10 Questions
What is the shape of the pectineus muscle?
Quadrangular
Which nerve innervates the sartorius muscle?
Femoral nerve
What is the function of the adductor muscles?
Adduction and medial rotation of the thigh
Where does the gracilis muscle attach above?
Outer surface of the ischiopubic ramus
What is the term for the combined tendons of insertion of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles?
Pes anserinus
What is the function of the obturator externus muscle?
Lateral rotation of the thigh
In which compartment of the thigh is the sartorius muscle located?
Medial compartment
What is the action of the sartorius muscle at the knee joint?
Flexion of the leg
Where does the sartorius muscle form the lateral margin of the femoral triangle?
Upper one-third of the thigh
What is the action of the sartorius muscle at the hip joint?
Abduction and lateral rotation of the thigh
Study Notes
Greater Trochanter
- Located on the lateral aspect of the femur
- Medial surface is deeply grooved to form the trochanteric fossa
- Lateral wall of the fossa bears an oval depression for attachment of the obturator externus muscle
- Elongate ridge on the anterolateral surface for attachment of the gluteus minimus
- Similar ridge on the lateral surface for attachment of the gluteus medius
Lesser Trochanter
- Smaller than the greater trochanter
- Blunt conical shape
- Projects posteromedially from the shaft of the femur
- Attachment site for the combined tendons of psoas major and iliacus muscles
Intertrochanteric Line and Crest
- Ridge of bone on the anterior surface of the upper margin of the shaft
- Descends medially from a tubercle on the anterior surface of the base of the greater trochanter
- Continuous with the pectineal line (spiral line) which curves medially under the lesser trochanter
Arteries
- Femoral artery: major artery supplying the lower limb, continuation of the external iliac artery
- Superior and inferior gluteal arteries: supply the gluteal region
- Obturator artery: supplies the medial compartment of the thigh
Nerves
- Perforating cutaneous nerve: small sensory nerve formed by contributions from S2 and S3
- Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh: enters the gluteal region through the greater sciatic foramen
- Pudendal nerve: major somatic nerve of the perineum, no branches in the gluteal region
- Inferior gluteal nerve: supplies the gluteus maximus muscle
Muscles
- Gluteus minimus: attaches to the greater trochanter
- Gluteus medius: attaches to the greater trochanter
- Obturator internus: muscle of the pelvic wall and gluteal region
- Piriformis: muscle of the pelvic wall and gluteal region, divides the greater sciatic foramen into two regions
- Sartorius: assists in flexing the thigh at the hip joint and the leg at the knee joint
- Gracilis: most superficial muscle in the medial compartment of the thigh, adds to the pes anserinus
- Pectineus: flat quadrangular muscle in the medial compartment of the thigh
Other
- Trochanteric fossa: depression on the medial surface of the greater trochanter
- Intertrochanteric line and crest: ridge of bone on the anterior surface of the upper margin of the shaft
- Pes anserinus: combined tendons of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles
Learn about the greater and lesser trochanter, their location, and muscle attachments on the femur.
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