Bones of lower limb

Tibia & Fibula
1. Articulates with femoral condyles - proximally
2. Articulates with talus - distally
3. Fibula is for muscle attachment but also supports ankle joint
4. Connected by dense oblique fibres
  1. Interosseous membrane
Femur
1. Shaft
  1. Linea aspera
    1. Aponeurotic attachment for thigh muscles
    2. Divides the supracondylar lines
      1. Leading to the medial & lateral epicondyles
        Medial & lateral condyles - inferior too
        Femoral condyles articulate with menisci
        Menisci - plates of fibrocartilage
        Femoral condyles articulate with tibia plateau via menisci
        Condyles form a relatively flat articular surface
        Tibia
        Tibial tuberosity provides attachments for the patellar ligament
        Inferior surface of the tibial shaft & lateral surface of medial malleolus articulate with talus
        Therefore covered with articular cartilage
        As does the lateral malleolus of the fibula which extends 1cm more distally
        Nutrient foramen on the tibia provides passage of the main artery supplying the proximal bone and marrow
        Medial and lateral condyles separated by intercondylar eminence
        Formed by two intercondylar tubercles
        Tubercles fit into the intercondylar fossa between femoral condyles
        Provide attachment for the menisci, ACL & PCL which hold the femur & tibia together
        Anterior & posterior to which are rough intercondylar areas
        Proximal attachments of MCL & LCL
        Superior to medial epicondyle is adductor tubercle
  2. Intertrochanteric line
    1. Continues inferiorly and posteriorly as the spiral/pectineal line
    2. Neck & shaft join (anteriorly)
      1. Roughened ridge formed by attachment of iliofemoral ligament
2. Head
  1. Covered with articular cartilage (Hyaline)
    1. Except at a depression (fovea)
      1. Attachment of ligament of head of femur
3. Neck
  1. Advantageous for bipedal walking it imposes considerable strain of femoral neck
    1. Fractures of neck can occur in elderly people
  2. Angle of inclination between the head & shaft is greatest as a child & becomes more acute as an adult - average 126 degrees
    1. Thigh adductors & rotators attach mainly to the apex of the angle
      1. Greater trochanter
        Intertrochanteric crest
        Posteriorly connects the trochanters
        Quadrate tubercle
        Rounded projection on the crest
      2. Therefore they are pulling on a lever that is directed more laterally providing increased leverage for adduction
    2. Angle allows greater mobility at the hip as it places the head/neck more perpendicular to the acetabulum
    3. Angle is less in females due to wider hips and more oblique femurs
4. Heaviest/Longest bone in the body
5. Transmits body weight from hip bone to the tibia
  1. Oblique within the thighs so when standing, the knees are inferior to the trunk
    1. Returns centre of gravity medially to the vertical lines of legs & feet
Hip
1. Acetabulum
  1. Socket that articulates with the head of femur to form the hip joint
    1. Made easier by smooth lunate surface of the acetabulum
  2. Acetabular notch
    1. Transverse acetabular ligament
  3. Acetabular fossa
    1. Depression in the acetabulum
2. Formed by fusion of 3 bones
  1. Ilium
    1. Superior part of acetabulum
    2. Thick medial portions for weightbearing
    3. Thin posterolateral portions (Ala) that provide broad surfaces for muscle attachment
      1. iliac crest provides important site for aponeurotic attachment
        Attachment for thin sheet like muscles of deep fascia
      2. iliac fossa
        Smooth depression for iliacus
      3. Gluteal Fossa
        Gluteal lines
        Gluteus Maximus
        Posterior to posterior line & iliac crest
        Gluteus Medius
        Between posterior & anterior lines
        Gluteus Minimus
        Between anterior & inferior lines
  2. Pubis
    1. Forms anterior part of acetabulum
    2. pubic crest provides attachment for abdominals
    3. Obturator Foramen
      1. Formed by rami of pubis and ischium
        Obturator Canal
        allows passage of the obturator nerve and blood vessels
      2. Minimise bony mass
      3. Obturator Membrane
        Closes the foramen around the canal
        provides extensive surface area on both sides for muscle attachment
  3. Ischium
    1. Lesser sciatic notch serves as a trochlea (pulley)
    2. ischial spine between the sciatic notches provides ligamentous attachment
    3. Posterior-inferior part of acetabulum

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Bones of lower limb

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	Created by Eugene McLaughlin almost 8 years ago