Fascia Lata and Thigh Compartments

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following muscles is NOT part of the anterior (extensor) compartment?

Rectus Femoris

Sartorius

Biceps Femoris (correct)

Vastus Medialis

What action is primarily associated with the sartorius muscle?

Abducts the thigh and flexes the knee (correct)

Adducts the thigh

Medially rotates the thigh

Extends the knee

Which innervation is shared by all muscles in the anterior (extensor) compartment?

Obturator nerve

Gluteal nerve

Tibial nerve

Femoral nerve (correct)

From which location does the rectus femoris muscle originate?

Upper lip of the acetabulum and the anterior inferior iliac spine Signup and view all the answers

Which action does the quadriceps femoris primarily NOT perform?

Medially rotate the thigh Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary action of the muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh?

Extend the knee joint and flex the hip Signup and view all the answers

Which nerve innervates the muscles of the medial compartment of the thigh?

Obturator nerve Signup and view all the answers

What is the Iliotibial tract formed from?

Condensed fascia lata Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh?

Flex the knee and extend the hip Signup and view all the answers

What anatomical feature allows the great saphenous vein to drain into the femoral vein?

Saphenous hiatus Signup and view all the answers

Iliotibial tract syndrome is often associated with pain during which range of knee flexion?

20 to 70 degrees Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following muscles does NOT insert into the Iliotibial tract?

Rectus femoris Signup and view all the answers

What structure transmits superficial branches of the femoral artery and lymphatics?

Saphenous hiatus Signup and view all the answers

Which muscle bounds the femoral triangle medially?

Adductor longus Signup and view all the answers

What is contained within the femoral sheath?

Femoral vein Signup and view all the answers

What forms the roof of the femoral triangle?

Fascia lata Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is located laterally to the femoral artery within the femoral triangle?

Femoral nerve Signup and view all the answers

What is the condition called when a loop of the gut herniates through the femoral canal?

Femoral hernia Signup and view all the answers

Which muscle is NOT part of the floor of the femoral triangle?

Rectus femoris Signup and view all the answers

Which compartment of the femoral sheath contains deep inguinal lymph nodes?

Medial compartment Signup and view all the answers

What is the anatomical position of the femoral triangle in relation to the inguinal ligament when the hip joint is flexed?

Appears as a depression below the inguinal ligament Signup and view all the answers

What sensation is NOT commonly associated with the saphenous nerve?

Tingling in the toes Signup and view all the answers

Where does the saphenous nerve provide innervation?

Medial side of the leg and foot Signup and view all the answers

Which structure does the adductor canal NOT contain?

Sciatic nerve Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the saphenous nerve at the ankle joint?

It supplies articular branches to the ankle joint Signup and view all the answers

The adductor hiatus is important for which of the following reasons?

It serves as the exit point for the femoral vessels to become popliteal vessels Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary action of the quadriceps femoris?

Extension and stabilization of the knee joint Signup and view all the answers

Where does the psoas major muscle insert?

Lesser trochanter of femur Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the innervation of the iliacus muscle?

It is innervated by the femoral nerve. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the actions of the tensor fasciae latae?

Tenses the iliotibial tract Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following muscles assists in flexing the hip joint?

Tensor fasciae latae Signup and view all the answers

Which structure compresses the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, potentially leading to paresthesia?

Tight-fitting waistband Signup and view all the answers

What is a common role of the femoral nerve in the anterior compartment?

Motor innervation to the quadriceps muscle Signup and view all the answers

How does the iliopsoas tendon function in relation to the psoas major and iliacus muscles?

It serves as an insertion point for both muscles. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fascia Lata

Divides the thigh into three muscle compartments: anterior, medial, and posterior.

Anterior Compartment

Innervated by the femoral nerve.
Extends the knee joint and flexes the hip.
Includes the sartorius, quadriceps femoris, psoas major, and iliacus muscles.

Medial Compartment

Also known as the adductor compartment.
Includes muscles that adduct the thigh.
Innervated by the obturator, femoral, and deep femoral nerves.

Posterior Compartment

Includes muscles that extend the hip and flex the knee.
Innervated by the sciatic nerve.

Iliotibial Tract

A broad band of fibers formed by the thickening of the fascia lata laterally.
Extends from the iliac tubercle to the lateral condyle of the tibia.
Receives insertions from the tensor fasciae latae and part of the gluteus maximus muscles.

Saphenous Hiatus

Also known as the fossa ovalis or saphenous opening.
An opening in the fascia lata.
Filled with loose connective tissue called the cribriform fascia.
The great saphenous vein pierces the cribriform fascia to drain into the femoral vein.
Superficial branches of the femoral artery and lymphatics also pass through the saphenous opening.

Iliotibial Tract Syndrome

Common in runners.
Presents as lateral knee pain, often in the midrange of flexion (between 20 and 70 degrees of knee flexion).
Caused by friction between the iliotibial tract and the lateral femoral condyle as the knee flexes and extends.

Femoral Triangle

A fascial space in the superioanterior one-third of the thigh.
Bounded medially by the adductor longus muscle, laterally by the sartorius muscle, and superiorly by the inguinal ligament.
Floor is formed by the adductor longus, pectineus, psoas tendon, and iliacus muscles.
Roof is formed by the fascia lata.
When the hip joint is actively flexed, the femoral triangle appears as a depression inferior to the inguinal ligament.
Contains the femoral nerve, femoral artery and its branches, femoral vein and tributaries, fat, and lymphatics.

Femoral Sheath

The transversalis fascia and psoas fascia fuse and evaginate to form the femoral sheath below the inguinal ligament.
Encloses the femoral artery, femoral vein, and femoral canal.
The femoral nerve lies outside the sheath on its lateral aspect.
Divided into three compartments: lateral (femoral artery), intermediate (femoral vein), and medial (deep lymph nodes).

Femoral Canal

The medial compartment of the femoral sheath.
Opens into the abdominal cavity superiorly at the femoral ring.
Contains the deep inguinal lymph nodes (glands of Cloquet).
Site at which a loop of the gut can herniate (femoral hernia).
Femoral hernias can become strangulated, which could lead to gangrene of the strangulated portion.
The proximal end of the femoral canal is the femoral ring.

Anterior Compartment Muscles

Muscles include the sartorius, quadriceps femoris, psoas major, and Iliacus.
All muscles are innervated by the femoral nerve.

Sartorius Muscle

Origin: anterior superior iliac spine.
Insertion: medial surface of the tibia.
Action: abducts thigh at the hip joint, laterally rotates the thigh, and flexes the knee joint.
Longest muscle in the body.
Innervation: femoral nerve.

Quadriceps Femoris Muscle

Made up of four heads: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius.
All four heads insert into the patella and from there to the tubercle of the tibia.
Patella is a sesamoid bone in the tendon of the quadriceps femoris.
Action: extends and stabilizes the knee joint.
The rectus femoris is also a weak flexor of the hip joint.
Innervation: femoral nerve.

Psoas Major Muscle

Origin: transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae.
Insertion: lesser trochanter of the femur, fused with the iliacus muscle via the iliopsoas tendon.
Action: flexes the hip joint in the lower limb and flexes and laterally bends the lumbar vertebral column in the trunk.
Innervation: femoral nerve.

Iliacus Muscle

Origin: iliac fossa, iliac crest, and ala of the sacrum.
Insertion: lesser trochanter of the femur, fused with the psoas major muscle via the iliopsoas tendon.
Action: same action as the psoas major muscle.
Innervation: femoral nerve.

Tensor Fasciae Latae Muscle

Assists the muscles of the anterior compartment in extending the knee joint and flexing the hip joint.
Origin: anterior iliac crest outer lip, anterior border of the ilium, and outer surface of the anterior superior iliac spine.
Insertion: between the two layers of the iliotibial band, about one-third of the way down.
Action: tenses the fascia lata (iliotibial tract), flexes the hip joint, abducts and medially rotates the thigh, and stabilizes the knee joint in extension.
Innervation: superior gluteal nerve.

Nerves of the Anterior Compartment

Innervated by the femoral nerve which has muscular branches, anterior and lateral femoral cutaneous branches, and a saphenous nerve branch.

Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve

Enters the thigh just inferior to the inguinal ligament.
Can be compressed by tight-fitting underwear.
Compression results in altered sensation (paraesthesia) such as pin pricks, burning sensation, or sharp pain.

Saphenous Nerve

Travels along with the great saphenous vein.
Continues anterior to the medial malleolus at the ankle joint.
Supplies articular branches to the ankle joint.
Innervates skin along the medial side of the leg and foot, extending as far anteriorly as the head of the first metatarsal.

Adductor Canal

Extends from the apex of the femoral triangle superiorly to the adductor hiatus inferiorly.
Contains the femoral artery and vein, saphenous nerve, nerve to the vastus medialis, and lymphatics.
The adductor hiatus marks the location where the femoral vessels pass to the popliteal fossa.
The adductor hiatus is an opening in the tendon of the adductor magnus muscle.

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Description

Explore the anatomy of the fascia lata and its role in dividing the thigh into three muscle compartments. This quiz covers the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments, their innervation, and associated muscles. Test your knowledge on the iliotibial tract and saphenous hiatus as well.