The lower limb supports body weight and enables standing, walking, and other movements. This lesson introduces its major regions and focuses on the femur, the powerful bone of the thigh.
The lower limb has three regions. The thigh extends from the hip joint to the knee joint. The leg, in anatomical terminology, is the region from the knee to the ankle. The foot lies distal to the ankle.
All flashcards
What are the three anatomical regions of the lower limb?
The thigh extends from hip to knee, the leg from knee to ankle, and the foot lies distal to the ankle.
How many bones are in the lower limb, and which groups make up that total?
There are 30: the femur, patella, tibia, fibula, seven tarsals, five metatarsals, and fourteen toe phalanges.
What articulates with the femoral head?
The acetabulum of the hip bone. Together they form the hip joint.
What are the greater and lesser trochanters?
They are bony projections near the proximal femur that provide muscle attachment and improve leverage. The greater trochanter is large and lateral; the lesser trochanter is smaller and medial.
What is the linea aspera?
A rough ridge along the posterior mid-shaft of the femur that provides attachment for multiple hip and thigh muscles.
Quiz questions
Which surface of the femur articulates with the patella?Answer: The patellar surface
Which bone is the principal weight-bearing bone of the leg?Answer: The tibia
What is a primary role of the fibula?Answer: Providing muscle attachment and ankle support
Which bones articulate with the talus to form the ankle joint?Answer: The distal tibia and both malleoli
What can repeated abnormal lateral tracking of the patella cause?Answer: Irritation or damage to patellar and femoral joint surfaces
Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.