The Lower Limb
The Lower Limb
The Lower Limb
• Head :
• It articulates with
acetabulum of hip bone to
form hip joint.
• Has a depression in the
center (fovea capitis), for
NECK
the attachment of ligament
of the head of femur.
• Obturator artery passes
along this ligament to supply
head of femur.
• Neck :
• It connects head to the shaft.
UPPER END OF FEMUR
THE SHAFT
• Greater & lesser • It has 3 surfaces:
trochanters : • Anterior, Medial and
• Anteriorly, connecting Lateral.
the 2 trochanters. • It has 3 borders:
the inter-trochanteric • 2 rounded medial
line, where the and lateral, and a
iliofemoral ligament thick posterior
is attached. border or ridge
• Posteriorly, the inter- called linea aspera.
trochanteric crest, on • The popliteal
which is the quadrate surface is found
tubercle. on the inferior
posterior aspect
LOWER END OF FEMUR
• Has lateral and
medial condyles,
separated anteriorly
by articular patellar
surface, and
posteriorly by
intercondylar notch
or fossa.
• The 2 condyles take
part in the knee
joint.
• Above the condyles
are the medial &
lateral epicondyles.
PATELLA
• It is a largest sesamoid
bone (lying inside the
Quadriceps tendon in
front of knee joint).
• Its anterior surface is
rough and subcutaneous.
• Its posterior surface
articulates with the
condyles of the femur to
form knee joint.
• Its apex lies inferiorly and
is connected to tuberosity
of tibia by ligamentum
patellae.
• Its upper, lateral, and
medial margins give
attachment to Quadriceps
femoris muscles.
POSITION OF FEMUR (RIGHT OR LEFT)
• Head is directed
upward &
Medially.
• Shaft is smooth
and convex
anteriorly.
• Shaft is rough
and concave
posteriorly.
BONES OF LEG
(TIBIA AND FIBULA)
• Tibia :
• It is the
medial bone
of leg.
• Fibula :
• It is the lateral
bone of leg.
• Each of them
has upper
end, shaft,
and lower
end.
TIBIA
Upper end has:
• 2 tibial condyles:
• Medial condyle : is larger
and articulate with medial
condyle of femur. It has a
groove on its posterior surface
for semimembranosus ms.
• Lateral condyle : is smaller
and articulates with lateral
condyle of femur.
It has facet on its
lateral side for articulation with
head of fibula to form
proximal tibio-fibular joint.
• Intercondylar area :
is rough and has
intercondylar eminence.
TIBIA
Shaft has:
• Tibial tuberosity :
• Its upper smooth part gives
attachment to ligamentum
patellae.
• Its lower rough part is
subcutaneous.
• 3 borders :
• Anterior boder : sharp and
subcutaneous.
• Medial border.
• Lateral border interosseous
border.
• 3 surfaces :
• Medial : subcutaneous.
• Lateral
• Posterior has oblique line,
soleal line for attachment of
soleus muscle
TIBIA
Lowe end:
• Articulates with talus for
formation of ankle joint.
• Medial malleolus:
– Its medial surface is
subcutaneous.
– Its lateral surface
articulate with talus.
• Fibular notch: lies on its
lateral surface of lower end
to form distal tibiofibular
joint.
POSITION OF TIBIA
(RIGHT OR LEFT)
ATTACHMENTS:
Anterior cruciate: from anterior part of intercondylar area of tibia to
posterior part of lateral condyle of femur.
Posterior cruciate: from posterior part of intercondylar area of tibia
to anterior part of medial condyle of femur.
FUNCTIONS:
Anterior cruciate: prevents posterior displacement of femur on tibia.
Posterior cruciate: prevents anterior displacement of femur on tibia.
Surface Anatomy
• Anterior Compartment
– Dorsiflex ankle, invert foot, extend toes
– Innervation: Deep fibular nerve
• Lateral Compartment
– Plantarflex, evert foot
– Innervation: Superficial Fibular nerve
• Posterior Compartment
– Superficial and deep layers
– Plantarflex foot, flex toes
– Innervation: Tibial nerve
Anterior Compartment
• Tibialis anterior
– Origin - tibia
– Insertion - tarsals
– Action - dorsiflexion, foot inversion
• Extensor digitorum longus
– Origin – tibia and fibula
– Insertion - phalanges
– Action – toe extension
• Extensor hallucis longus
– Origin – fibula, interosseous
membrane
– Insertion – big toe
– Action - extend big toe, dorsiflex foot
External Iliac
Femoral = lower limb
• Deep femoral = adductors, hamstrings,
quadriceps
Popliteal (continuation of femoral)
• Geniculars = knee
• Anterior Tibial = ant. leg muscles, further
branches to feet
• Posterior Tibial = flexor muscles, plantar
arch, branches to toes