (Profunda Femoris)

A major proximal branch of the femoral artery running near the femur that splits into the medial and lateral circumflex arteries to supply the head and neck of the femur.

Lumbar Plexus

A nerve network formed by the anterior rami of spinal nerves $L1\text{--}L4$ with a contribution from $T12$, giving rise to all motor and sensory nerves of the lower extremity.

Femoral Nerve

The largest branch of the lumbar plexus, formed by posterior divisions of anterior rami $L2\text{--}L4$, supplying the iliacus, sartorius, pectineus, quadriceps group, and anteromedial skin.

Obturator Nerve

A nerve formed from the anterior divisions of anterior rami $L2\text{--}L4$ that provides motor innervation to medial thigh adductors and sensory supply to the medial thigh skin.