Nerves of the Lower Limb - Listed Alphabetically
|
| Nerve |
Source |
Branches |
Motor |
Sensory |
Notes |
| anterior femoral cutaneous n. |
femoral |
no named branches |
sympathetic motor innervation to skin |
skin of the anterior thigh |
cutaneous nn. carry postganglionic sympathetic axons to skin |
| cluneal, inferior |
posterior femoral cutaneous n. |
no named branches |
none |
skin of the lower part of the buttock |
"clunis" is a Latin word meaning buttock |
| cluneal, middle |
lateral cutaneous branches of the dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves S1-3 |
no named branches |
none |
skin of the intermediate medial portion of the buttock |
"clunis" is a Latin word meaning buttock |
| cluneal, superior |
lateral cutaneous branches of the dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves S1-3 |
no named branches |
none |
skin of the superomedial portion of the buttock |
"clunis" is a Latin word meaning buttock |
| coccygeal plexus |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S4, S5, C1 |
anococcygeal n. |
none |
skin of the region overlying the coccyx |
only part of the S4 ventral primary ramus is contributed to the coccygeal
plexus |
| common fibular n. |
sciatic n. |
lateral sural cutaneous n., superficial and deep fibular nn. |
superficial fibular n.: muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg (fibularis
longus and brevis mm.); deep fibular n.: muscles of the anterior compartment
of the leg (tibialis anterior m., extensor hallucis longus m., extensor digitorum
longus m., fibularis tertius m.) and muscles of the dorsum of the foot (extensor
digitorum brevis m.and extensor hallucis brevis m.) |
superficial fibular n.: distal 1/3 of the anterior surface of the leg, dorsum
of the foot excluding the web between the great toe and the 2nd toe and distal
interphalangeal segments of all toes; deep fibular n.: skin of the web between
the great toe and the 2nd toe |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by "fibular" |
| common plantar digital nn. |
medial plantar n. (1st-3rd); superficial br. of the lateral plantar n. (4th) |
proper plantar digital nn. |
1st lumbrical m. |
skin of the plantar surface of the toes (except the medial side of the great
toe and the lateral side of the 5th toe) |
the dorsal surfaces of the distal tips of the toes (nail bed regions) are
supplied by the proper plantar digital brs. of these nn. |
| deep fibular n. |
common fibular n. |
one proper digital br. |
muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg (tibialis anterior m., extensor
hallucis longus m., extensor digitorum longus m., fibularis tertius m.) and
muscles of the dorsum of the foot (extensor digitorum brevis m.and extensor
hallucis brevis m.) |
skin of the web between the great toe and the 2nd toe |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by "fibular";
anterior compartment syndrome - trauma to the anterior side of the leg can
result in pressure buildup in the anterior compartment (from swelling or bleeding)
that can damage the deep fibular n., resulting in "foot drop" |
| digital, common plantar |
medial plantar n. (1st-3rd); superficial br. of the lateral plantar n. (4th) |
proper plantar digital nn. |
1st lumbrical m. |
skin of the plantar surface of the toes (except the medial side of the great
toe and the lateral side of the 5th toe) |
the dorsal surfaces of the distal tips of the toes (nail bed regions) are
supplied by the proper plantar digital brs. of these nn. |
| digital, proper plantar |
common plantar digital; medial plantar n. (to the medial side of the great
toe); superficial br. of the lateral plantar n. (to the lateral side of the
5th toe) |
no named branches |
flexor hallucis brevis m. (from the proper plantar digital n. on the medial
side of the great toe) |
skin of the plantar surface of the toes and dorsal surface of the distal
interphalangeal segment |
the nail bed is supplied by the proper plantar digital nn. |
| femoral cutaneous, anterior |
femoral |
no named branches |
sympathetic motor innervation to skin |
skin of the anterior thigh |
cutaneous nn. carry postganglionic sympathetic axons to skin |
| femoral cutaneous, lateral |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L3) |
anterior & posterior brs. |
sympathetic motor innervation to skin |
skin of the lateral thigh |
cutaneous nn. carry postganglionic sympathetic axons to skin |
| femoral cutaneous, posterior |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S1-S3) |
inferior cluneal nn.; perineal br. |
sympathetic motor innervation to skin |
skin of the lower buttock & posterior thigh |
cutaneous nn. carry postganglionic sympathetic axons to skin |
| femoral n. |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4) |
anterior femoral cutaneous brs., nn. to: sartorius m., rectus femoris m.,
vastus lateralis m., vastus intermedius m., vastus medialis m., pectineus m. |
sartorius, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus
medialis, pectineus |
skin of anterior thigh |
passes under inguinal ligament lateral to femoral a. |
| fibular, common |
sciatic n. |
lateral sural cutaneous n., superficial and deep fibular nn. |
superficial fibular n.: muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg (fibularis
longus and brevis mm.); deep fibular n.: muscles of the anterior compartment
of the leg (tibialis anterior m., extensor hallucis longus m., extensor digitorum
longus m., fibularis tertius m.) and muscles of the dorsum of the foot (extensor
digitorum brevis m.and extensor hallucis brevis m.) |
superficial fibular n.: distal 1/3 of the anterior surface of the leg, dorsum
of the foot excluding the web between the great toe and the 2nd toe and distal
interphalangeal segments of all toes; deep fibular n.: skin of the web between
the great toe and the 2nd toe |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by "fibular" |
| fibular, deep |
common fibular n. |
one proper digital br. |
muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg (tibialis anterior m., extensor
hallucis longus m., extensor digitorum longus m., fibularis tertius m.) and
muscles of the dorsum of the foot (extensor digitorum brevis m.and extensor
hallucis brevis m.) |
skin of the web between the great toe and the 2nd toe |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by "fibular";
anterior compartment syndrome - trauma to the anterior side of the leg can
result in pressure buildup in the anterior compartment (from swelling or bleeding)
that can damage the deep fibular n., resulting in "foot drop" |
| fibular, superficial |
common fibular n. |
medial dorsal cutaneous n. to the medial side of the foot; dorsal digital
nn. to the lateral 3 toes |
muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg (fibularis longus and brevis
mm.) |
distal 1/3 of the anterior surface of the leg; dorsum of the foot excluding
the skin of the web between the great toe and the 2nd toe and the distal interphalangeal
segments of all toes |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by "fibular";
the nail beds are supplied by nerves from the plantar surface of the foot |
| genitofemoral n. |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L2) |
genital br., femoral br. |
cremaster m. |
skin of the anterior scrotum/labia majora & upper medial thigh |
genitofemoral n. lies on the anterior surface of the psoas major in the
abdomen; the genital br. passes through the deep inguinal ring and inguinal
canal; brushing the thigh elicits an elevation of the testis via the cremasteric
reflex |
| gluteal, inferior |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L5, S1-S2) |
no named branches |
gluteus maximus m. |
none |
inferior gluteal n. passes through the greater sciatic foramen inferior
to the piriformis m. |
| gluteal, superior |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-L5, S1) |
superior & inferior brs. |
gluteus medius m., gluteus minimus m., tensor fasciae latae m. |
none |
superior gluteal n. passes through the greater sciatic foramen superior
to the piriformis m. |
| lateral femoral cutaneous n. |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L3) |
anterior & posterior brs. |
sympathetic motor innervation to skin |
skin of the lateral thigh |
cutaneous nn. carry postganglionic sympathetic axons to skin |
| lateral plantar n. |
tibial n. |
superficial and deep branches |
quadratus plantae m., abductor digiti minimi m., flexor digiti minimi brevis
m., lateral 3 lumbrical mm., adductor hallucis m., plantar & dorsal interosseous
mm. |
skin of the lateral side of the plantar surface of the foot; skin of the
plantar surface of the lateral 1 1/2 toes (and the nail bed of these toes) |
lateral plantar n. accompanies the lateral plantar a. though the sole of
the foot |
| lateral sural cutaneous n. |
common fibular n. |
fibular communicating br. |
none |
skin of the lateral side of the leg |
contains postganglionic sympathetic axons for supply of sweat glands, arrector
pili mm. and blood vessels |
| lumbar n. |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L5 |
contributes to the formation of the lumbar and sacral plexuses |
numerous: see lumbar and sacral plexuses |
numerous: see lumbar and sacral plexuses |
lumbar nn. enter into the formation of the lumbar and sacral plexuses and
do not give branches directly to muscles or skin |
| lumbar plexus |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L4 |
branches of the lumbar plexus: iliohypogastric n., ilioinguinal n., genitofemoral
n., lateral femoral cutaneous n., femoral n., obturator n., lumbosacral trunk
(considered to be part of sacral plexus), brs. to the psoas major and minor
mm., branches to the quadratus lumborum m. |
muscles of the lower abdominal wall; cremaster m., psoas major and minor
mm., quadratus lumborum m., iliacus m.; muscles of the anterior and medial
thigh and hip |
skin of the lower abdominal wall, skin of the anterior scrotum/labium majus,
skin of the anterior and medial thigh and lateral hip |
lumbar plexus is noted for its variable branching pattern of nerves that
supply the abdominal wall |
| lumbosacral plexus |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-S4 |
branches of the lumbosacral plexus: iliohypogastric n., ilioinguinal n.,
genitofemoral n., lateral femoral cutaneous n., femoral n., obturator n., lumbosacral
trunk (considered to be part of sacral plexus), brs. to the psoas major and
minor mm., branches to the quadratus lumborum m., superior & inferior gluteal
nn., n. to the obturator internus m., n. to the quadratus femoris m., sciatic
n., n. to the piriformis m., posterior femoral cutaneous n., pudendal n., n.
to the pelvic diaphragm, pelvic splanchnic nn. |
muscles of the lower abdominal wall; cremaster m., psoas major and minor
mm., quadratus lumborum m., iliacus m.; muscles of the anterior and medial
thigh and hip, muscles of the pelvic & urogenital diaphragm, posterior hip,
posterior thigh, leg and foot |
skin of the lower abdominal wall, skin of the anterior scrotum/labium majus,
skin of the anterior and medial thigh and lateral hip' skin of the perineum,
posterior thigh, leg and foot |
also known as: lumbar & sacral plexuses |
| lumbosacral trunk |
part of the ventral primary ramus of L4 united with the ventral primary
ramus of L5 |
no named branches; it contributes to the formation of the sacral plexus |
muscles of the hip and posterior thigh |
see sacral plexus |
the lumbosacral trunk is not considered to be part of the lumbar plexus |
| medial sural cutaneous n. |
tibial n. |
no named branches |
none |
skin of the posterior surface of the leg; skin of the lateral side of the
foot |
unites with fibular communicating br. to form the sural n. |
| obturator internus m., n. to |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L5-S2 ) |
n. to the superior gemellus m. |
obturator internus m., superior gemellus m. |
none |
nerve to obturator internus m. crosses the ischial spine and enters the
ischioanal fossa by passing through the lesser sciatic foramen |
| obturator n. |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4) |
anterior and posterior brs. |
muscles of the medial thigh: adductor longus m., adductor brevis m. and
adductor magnus m., gracilis m., obturator externus m. |
skin of the lower medial thigh |
obturator n. passes through the obturator canal |
| perforating cutaneous n. |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S2-3) |
no named branches |
none |
skin of the inferomedial buttock |
perforating cutaneous n. pierces the sacrotuberous ligament |
| peroneal, common |
SEE: fibular, common |
. |
. |
. |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by fibular |
| peroneal, deep |
SEE: fibular, deep |
. |
. |
. |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by fibular |
| peroneal, superficial |
SEE: fibular, superficial |
. |
. |
. |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by fibular |
| plantar digital, common |
medial plantar n. (1st-3rd); superficial br. of the lateral plantar n. (4th) |
proper plantar digital nn. |
1st lumbrical m. |
skin of the plantar surface of the toes (except the medial side of the great
toe and the lateral side of the 5th toe) |
the dorsal surfaces of the distal tips of the toes (nail bed regions) are
supplied by the proper plantar digital brs. of these nn. |
| plantar digital, proper |
common plantar digital; medial plantar n. (to the medial side of the great
toe); superficial br. of the lateral plantar n. (to the lateral side of the
5th toe) |
no named branches |
flexor hallucis brevis m. (from the proper plantar digital n. on the medial
side of the great toe) |
skin of the plantar surface of the toes and dorsal surface of the distal
interphalangeal segment |
the nail bed is supplied by the proper plantar digital nn. |
| plantar, lateral |
tibial n. |
superficial and deep branches |
quadratus plantae m., abductor digiti minimi m., flexor digiti minimi brevis
m., lateral 3 lumbrical mm., adductor hallucis m., plantar & dorsal interosseous
mm. |
skin of the lateral side of the plantar surface of the foot; skin of the
plantar surface of the lateral 1 1/2 toes (and the nail bed of these toes) |
lateral plantar n. accompanies the lateral plantar a. though the sole of
the foot |
| plantar, medial |
tibial n. |
plantar cutaneous brs.; proper plantar digital n. (medial side of the great
toe); common plantar digital nn. (1st-3rd) |
abductor hallucis m., flexor hallucis brevis m., flexor digitorum brevis
m., 1st lumbrical m. |
skin of the medial side of the plantar surface of the foot; skin of the
plantar surface of the medial 3 1/2 toes (and the nail bed of these toes) |
medial plantar n. accompanies the medial plantar a. though the sole of the
foot |
| plexus, lumbar |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L4 |
branches of the lumbar plexus: iliohypogastric n., ilioinguinal n., genitofemoral
n., lateral femoral cutaneous n., femoral n., obturator n., lumbosacral trunk
(considered to be part of sacral plexus), brs. to the psoas major and minor
mm., branches to the quadratus lumborum m. |
muscles of the lower abdominal wall; cremaster m., psoas major and minor
mm., quadratus lumborum m., iliacus m.; muscles of the anterior and medial
thigh and hip |
skin of the lower abdominal wall, skin of the anterior scrotum/labium majus,
skin of the anterior and medial thigh and lateral hip |
lumbar plexus is noted for its variable branching pattern of nerves that
supply the abdominal wall |
| plexus, lumbosacral |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-S4 |
branches of the lumbosacral plexus: iliohypogastric n., ilioinguinal n.,
genitofemoral n., lateral femoral cutaneous n., femoral n., obturator n., lumbosacral
trunk (considered to be part of sacral plexus), brs. to the psoas major and
minor mm., branches to the quadratus lumborum m., superior & inferior gluteal
nn., n. to the obturator internus m., n. to the quadratus femoris m., sciatic
n., n. to the piriformis m., posterior femoral cutaneous n., pudendal n., n.
to the pelvic diaphragm, pelvic splanchnic nn. |
muscles of the lower abdominal wall; cremaster m., psoas major and minor
mm., quadratus lumborum m., iliacus m.; muscles of the anterior and medial
thigh and hip, muscles of the pelvic & urogenital diaphragm, posterior hip,
posterior thigh, leg and foot |
skin of the lower abdominal wall, skin of the anterior scrotum/labium majus,
skin of the anterior and medial thigh and lateral hip' skin of the perineum,
posterior thigh, leg and foot |
also known as: lumbar & sacral plexuses |
| plexus, sacral |
lumbosacral trunk (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-L5), ventral
primary rami of spinal nerves S1-S4 |
superior & inferior gluteal nn., n. to obturator internus m., n. to quadratus
femoris m., sciatic n., n. to piriformis, posterior femoral cutaneous n., pudendal
n., n. to pelvic diaphragm, pelvic splanchnic nn. |
muscles of the pelvic diaphragm; muscles of the urogenital diaphragm; muscles
of the posterior hip, posterior thigh, leg and foot |
skin of the perineum, posterior thigh, leg and foot (excluding the medial
side of the leg and foot) |
the sacral plexus is often grouped with the lumbar plexus as the "lumbosacral
plexus" |
| posterior femoral cutaneous n. |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S1-S3) |
inferior cluneal nn.; perineal br. |
sympathetic motor innervation to skin |
skin of the lower buttock & posterior thigh |
cutaneous nn. carry postganglionic sympathetic axons to skin |
| proper plantar digital nn. |
common plantar digital; medial plantar n. (to the medial side of the great
toe); superficial br. of the lateral plantar n. (to the lateral side of the
5th toe) |
no named branches |
flexor hallucis brevis m. (from the proper plantar digital n. on the medial
side of the great toe) |
skin of the plantar surface of the toes and dorsal surface of the distal
interphalangeal segment |
the nail bed is supplied by the proper plantar digital nn. |
| quadratus femoris m., n. to |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-L5, S1) |
n. to the inferior gemellus m. |
quadratus femoris m., inferior gemellus m. |
none |
nerve to the quadratus femoris m. passes anterior to the obturator internus
tendon |
| sacral plexus |
lumbosacral trunk (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-L5), ventral
primary rami of spinal nerves S1-S4 |
superior & inferior gluteal nn., n. to obturator internus m., n. to quadratus
femoris m., sciatic n., n. to piriformis, posterior femoral cutaneous n., pudendal
n., n. to pelvic diaphragm, pelvic splanchnic nn. |
muscles of the pelvic diaphragm; muscles of the urogenital diaphragm; muscles
of the posterior hip, posterior thigh, leg and foot |
skin of the perineum, posterior thigh, leg and foot (excluding the medial
side of the leg and foot) |
the sacral plexus is often grouped with the lumbar plexus as the "lumbosacral
plexus" |
| saphenous n. |
femoral n. |
infrapatellar br. |
none |
skin of the medial side of the leg and medial side of the foot |
saphenous n. travels with the great saphenous v.; it does not pass through
the adductor hiatus at the knee; it passes anterior to the medial malleolus
at the ankle |
| sciatic n. |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-L5 and S1-S3) |
tibial n., common fibular (peroneal) n. |
semitendinosus m., semimembranosus m., biceps femoris m., ischioconylar
part of the adductor magnus m.; its branches supply all muscles of the leg
and foot |
its branches supply the skin of the leg and foot (excluding the medial side
of leg & foot) |
sciatic n. is composed of tibial and common fibular divisions; branches
to muscles come from one of the two divisions, so that the sciatic n. is considered
to have no direct muscular brs., only 2 terminal brs. |
| superficial fibular n. |
common fibular n. |
medial dorsal cutaneous n. to the medial side of the foot; dorsal digital
nn. to the lateral 3 toes |
muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg (fibularis longus and brevis
mm.) |
distal 1/3 of the anterior surface of the leg; dorsum of the foot excluding
the skin of the web between the great toe and the 2nd toe and the distal interphalangeal
segments of all toes |
"peroneal" is old terminology which has been replaced by "fibular";
the nail beds are supplied by nerves from the plantar surface of the foot |
| superior gluteal n. |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-L5, S1) |
superior & inferior brs. |
gluteus medius m., gluteus minimus m., tensor fasciae latae m. |
none |
superior gluteal n. passes through the greater sciatic foramen superior
to the piriformis m. |
| sural cutaneous, lateral |
common fibular n. |
fibular communicating br. |
none |
skin of the lateral side of the leg |
contains postganglionic sympathetic axons for supply of sweat glands, arrector
pili mm. and blood vessels |
| sural cutaneous, medial |
tibial n. |
no named branches |
none |
skin of the posterior surface of the leg; skin of the lateral side of the
foot |
unites with fibular communicating br. to form the sural n. |
| sural n. |
formed by the union of the fibular communicating br. of the lateral sural
cutaneous n. and the medial sural cutaneous nn. |
lateral calcaneal brs., lateral dorsal cutaneous n. of the foot |
none |
skin of the posterior surface of the lower leg; skin of the lateral side
of the foot |
sural n. courses posterior to the lateral malleolus at the ankle with the
lesser saphenous v. |
| to obturator internus m. |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L5-S2 ) |
n. to the superior gemellus m. |
obturator internus m., superior gemellus m. |
none |
nerve to obturator internus m. crosses the ischial spine and enters the
ischioanal fossa by passing through the lesser sciatic foramen |
| to quadratus femoris m. |
sacral plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L4-L5, S1) |
n. to the inferior gemellus m. |
quadratus femoris m., inferior gemellus m. |
none |
nerve to the quadratus femoris m. passes anterior to the obturator internus
tendon |
Joints and Ligaments of the Lower Limb - Listed Alphabetically
|
| Joint or ligament |
Description |
Notes |
| acetabular labrum |
a fibrocartilage rim around the acetabulum |
the acetabular labrum deepens the acetabulum; it cups around the head of
the femur and holds it firmly in the acetabulum |
| ankle joint |
the articulation between the distal tibia, the medial malleolus of the tibia,
the lateral malleolus of the fibula and the talus |
a synovial hinge joint; the ankle is reinforced by the deltoid ligament
(anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcaneal, posterior tibiotalar
parts), the anterior talofibular lig., the calcaneofibular lig. and the posterior
talofibular lig.; because of the shape of the talus, the ankle is most stable
when the foot is dorsiflexed; the ankle is often injured when the foot is plantar
flexed |
| anterior cruciate ligament |
a ligament connecting the anterior aspect of the intercondylar eminence
of the tibia with the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle |
an intracapsular ligament located within the fibrous joint capsule of the
knee but external to the synovial cavity of the knee; the anterior cruciate
ligament limits the anterior movement of the tibia relative to the femur in
all positions of joint movement; clipping-type injuries tear the anterior cruciate
ligament because the leg is forced anteriorly relative to the femur which places
great stress on the anterior cruciate ligament |
| anterior talofibular ligament |
a ligament that connects the lateral malleolus of the fibula with the anterolateral
surface of the talus |
it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint |
| anterior tibiofibular ligament |
the ligament that connects the distal ends of the tibia and the fibula anteriorly |
this ligament reinforces the tibiofibular syndesmosis (at the distal ends
of these bones) |
| anterior tibiotalar ligament |
part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia
with the talus |
it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint |
| calcaneofibular ligament |
a ligament that connects the lateral malleolus of the fibula with the calcaneus |
it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint |
| deltoid ligament |
the ligament that connects the medial malleolus of the tibia with the talus,
navicular and calcaneus |
the deltoid ligament reinforces the ankle joint; it has the shape of the
Greek letter delta, hence its name; it has four parts (from anterior to posterior):
anterior tibiotalar lig., tibionavicular lig., tibiocalcaneal lig., posterior
tibiotalar lig. |
| fibular collateral ligament |
the collateral ligament of the knee that connects the lateral epicondyle
of the femur with the head of the fibula |
an extracapsular ligament, not part of the fibrous capsule of the knee;
the fibular collateral ligament passes superficial to the tendon of origin
of the popliteus m. |
| hip joint |
the articulation between the os coxae and the head of the femur |
a synovial ball and socket joint; it is reinforced by capsular ligaments
(iliofemoral, pubofemoral, ischiofemoral, zona orbicularis); the fibers of
the articular capsule become taut on hip extension and lax on hip flexion;
dislocation injuries of the hip are most common when the hip is flexed (sitting
in a car seat during an impact that causes the knees to strike the dash board,
for example) |
| iliofemoral ligament |
the ligament reinforcing the anterior surface of the articular capsule of
the hip joint |
the iliofemoral ligament is shaped like an inverted "Y"; it connects
the anterior inferior iliac spine to the anterior surface of the intertrochanteric
line of the femur; also known as: ligament of Bigelow |
| infrapatellar bursa, deep |
the bursa lying between the patellar ligament and the tibia |
synovial membrane, the deep infrapatellar bursa reduces friction between
the patellar ligament and the tibia |
| infrapatellar bursa, superficial |
a subcutaneous bursa overlying the patellar ligament |
synovial membrane |
| interosseous ligaments of the foot |
ligaments that reinforce intertarsal (gliding) synovial joints |
they connect adjacent tarsal bones; they are named for the two bones that
they connect and whether they are located on the dorsal or plantar surface
of those bones |
| interosseous membrane of the leg |
the membrane that connects the interosseous borders of the shafts of the
tibia and fibula |
a syndesmosis |
| interphalangeal joints |
the articulations between the proximal and middle phalanges (proximal interphalangeal
joint, abbreviated PIP) or the middle and distal phalanges (distal interphalangeal
joint, abbreviated DIP) |
a synovial hinge joint; these joints are strengthened by medial and lateral
collateral ligaments |
| ischiofemoral ligament |
the ligament reinforcing the posterior surface of the articular capsule
of the hip joint |
the ischiofemoral ligament connects the body of the ischium to the posterior
portion of the femoral neck |
| knee joint |
the articulation between the femoral condyles and the tibial condyles |
a synovial hinge joint; it is reinforced by intracapsular ligaments (anterior
& posterior cruciate ligaments) and two types of collateral ligaments (capsular
- tibial collateral ligament, and extracapsular - fibular collateral ligament);
the medial and lateral menisci are contained within the joint capsule |
| lateral meniscus |
an intra-articular disc within the knee joint located between the lateral
femoral condyle and the lateral tibial condyle |
fibrocartilage; it is attached to the coronary ligament and the intercondylar
eminence of the tibia |
| ligament of the head of the femur |
an intracapsular ligament that attaches to the fovea of the head of the
femur and to the acetabular fossa |
the ligament of the head of the femur contains a small artery (the a. of
the ligament of the head of the femur) which supplies the femoral head; in
fractures of the neck of the femur the retinacular aa. that course along the
neck may be damaged, so that the artery to the head may be the only blood supply
to the head and proximal neck |
| long plantar ligament |
a ligament that connects the plantar surface of the calcaneus, cuboid and
the bases of the lateral 3 metatarsal bones |
a ligament that reinforces a complex set of intertarsal (gliding) synovial
joints; the long plantar ligament supports the longitudinal arch of the foot |
| longitudinal arch of the foot |
the arch that passes from the calcaneus to the talus to the navicular to
the cuneiforms to the metatarsal |
a series of plane synovial joints; the longitudinal arch of the foot is
formed by the shapes of the metatarsal bones and is supported by the plantar
calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament and many other small interosseous ligaments;
the tendons of the tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior mm. also play a
supporting role in maintaining the longitudinal arch of the foot |
| medial meniscus |
an intra-articular disc within the knee joint located between the medial
femoral condyle and the medial tibial condyle |
fibrocartilage; it is attached to the tibial collateral ligament, coronary
ligament and intercondylar eminence of the tibia; its attachment fo the tibial
collateral ligament results in injury to the medial meniscus whenever the medial
collateral ligament is injured |
| metatarsophalangeal joint |
the articulation between the head of a metatarsal and the base of a proximal
phalanx |
a synovial condyloid (or ellipsoid) joint; it is strengthened by medial
and lateral collateral ligaments; the joint has two planes of motion: flexion/extension
and abduction/adduction which may be combined to yield circumduction |
| patellar ligament |
the tendon of insertion of the quadriceps femoris muscle |
the quadriceps femoris tendon connects the quadriceps femoris muscle group
to the patella and the patellar ligament connects the patella to the tibial
tuberosity; the patella is a sesamoid bone within the quadriceps femoris tendon |
| plantar calcaneocuboid ligament |
a ligament that connects the calcaneus with the cuboid on their plantar
surfaces |
a ligament that reinforces a complex set of intertarsal (gliding) synovial
joints; it supports the longitudinal arch of the foot; also known as: short
plantar ligament |
| plantar calcaneonavicular ligament |
a ligament that connects the sustentaculum tali with the plantar surface
of the navicular bone |
a ligament that reinforces a complex set of intertarsal (gliding) synovial
joints; it supports the longitudinal arch of the foot; also known as: spring
ligament |
| posterior cruciate ligament |
a ligament connecting the posterior aspect of the intercondylar eminence
with the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle |
an intracapsular ligament located within the fibrous joint capsule of the
knee but external to the synovial cavity of the knee; the posterior cruciate
ligament limits the posterior movement of the tibia relative to the femur in
all positions of joint movement |
| posterior meniscofemoral ligament |
an intracapsular ligament that connects the posterior part of the lateral
meniscus with the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle |
may be absent |
| posterior talofibular ligament |
a ligament that connects the lateral malleolus of the fibula with the posterolateral
surface of the talus |
it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint |
| posterior tibiofibular ligament |
the ligament that connects the distal ends of the tibia and the fibula posteriorly |
this ligament reinforces the tibiofibular syndesmosis (at the distal ends
of these bones) |
| posterior tibiotalar ligament |
part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia
with the talus posteriorly |
it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint |
| prepatellar bursa |
a subcutaneous bursa overlying the patella |
synovial membrane; inflammation of this bursa leads to the condition known
as "housemaid's knee" (prepatellar bursitis), so named because housemaids
at one time traumatized this bursa while scrubbing floors on their hands and
knees |
| pubofemoral ligament |
the ligament reinforcing the medial surface of the articular capsule of
the hip joint |
the pubofemoral ligament connects the pubic portion of the rim of the bony
acetabulum to the medial surface of the femoral neck |
| suprapatellar bursa |
the superior extension of the synovial membrane of the knee joint |
it passes deep to the quadriceps femoris tendon; the suprapatellar bursa
reduces friction between the quadriceps femoris tendon and the femur |
| tarsometatarsal joints |
the articulations between the distal row of tarsal bones and the proximal
ends of the metatarsal bones |
gliding synovial joints; they are reinforced by dorsal and plantar ligaments
which limit the motion between adjacent bones |
| tibial collateral ligament |
the collateral ligament of the knee joint connecting the medial epicondyle
of the femur with the medial surface of the medial condyle of the tibia |
the tibial collateral ligament reinforces the medial surface of the articular
capsule of the knee; it is attached to the medial meniscus which has clinical
relevance - when the tibial collateral ligament tears in a clipping-type injury
(knee abduction), the medial meniscus also tears |
| tibiocalcaneal ligament |
part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia
with the sustentaculum tali |
it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint |
| tibionavicular ligament |
part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia
with the navicular |
it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint |
| transverse acetabular ligament |
the ligament that spans the acetabular notch near the rim of the acetabulum |
the acetabular branch of the obturator artery enters the hip joint by passing
beneath the transverse acetabular ligament; the artery of the ligament of the
head of the femur is a branch of the acetabular a. |
| transverse arch of the foot |
the arch that passes through the distal row of tarsal bones |
a series of plane synovial joints; the transverse arch of the foot is supported
by the shape of the tarsal bones, many small interosseous ligaments and the
tendons of the fibularis longus m., tibialis anterior m. and tibialis posterior
m. |
| zona orbicularis |
circularly oriented ligamentous fibers that reinforce the capsule of the
hip joint |
the zona orbicularis fibers tend to constrict the fibrous joint capsule
around the neck of the femur, helping to hold the head of the femur in the
acetabulum |
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