PELVIS & HIP REGION

1. a. Describe the alignment of the acetabulum and the femoral head in standing.
b. Provide two biomechanical consequences of this alignment.

2. a. What is the normal angle of inclination (neck-shaft angle) of the femur in the adult?
b. Define the following postural abnormalities and provide possible consequences of
each:
coxa valga
coxa vara

3. The correct pattern of muscle recruitment is especially important at a multiaxial joint.

Which three (3) muscles are the best choice for performing HIP FLEXION? Explain why.

4. The correct pattern of muscle recruitment is especially important at a multiaxial joint.

Which four (4) muscles are the best choice for performing HIP EXTENSION? Explain why.

5. Portions of a large muscle may have different actions. How does this apply to the action
of gluteus maximus in the coronal plane?

6. When considering the action of a muscle on a multiaxial joint, a muscle’s action in one
plane may be affected or changed by its position in another plane.
a. Describe how this statement applies to one of the hip aBductor muscles.
b. Describe how this statement applies to two of the hip adductor muscles.

7. a. How does a small range of lateral pelvic tilt contribute to efficiency of gait?
b. Name the main muscle responsible for controlling lateral pelvic tilt during gait and
explain how it does so.

8. When muscle forces are large, avulsion fractures may occur in children and teenagers
where the muscle separates one of its bony attachments from the rest of the bone.
Provide five examples of avulsion fracture sites and indicate the muscle responsible in
each case.

9. a. Which ventral rami contribute to the lumbar plexus?

b. Name the two largest motor branches of the lumbar plexus, state their ventral rami
contribution, and their motor innervation.

10. a. Which ventral rami contribute to the sacral plexus?

b. Describe the pathway of the sciatic nerve and its branches through the lower limb.
 THIGH & KNEE REGION
1. a. Describe how the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) is measured and state the normal
average HKA value.
b. Describe and explain the subsequent mechanical consequence of this value on the
tibiofemoral joint.

2. a. Describe how the frontal plane alignment of the lower limb is measured using
ANATOMICAL axes.
b. What is the normal value and what is the consequence of this alignment?

3. a. Define, and explain the cause of, the ‘screw-home mechanism’ of the tibiofemoral
joint.
b. What is an advantage of the ‘screw-home mechanism’?
c. How is the ‘screw-home mechanism’ unlocked?

4. a. What are the functions of the menisci?

b. Which meniscus is less mobile and what is the possible consequence of this?
c. Which meniscus provides relatively less coverage of its tibial plateau and what is a
possible consequence of this?

5. Describe the passive and active stability of the patellofemoral joint.

6 a. What is the BIOMECHANICAL function of the patella?

b. Describe how the contact area on the patella changes during 0 to 90 degrees knee flexion.
c. What are the 2 main factors that determine patellofemoral joint REACTION FORCE and in
what way do they affect it?
d. What factor determines the amount of patellofemoral joint STRESS resulting from a
patellofemoral joint reaction force and how does it affect it?
e. Describe the difference in the patellofemoral joint STRESS profiles between a squat
exercise and a seated, resisted knee extension exercise (variable resistance with an ankle
weight).

7. a. How is the Q angle measured and what is its ‘normal’ value?

b. What is the significance of the Q angle?

8. Describe the origin and pathway of the major arteries of the lower limb from the pelvic
cavity to the leg.

9. Describe the origin and path of the femoral nerve in relation to other anatomical
structures. Indicate the muscles that it innervates.

10. Describe the origin and path of the Obturator nerve in relation to other anatomical
structures. Indicate the muscles that it innervates.
LEG, ANKLE & FOOT REGION

1. The stability of the inferior tibiofibular joint is crucial to the integrity of the talocrural
joint.
a. Describe the structure of each of these joints.
b. Describe the usual mechanism of injury of the inferior tibiofibular joint and indicate the
specific structures injured.
c. Describe the most common mechanism of injury of the talocrural joint and indicate the
specific structures injured.

2. Compare and contrast the bone & joint structure and function of the ankle with that of
the wrist.

3. a. What is the function of the talocalcaneonavicular joint?

b. Describe the bony and ligamentous structure of this joint.

4. a. What are the three (3) components of foot pronation in weight-bearing?

b. Why is pronation of the foot important during gait?

5. Provide four functions of the intrinsic muscles of the foot?