Medical Gross Anatomy
Anatomy Tables - Topographical Anatomy
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Medical Gross Anatomy |
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Topographical Anatomy of the Lower Limb - Listed Alphabetically |
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| Structure/Space | Description/Boundaries | Significance |
| adductor canal | a musculo-fascial canal that contains the large neurovascular bundle of the anterior thigh; its boundaries are: anterior - sartorius m.; lateral - vastus medialis m.; posterior - adductor longus m. and adductor magnus m.; it begins proximally at the inferior angle of the femoral triangle and ends distally at the adductor hiatus | adductor canal contains the femoral a. and v., the saphenous n. and the nerve to the vastus medialis m.; also known as: Hunter's canal, subsartorial canal |
| adductor hiatus | an opening in the tendon of insertion of the adductor magnus m.; its boundaries are: medial - portion of the tendon of adductor magnus that attaches to the adductor tubercle, lateral - insertion of the adductor magnus into the linea aspera, inferior - femur | femoral a. and v. pass through the adductor hiatus to reach the posterior surface of the knee, where their name changes to popliteal a. and v. |
| anterior compartment, leg | a connective tissue compartment that contains muscles that dorsiflex the ankle; its boundaries are: tibia, fibula, interosseous membrane, anterior intermuscular septum | anterior compartment of the leg contains the tibialis anterior m., extensor hallucis longus m., extensor digitorum longus m., fibularis tertius m.; it also contains the anterior tibial a. and the deep fibular n.; also known as: extensor compartment of the leg |
| anterior compartment, thigh | a connective tissue compartment that contains muscles that extend the knee; its boundaries are: anterior and lateral - fascia lata of the thigh; posterior ; femur, medial intermuscular septum and lateral intermuscular septum | anterior compartment of the thigh contains the quadriceps femoris m.and sartorius m.; also known as extensor compartment of the thigh |
| fascia lata | deep fascia forming a tubular investment of the thigh | fascia lata is thickened laterally to form the iliotibial tract/band; it is connected to the femur by the lateral and medial intermuscular septa which divide the thigh into compartments; Scarpa's fascia attaches to the external surface of the fascia lata inferior to the inguinal ligament |
| fascia, crural | deep fascia forming a tubular investment of the leg | crural fascia is continuous with the fascia lata at the level of the knee; it is connected to the fibula by the anterior and posterior intermuscular septa; crural fascia is thickened near the ankle to form the extensor and flexor retinacula |
| fascia, gluteal | deep fascia covering gluteus medius m., it extends between the iliac crest and superolateral border of the gluteus maximus m. | also known as: gluteal aponeurosis |
| femoral canal | a short diverticulum within the femoral sheath that extends distal to the inguinal ligament on the medial side of the femoral vessels; its boundaries are: medial - lacunar ligament; lateral - fascia on the femoral vein; anterior - inguinal ligament; posterior - fascia on the pectineus m. | femoral canal is the medial compartment of the femoral sheath; it opens into the abdominal cavity superiorly at the femoral ring; it may be the site of a femoral hernia; usually contains a deep inguinal lymph node (gland of Cloquet) |
| femoral ring | opening into the femoral canal; its boundaries are: medial - lacunar ligament, lateral - fascia on the femoral vein, anterior - inguinal ligament, posterior - fascia on the pectineus m. | if a femoral hernia develops, the herniated gut passes through the femoral ring |
| femoral triangle | a musculo-fascial triangle on the anterior surface of the thigh; its boundaries are: superior - inguinal ligament, lateral - sartorius m., medial - medial edge of the adductor longus m. | femoral triangle contains the femoral a., v. and n.; textbooks may disagree on the medial boundary of this triangle |
| Hunter's canal | a musculo-fascial canal that contains the large neurovascular bundle of the anterior thigh; its boundaries are: anterior - sartorius m.; lateral - vastus medialis m.; posterior - adductor longus m. and adductor magnus m.; it begins proximally at the inferior angle of the femoral triangle and ends distally at the adductor hiatus | Hunter's canal contains the femoral a. and v., the saphenous n. and the nerve to the vastus medialis m.; also known as: adductor canal, subsartorial canal |
| lateral compartment , thigh | a connective tissue compartment that contains the muscles of the gluteal region; it is located posterolateral to the hip joint | lateral compartment of the thigh contains: tensor fasciae latae m., gluteus maximus m., gluteus medius m., gluteus minimis m., piriformis m., superior and inferior gemellus mm., quadratus femoris m.; obturator internus tendon; also known as: gluteal compartment of the thigh |
| lateral compartment, leg | a connective tissue compartment that contains the muscles that evert the ankle joint; its boundaries are: anterior, lateral and medial - crural fascia; posterior - anterior and posterior intermuscular septa, fibula | lateral compartment of the leg contains: fibularis longus m., fibularis brevis m.; superficial fibular n.; also known as: evertor compartment of the leg |
| medial compartment, thigh | a connective tissue compartment that contains the muscles that adduct the thigh; its boundaries are: anterior - medial intermuscular septum; posterior - fascia between the medial and posterior compartments; medial - fascial lata; lateral - femur | medial compartment of the thigh contains: pectineus m., adductor longus m., adductor brevis m., adductor magnus m., gracilis m., obturator externus m.; also known as: adductor compartment of the thigh |
| popliteal fossa | the shallow depression on the posterior surface of the knee; its boundaries are: superomedial - tendons of semimembranosus and semitendinosus mm., superolateral - tendon of biceps femoris m., inferior - medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius m. | popliteal fossa contains: popliteal a. and v. and their branches; tibial n, common fibular n., popliteus m. |
| posterior compartment , leg | a connective tissue compartment that contains the muscles that plantar flex the ankle joint; its boundaries are: anterior - tibia, fibula and interosseous membrane; lateral, medial and posterior - crural fascia | posterior compartment of the leg contains: superficially - gastrocnemius m., soleus m., plantaris m.; deeply - popliteus m., tibialis posterior m., flexor digitorum longus m., flexor hallucis longus m.; it also contains the posterior tibial a. and v. and the tibial n. |
| posterior compartment, thigh | a connective tissue compartment that contains the muscles that flex the knee joint and extend the hip joint; its boundaries are: anterior - lateral intermuscular septum, femur and fascia between the medial and posterior compartments; lateral, medial and posterior - fascia lata | posterior compartment of the thigh contains: semimembranosus m., semitendinosus m., biceps femoris m.; sciatic nerve; also known as: hamstring compartment |
| saphenous hiatus | an opening in the fascia lata located inferior to the inguinal ligament and lateral to the pubic tubercle | saphenous hiatus is the site of passage of the greater saphenous vein which joins the femoral vein; it is closed by the cribriform fascia |
| subsartorial canal | a musculo-fascial canal that contains the large neurovascular bundle of the anterior thigh; its boundaries are: anterior - sartorius m.; lateral - vastus medialis m.; posterior - adductor longus m. and adductor magnus m.; it begins proximally at the inferior angle of the femoral triangle and ends distally at the adductor hiatus | subsartorial canal contains the femoral a. and v., the saphenous n. and the nerve to the vastus medialis m.; also known as: adductor canal, Hunter's canal |
| The material presented in these tables is
contained in the book: MedCharts Anatomy by Thomas R. Gest & Jaye Schlesinger Published by ILOC, Inc., New York Copyright © 1995, unauthorized use prohibited. |
The excellent editorial assistance of Dr. Pat Tank, UAMS is gratefully acknowledged. |
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| Copyright© 2000 The University of Michigan. Unauthorized use prohibited. |
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