INTRODUCTION TO LOWER

LIMB, ADAPTATION AND

FUNCTION
Dr S.C. Gbotolorun
 The lower limb
▣ Specialized to support:
◼ Body weight
◼ Locomotion
◼ Maintain equilibrium
▣ They are connected by the pelvic girdle to the
trunk
▣ Some muscles acting on the lower limb arise
from the pelvic girdle and vertebral column
▣ The gluteal region is included
 Parts of the lower limb

❑ 4 parts:
▣ The hip
▣ Thigh
▣ Leg
▣ foot
 Bones of the lower limb
▣ The skeleton of lower
limb is composed of :
◼ Pelvic girdle (formed
by the two hip bones
joined at the pubic
symphysis) and
◼ Sacrum
▣ The pelvic girdle and
sacrum= bony pelvis
▣ The skeleton of free
limb is attached to
pelvic girdle
 Arrangement of the bones
▣ Weight is transferred
from VC to pelvic girdle
and from hip joints to
femurs
▣ Femur is directed
inferomedially through
thigh towards knee joint
▣ Distal end articulates
with patella and tibia of
leg
▣ Fibula does not articulate with femur
▣ Weight is transferred from knee joint to ankle
joint by tibia
▣ Fibula bounds firmly to tibia inferiorly forms
part of ankle joint
▣ Tarsal and metatarsal bones of foot gives
flexibility but stable support for body
 Fascia of the lower limb
▣ Consists of superficial and deep fascia
Superficial fascia
▣ Lies deep to skin
▣ Consists of loose CT that contains variable amount of fat,
cutaneous nerves, superficial veins, lymphatic vessels and
lymph nodes
▣ The CT fibers blend with those in dermis such that no distinct
plane of cleavage is detectable
▣ The subcutaneous tissue of the hip and thigh is continuous with
that of the inferior part of the anterolateral abdominal wall and
buttock
▣ At the knee, the subcutaneous tissue loses its fat and blends
with the deep fascia but fat continues in the leg
 The deep fascia
▣ Dense layer of CT between
subcutaneous tissue and muscle
▣ Forms fibrous septa that
separates muscles from one
another and invest them
▣ Invests limb like an elastic
socking
▣ Prevents bulging of the muscles
during contraction thus aiding
effective and efficient venous
return
▣ The deep fascia of thigh= fascia
lata
▣ Deep fascia of the leg= crural
fascia
▣ Fascia lata is continuous with the
crural facial around the knee
 Inguinal lymph nodes
▣ Superficial inguinal
lymph nodes
▣ Deep inguinal lymph
nodes
 The iliotibial tract
▣ Laterally, is thickened
and strengthened to
form- iliotibial tract
▣ A broad band of fibers:
conjoint aponeurosis of
tensor of fascia lata and
gluteus maximus
muscles
 The saphenous opening
▣ Situated ~ 3-4cm inferior
and lateral to the pubic
tubercle.
▣ Measures 3cm long, 1.5cm
wide.
▣ The opening is closed by
Cribriform fascia.
▣ Structures passing:
▣ i) Great Saphenous vein
▣ ii) Superficial epigastric
and superficial external
pudendal arteries
▣ iii) Few branches of Medial
femoral cutaneous nerve
▣ iv) Few lymph vessels
 Great saphenous vein
▣ Longest vein of the body
▣ Begins as a continuation
of the medial end of
dorsal venous arch of
foot
▣ Runs upwards on the
medial side of thigh to
reach saphenous opening
▣ Drains into femoral vein.
 Muscle compartments in thigh
▣ Three compartments:
▣ Anterior compartment –
Extensor
▣ Posterior compartment –
Flexor
▣ Medial compartment –
Adductor
▣ Intermuscular septum –
Medial, lateral &
Posterior
 Femoral triangle
▣ Triangular depression in
the upper one-third of the
front of thigh.
BOUNDARIES: Medial-
Medial border of adductor
longus. Lateral – Medial
border of sartorius Base –
Inguinal ligament Apex –
Meeting point of sartorius
& Add.longus Roof –
Fascia lata
 Adductor canal
• Measures about 15 cm
long
• Narrow fascial tunnel in
thigh
• Extends from apex of
femoral triangle to
adductor hiatus in tendon
of adductor magnus
• Provides an intermuscular
passageway for femoral
vessels to reach popliteal
fossa
 Popliteal fossa
▣ Diamond-shaped
depression in posterior
aspect of knee
▣ Transmits important
vessels and nerves
from thigh to leg or
vice versa
 Lower limb joints
▣ Hip joint
▣ Knee joint
▣ Ankle joint
Lateral femoral
epicondyle Medial femoral
epicondyle

Patella

Lateral tibial Medial tibial

condyle condyle

Head of fibula

Tibial tuberosity