Lower Limb

What is a limb?
Skeleton
Joints
Pelvis or limb girdle
Hip/Hip Muscles
Lumber and sacral
plexusgetting spinal
nerves out onto limb
Musclesanterior
and posterior
compartments
Surface anatomy

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Skeleton
(homologous w
upper limb)
Muscles--ante
posterior
compartments
Nerves--sciati
femoral
Surface anato

What is a limb?

Ventral somatic outgrowth of

outer tube

Bones (made of bony tissue,

cartilage, and other tissues)
Joints
Muscles
Nerves (with motor neurons to
muscles, sensory neurons to
skin, proprioceptors)

No viscera--all innervation is
somatic (motor or sensory)
from ventral ramus of spinal
nerve (except autonomics to
blood vessels)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Upper Limb
Lower

Scapula
Pelvis

Humerus
Femur

Radius,
ulna
Tibia,
fibula

Tarsals

Carpals
Digits
Digits
Metacarpals
Metatarsals
Phalanges

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Phalanges

Upper Limb

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Scapula
Humerus
Radius, ulna
Carpals
Digits
Metacarpals
Phalanges

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Tibia/fibula

Tibia--big toe side

Fibula--little toe side
(no pronation/supination)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Ankle

Talus--forms ankle
joint
Calcaneus--forms
heel

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Foot

Function:

Support weight
Act as lever when walking

Tarsals

Talus = ankle

Between tibia + fibula

Articulates w/both

Calcaneus = heel

Attachment for Calcaneal

tendon
Carries talus

Metatarsals

Phalanges

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Homologous to metacarpals
Smaller, less nimble

Joints of Lower Limb

Hip (femur +
acetabulum)

Knee (femur + patella)

Plane
Gliding of patella
Synovial

Knee (femur + tibia)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Ball + socket
Multiaxial
Synovial

Hinge
Biaxial
Synovial

Joints of Lower Limb

Proximal Tibia + Fibula

Distal Tibia + Fibula

Slight give
Fibrous

Ankle (Tibia/Fibula + Talus)

pg Frolich,HumanAnatomy,
218

Plane
Gliding
Synovial

Hinge
Uniaxial
Synovial

Lower Limb Movements

Hip

Bending on posterior
side is flexion (except
hip)
Bending on anterior
sided is extension
(except hip)

Knee

Dorsiflexion/plantarflexion
Inversion/eversion

Toes

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Flexion/extension

Ankle

Flexion/extension
Abduction/adduction
Lateral/medial rotation

Flexion/extension

Pelvic tilt and a reverse lumbar curve

(or how we got to be upright)

Bowl concept

pelvis spills forward

Hernia
beer belly
In human minor pelvis is
behind (posterior) to guts
and abdominal cavity

Compare human pelvic

position with quadruped
(cat for instance)
Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Human pelvis still

has quadruped
orientation

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Bony structure of the pelvis

MAIN STRUCTURES
Hip bone (innominate,
os coxae)--fusion of

Ilium (hips)
Ischium (rear)
Pubis (anterior midline)

Sacrum and coccyx

Acetabulum
Femur--head, neck,
greater trochanter

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

HOLES
False and true pelvis
(major, minor pelvis)
Pelvic inlet, pelvic outlet
Sacrotuberous ligament
Sacrospinous ligament
Greater, lesser sciatic
foramen
Obturator foramen

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Female

Male

Cavity is broad, shallow

Pelvic inlet oval + outlet round

Cavity is narrow, deep

Bones are lighter, thinner

Smaller inlet + outlet

Bones heavier, thicker

Pubic angle larger

Coccyx more flexible, straighter

Pubic angle more acute

Ischial tuberosities shorter, more

everted

Coccyx less flexible, more curved

Ischial tuberosities longer, face

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Posterior and
lateral hip

Gluts (gluteal nn.)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Maximusextensor of thigh
Medius--pelvic tilt (relative to
insertion with foot planted)

Lateral rotators (spinal nn.)

Piriformis syndrome

Anterior Hip

Iliopsoas
iliacus
psoas

Quadratus
lumborum

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Lumbar and
sacral plexus
Mr. Bill is happyso
easy
Lumbar plexus forms
femoral n.anterior
Sacral plexus forms
sciatic n.--posterior

Femoral n.

Sciatic n.

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Withlegoutto
sidelike
quadruped,
lumbaranterior,
sacralposterior
makessense

Lumbar plexus
(femoral nerve)
Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Sacral plexus
(sciatic nerve)

Dermatomes show twisting of

leg during development
Dorsal becomes anterior:
thus dorsiflexion and
extension in anterior
compartment (unlike upper
limb)

Ventral becomes posterior:

thus flexion is in posterior
compartment (unlike upper
limb)
Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Anterior/Posterior compartments
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR
COMPARTMENT COMPARTMENT
MOVEMENT

Extension

Flexion

MUSCLES

Quads

Hamstrings

Shin

Gastrocs

Femoral n.

Sciatic n.

(lumbar plexus)

(sacral plexus)

NERVES

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Thigh movements by
compartment

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Anterior thigh (femoral n.)

Sartorius (Tailors
muscle)
Quads (four)

Rectus femoris
(crosses hip)
3 vastus mm.
(vast--big)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Posterior thigh (sciatic n.)

Hamstrings
Biceps femoris
Semimembranous
Semitendinous

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Medial thigh (obturator n.)

Adductor muscles

Gracilis
Adductor
Magnus
Longus
brevis

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Leg movements by
compartment (in leg all nn are branches of sciatic)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Anterior Leg (deep fibular n.)

Extensors (dorsiflexors)

Fibularis (peroneus)
longus
Extensor digitorum
longus

Extensor hallicus longus

Tibialis anteriorus

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Lateral Leg (superficial fibular n.)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Fibularis
brevis/longus

Posterior Leg (tibial n.)

Flexors
(plantarflexors)

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Gastrocs and
soleus
Flexor digitorum
longus
Flexor hallucus
longus

Human gait

Humans only large

mammal marathoners,
ultra-runners
Prehistoric cultures hunted
by exhausting large prey
Bipedalism very efficient
energetically
Gastroc-Achilles spring
One other large mammal
more efficientalso
bipedal

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Intrinsics of foot
Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

pg 792

Surface Anatomy:
Anterior Thigh + Leg

Palpate

Femoral Triangle

pg 785
Frolich,HumanAnatomy,

Patella
Condyles of femur
Sartorius (lateral)
Adductor longus (medial)
Inguinal ligament
(superior)
Femoral a + v, lymph
nodes

Surface Anatomy: Posterior Leg

Popliteal fossa

Boundaries

pg
Frolich,HumanAnatomy,
793

Biceps femoris (sup-lat)

Semitendinosis +
semimembranosis (supmed)
Gastrocnemius heads (inf)

Contents

Diamond-shape fossa
behind knee

Popliteal a + v

Calcaneal (Achilles)
tendon

Blood
supply to
lower limb

Internal Iliac

Cranial + Caudal Gluteals= gluteals

Internal Pudendal = perineum, external
genitalia
Obturator = adductor muscles

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,

Frolich,HumanAnatomy,