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University of Connecticut School of Medicine Human Anatomy Module

Learn: Thigh

ANTERIOR THIGH MUSCLES

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     Pectineus muscle

Origin Pectineal line (pecten pubis) and adjacent bone of pelvis
Insertion Pectineal line of femur (oblique line that extends from base of lesser trochanter to linea aspera on posterior surface of proximal femur)
Innervation Femoral nerve
Artery Medial circumflex femoral artery; obturatory artery
Action Adducts and flexes thigh at hip joint
Pectineus muscle

     Psoas major muscle

Origin Sides of T12-L5 vertebrae and discs that are between them; transverse processes of all lumbar vertebrae
Insertion Lesser trochanter of femur
Innervation Anterior rami of L1-L3
Artery Internal iliac artery
Action Flexes thigh at hip joint
Psoas major muscle

     Psoas minor muscle

Origin Sides of T12-L1 vertebrae and intervertebral disc between them
Insertion Pectineal line of the pelvic brim; iliopubic eminence
Innervation Anterior rami of L1
Artery Internal iliac artery
Action Weak flexion of lumbar vertebral column
Psoas minor muscle

     Iliacus muscle

Origin Upper 2/3 of iliac fossa, anterior sacro-iliac and iliolumbar ligaments, upper lateral surface of sacrum
Insertion Lesser trochanter of femur
Innervation Femoral nerve
Artery Internal iliac artery
Action Flexion of thigh at hip joint
Iliacus muscle

     Sartorius muscle

Origin Anterior superior iliac spine
Insertion Superior part of medial surface of tibia
Innervation Femoral nerve
Artery Femoral artery
Action Flexes the thigh at the hip joint and flexes the leg at the knee joint
Sartorius muscle

     Rectus femoris muscle (part of quadriceps femoris)

Origin Straight head:anterior inferior iliac spine
Reflected head: ilium, just superior to the acetabulum
Insertion Quadriceps femoris tendon
Innervation Femoral nerve
Artery Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Action Flexes the thigh at the hip joint and extends the leg at the knee joint
Rectus femoris muscle

     Vastus lateralis muscle (part of quadriceps femoris)

Origin Greater trochanter; linea aspera of femur
Insertion Quadriceps femoris tendon
Innervation Femoral nerve
Artery Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Action Extends the leg at the knee joint
Vastus lateralis muscle

     Vastus medialis muscle (part of quadriceps femoris)

Origin Intertrochanteric line and medial lip of linea aspera of femur
Insertion Quadriceps femoris tendon and medial border of patella
Innervation Femoral nerve
Artery Femoral artery, profunda femoris artery
Action Extends the leg at the knee joint
Vastus medialis muscle

     Vastus intermedius muscle (part of quadriceps femoris)

Origin Upper 2/3 of anterior and lateral surfaces of femur
Insertion Quadriceps femoris tendon and lateral margin of patella
Innervation Femoral nerve
Artery Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Action Extends the leg at the knee joint
Vastus intermedius muscle

MEDIAL THIGH MUSCLES

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     Adductor longus muscle

Origin Body of pubis inferior to pubic crest
Insertion Middle third of linea aspera of femur
Innervation Obturator nerve (anterior division)
Artery Obturator artery; medial circumflex femoral artery
Action Adducts and medially rotates thigh at hip joint
Adductor longus muscle

     Adductor brevis muscle

Origin Body and inferior ramus of pubis
Insertion Pectineal line, proximal part of linea aspera of femur
Innervation Obturator nerve
Artery Obturator artery, medial circumflex artery
Action Adducts thigh
Adductor brevis muscle

     Adductor magnus muscle (adductor part)

Origin

Adductor part—ischiopubic ramus

Insertion Posterior surface of proximal femur, linea aspera, medial supracondylar line
Innervation Obturator nerve (posterior division)
Artery Medial circumflex femoral artery, inferior gluteal artery
Action Adducts and medially rotates thigh at hip joint
Adductor magnus muscle

     Adductor magnus muscle (hamstrings part)

Origin Ischial tuberosity
Insertion Adductor tubercle and supracondylar line
Innervation Sciatic nerve (tibial division)
Artery Medial circumflex femoral artery, inferior gluteal artery, perforating arteries
Action Adducts and medially rotates thigh at hip joint
Adductor magnus muscle

     Gracilis muscle

Origin A line on the external surfaces of the body of the pubis, the inferior pubic ramus, and the ramus of the ischium
Insertion Medial surface of proximal shaft of tibia
Innervation Obturator nerve
Artery Obturator artery, medial circumflex femoral artery, muscular branches of profunda femoris artery
Action Adducts thigh at hip joint and flexes leg at knee joint
Gracilis muscle

     Obturator externus muscle

Origin External surface of obturator membrane and adjacent bone
Insertion Trochanteric fossa
Innervation Obturator nerve (posterior division)
Artery Obturator artery; medial circumflex femoral artery
Action Laterally rotates thigh at hip joint
Obturator externus muscle

POSTERIOR THIGH MUSCLES

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     Semitendinosus muscle

Origin Ischial tuberosity
Insertion Medial surface of proximal tibia
Innervation Sciatic nerve
Artery Perforating branches of profunda femoris artery; inferior gluteal artery; popliteal artery (superior muscular branches)
Action Flexes leg at knee joint and extends thigh at hip joint; medially rotates thigh at hip joint and leg at knee joint
Semitendinosus muscle

     Semimembranosus muscle

Origin Ischial tuberosity
Insertion Groove and adjacent bone on medial and posterior surface of medial tibial condyle
Innervation Sciatic nerve
Artery Perforating branches of profunda femoris artery; inferior gluteal artery; popliteal artery (superior muscular branches)
Action Flexes leg at knee joint and extends thigh at hip joint; medially rotates thigh at hip joint and leg at knee joint
Semimembranosus muscle

     Biceps femoris muscle

Origin Long head-ischial tuberosity; short head-lateral lip of linea aspera
Insertion Head of fibula
Innervation Sciatic nerve
Artery Perforating branches of profunda femoris artery; inferior gluteal artery; popliteal artery (superior muscular branches)
Action Flexes leg at knee joint; extends and laterally rotates thigh at hip joint and laterally rotates leg at knee joint
Biceps femoris muscle

Nerves

  1. Obturator nerve (L2-L4)
  2. Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
    1. Terminal branches to anterior thigh muscles
    2. Articular branches to knee and hip joints
    3. Cutaneous innervation to anteromedial thigh
  3. Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S1-S3)
  4. Sciatic nerve (L4-S3)
    1. Innervates all muscles in posterior thigh, leg, and foot
    2. Also provides cutaneous innervation for most of leg and foot
    3. Even though it lies deep to the gluteus maximus muscle, the sciatic nerve does not innervate any muscles in the gluteal region

Arteries

Thigh arteries
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thigh_arteries_schema.svg

  1. Obturator artery
    1. Comes off of internal iliac artery
    2. Branches
      1. Muscular branches to adductor muscles
      2. Artery to head of femur
        1. Supplies blood to femoral head in children (not important in adults)
  2. Femoral artery
    1. Is a continuation of external iliac artery
    2. Branches
      1. Profunda femoris artery (deep femoral artery)
        1. Four perforating arteries
          1. Pierce through adductor magnus muscle
        2. Medial circumflex femoral artery
          1. Supplies most of blood to head and neck of femur
        3. Lateral circumflex femoral artery
  3. Popliteal artery
    1. Continuation of femoral artery after it crosses adductor hiatus

Femoral Triangle

Femoral triangle

  • Mnemonic: NAVL (femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein, lymph nodes)
  • Borders
    • Superior: inguinal ligament
    • Medial: adductor longus muscle
    • Lateral: sartorius muscle
    • Floor: Iliopsoas muscle laterally and pectineus muscle medially

Knee

  1. Can basically be thought of as hinge joint
  2. Actually a complex of two joints
    1. Tibiofemoral joint
    2. Patellofemoral joint
  3. Capsule
    1. Synovial membrane
    2. Fibrous membrane
    3. Bursae (sacs filled with synovial fluid)
    4. Fat pads
  4. Menisci
    1. Medial meniscus - C-shaped fibrocartilage
    2. Lateral meniscus - O-shaped fibrocartilage
  5. Ligaments
    1. Outside of capsule
      1. MCL
        1. Attaches medial epicondyle of femur to tibial condyle and medial meniscus
        2. Prevents tibia from abducting on the femur
      2. LCL
        1. Attaches lateral epicondyle of femur to head of fibula
        2. Prevents tibia from adducting on the femur
      3. Oblique politeal ligament
      4. Arcuate ligament
      5. Patellar ligament
    2. Inside of capsule
      1. ACL
      2. PCL

Quiz

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