Joints – Lower Limb

Prof. dr Slobodan
Malobabić
 Joints
There are several different types of joints that attach
various parts of the appendicular and axial skeletons
together.

There are immovable and movable joints, which have

been further categorised as:

Synarthrosis are non-movable

Amphiarthrosis are slightly movable
Diarthrosis are freely movable joints
Appendicular
skeleton

Lower Limb
(anterior)
 Cartilaginous joints
These joints unite two
bones either by
hyaline cartilage
(synchondroses), or
by fibrous cartilage
(symphyses)

Example is symphysis
pubis in the region of
the lower limb
(examples of these
types of joints are also
found in the rib-cage
and vertebrae)
 Synovial joints
• Synovial joints are characterised by a greater degree
of freedom than either cartilaginous or fibrous joint.

• They have an articular surface covered by hyaline

cartilage called articular cartilage.

• Other synovial joints can also have articular disks

(e.g. the knee – meniscus, the hip joint – acetabular
labrum).

• The joint is enclosed by a joint capsule that has an

outer fibrous capsule and an inner synovial capsule.
 Describing Movement
Movements are described in reference to three planes:

Sagittal plane
y z

Coronal or frontal plane

Transverse or horizontal plane

x
Movements are described as extension/flexion,
abduction/adduction, lateral and medial rotation,
inversion/eversion, and circumduction.
Knee joint

Movement at the foot

The Hip Joint
The Hip Joint
The hip joint
(Art. coxae)
(anterior aspect)
The hip joint
(Art. coxae)
(posterior aspect)
The hip joint
(Art. coxae)
The hip joint
(Art. coxae)
Ligamentous Anatomy
Ligamentous Anatomy
Ligamentous Anatomy
The hip joint??? identify
 MOVEMENTS in hip joint
• Flexion
• Extension
• Abduction
• Adduction
• Internal Rotation
• External Rotation
• Circumduction
The knee joint
The knee joint
Menisci
The knee joint
(Art. genus) - opened, view from above
The knee joint
(Art. genus) -
anteromedial
aspect
The knee joint
(Art. genus)

Synovial membrane
and bursae
The knee joint
(Art. genus)
The knee joint
(Art. genus)

Intra-articular
ligaments
- anterior aspect
The knee joint
(Art. genus)

(intra-articular
ligaments
- posterior aspect)
The knee joint
(Art. genus)
- synovial
capsule from
behind
The knee joint
(Art. genus)
Flexion MOVEMENTS
Extension
Internal/external rotation - only occur
when knee is flexed & non-weight bearing
Cruciate ligaments during the knee joint movements
The ankle joint =
Talocrural joint

the bones:
 Ankle joint
(Talocrural joint - art. talocruralis) –
lateral view
Ankle joint or
Talocrural joint (art.
talocruralis)
- hinge type (gynglymus)
synovial joint

Movements:
plantar flexion and
dorsal flexion
 Ankle joint (Talocrural joint - art. talocruralis)
- medial view

Observe very strong

medial or
deltoid ligament
with its four parts
tibia and fibula with
the malleoli form
strong osseous
“fork” which holds
calcaneus
Movements in ankle joint (average values in young healthy
persons measured by neutrall zero method)
 most significant intertarsal joints are:
•Talocalcaneal (subtalar) joint
(allows inversion and eversion of the foot)
•Talocalcaneonavicular joint

transverse tarsal (midtarsal) joint

is formed
•by talonavicular
part of the talocalcaneonavicular joint and
•by calacaneocuboid joint
these two act together functionally in inversion and eversion of the foot
Movements in transverse talar joint
eversion- pronation = elevation of lateral border of the foot
inversion- supination = elevation of the medial border of the foot
Joint
disorders!

Arthritis is the most common form

of joint disorder affecting ~ 10% of
the world’s population