1. Lower Limb What is a limb? Skeleton Joints
Pelvis or limb girdle
Hip/Hip Muscles
Lumber and sacral plexus—getting spinal nerves out onto limb
Muscles—anterior and posterior compartments
Surface anatomy
Skeleton (homologous with upper limb)
Muscles--anterior, posterior compartments
Nerves--sciatic, femoral
Surface anatomy
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

2. What is a limb? Ventral somatic outgrowth of outer tube
Bones (made of bony tissue, cartilage, and other tissues)
Joints
Muscles
Nerves (with motor neurons to muscles, sensory neurons to skin, proprioceptors)
No viscera--all innervation is somatic (motor or sensory) from ventral ramus of spinal nerve (except autonomics to blood vessels)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

3. Lower Limb Upper Limb Pelvis Femur Tibia, fibula Tarsals Digits
Metatarsals
Phalanges
Scapula
Humerus
Radius, ulna
Carpals
Digits
Metacarpals
Phalanges
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

4. Upper Limb Scapula Humerus Radius, ulna Carpals Digits Metacarpals
Phalanges
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

5. Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

6. Tibia/fibula Tibia--big toe side Fibula--little toe side
(no pronation/supination)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

7. Ankle Talus--forms ankle joint Calcaneus--forms heel
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

8. Foot Function: Tarsals Metatarsals Phalanges Support weight
Act as lever when walking
Tarsals
Talus = ankle
Between tibia + fibula
Articulates w/both
Calcaneus = heel
Attachment for Calcaneal tendon
Carries talus
Metatarsals
Homologous to metacarpals
Phalanges
Smaller, less nimble
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

9. Joints of Lower Limb Hip (femur + acetabulum) Knee (femur + patella)
Ball + socket
Multiaxial
Synovial
Knee (femur + patella)
Plane
Gliding of patella
Knee (femur + tibia)
Hinge
Biaxial
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

10. Joints of Lower Limb Proximal Tibia + Fibula Distal Tibia + Fibula
Plane
Gliding
Synovial
Distal Tibia + Fibula
Slight “give”
Fibrous
Ankle (Tibia/Fibula + Talus)
Hinge
Uniaxial
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb
pg 218

11. Lower Limb Movements Hip Knee
Flexion/extension
Abduction/adduction
Lateral/medial rotation
Knee
Ankle
Dorsiflexion/plantarflexion
Inversion/eversion
Toes
Bending on posterior side is flexion (except hip)
Bending on anterior sided is extension (except hip)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

12. Pelvic tilt and a reverse lumbar curve (or how we got to be upright)
Bowl concept
pelvis spills forward
Hernia
“beer belly”
In human minor pelvis is behind (posterior) to guts and abdominal cavity
Compare human pelvic position with quadruped (cat for instance)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

13. Human pelvis still has quadruped orientation
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

14. Bony structure of the pelvis
MAIN STRUCTURES
Hip bone (innominate, os coxae)--fusion of
Ilium (“hips”)
Ischium (“rear”)
Pubis (anterior midline)
Sacrum and coccyx
Acetabulum
Femur--head, neck, greater trochanter
HOLES
False and true pelvis (major, minor pelvis)
Pelvic inlet, pelvic outlet
Sacrotuberous ligament
Sacrospinous ligament
Greater, lesser sciatic foramen
Obturator foramen
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

15. Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

16. Female Male Cavity is broad, shallow Pelvic inlet oval + outlet round
Bones are lighter, thinner
Pubic angle larger
Coccyx more flexible, straighter
Ischial tuberosities shorter, more everted
Cavity is narrow, deep
Smaller inlet + outlet
Bones heavier, thicker
Pubic angle more acute
Coccyx less flexible, more curved
Ischial tuberosities longer, face more medially
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

17. Posterior and lateral hip
Gluts (gluteal nn.)
Maximus—extensor of thigh
Medius--pelvic tilt (relative to insertion with foot planted)
Lateral rotators (spinal nn.)
Piriformis syndrome
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

18. Anterior Hip Iliopsoas Quadratus lumborum iliacus psoas
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

19. Lumbar and sacral plexus
Mr. Bill is happy—so easy
Lumbar plexus forms femoral n.—anterior
Sacral plexus forms sciatic n.--posterior
Femoral n.
Sciatic n.
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

20. Sacral plexus (sciatic nerve)
With leg out to side like quadruped, lumbar-anterior, sacral-posterior makes sense
Lumbar plexus (femoral nerve)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

21. Dermatomes show twisting of leg during development
Dorsal becomes anterior: thus “dorsiflexion” and extension in anterior compartment (unlike upper limb)
Ventral becomes posterior: thus flexion is in posterior compartment (unlike upper limb)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

22. Anterior/Posterior compartments
ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT
POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT
MOVEMENT
Extension
Flexion
MUSCLES
Quads
Shin
Hamstrings
Gastrocs
NERVES
Femoral n.
(lumbar plexus)
Sciatic n.
(sacral plexus)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

23. Thigh movements by compartment
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

24. Anterior thigh (femoral n.)
Sartorius (Tailor’s muscle)
Quads (four)
Rectus femoris (crosses hip)
3 vastus mm. (vast--big)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

25. Posterior thigh (sciatic n.)
Hamstrings
Biceps femoris
Semimembranous
Semitendinous
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

26. Medial thigh (obturator n.)
Adductor muscles
Gracilis
Adductor
Magnus
Longus
brevis
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

27. Leg movements by compartment (in leg all nn are branches of sciatic)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

28. Anterior Leg (deep fibular n.)
Extensors (dorsiflexors)
Fibularis (peroneus) longus
Extensor digitorum longus
Extensor hallicus longus
Tibialis anteriorus
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

29. Lateral Leg (superficial fibular n.)
Fibularis brevis/longus
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

30. Posterior Leg (tibial n.)
Flexors (plantarflexors)
Gastrocs and soleus
Flexor digitorum longus
Flexor hallucus longus
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

31. Human gait Humans only large mammal marathoners, ultra-runners
Prehistoric cultures hunted by exhausting large prey
Bipedalism very efficient energetically
Gastroc-Achilles spring
One other large mammal more efficient—also bipedal
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

32. Intrinsics of foot
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

33. Surface Anatomy: Anterior Thigh + Leg
pg 792
Surface Anatomy: Anterior Thigh + Leg
Palpate
Patella
Condyles of femur
Femoral Triangle
Sartorius (lateral)
Adductor longus (medial)
Inguinal ligament (superior)
Femoral a + v, lymph nodes
pg 785
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

34. Surface Anatomy: Posterior Leg
Popliteal fossa
Diamond-shape fossa behind knee
Boundaries
Biceps femoris (sup-lat)
Semitendinosis + semimembranosis (sup-med)
Gastrocnemius heads (inf)
Contents
Popliteal a + v
Calcaneal (Achilles) tendon
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb
pg 793

35. Blood supply to lower limb
Internal Iliac
Cranial + Caudal Gluteals= gluteals
Internal Pudendal = perineum, external genitalia
Obturator = adductor muscles
External Iliac
Femoral = lower limb
Deep femoral = adductors, hamstrings, quadriceps
Popliteal (continuation of femoral)
Geniculars = knee
Anterior Tibial = ant. leg muscles, further branches to feet
Posterior Tibial = flexor muscles, plantar arch, branches to toes
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb