Notes
Emma Muirhead (OT)
Sacha Armstrong (Physio)
Claire Thomson (OT)
Note:
These notes are made from the lecture slides and prescribed textbook (Tortora). All three of us who
contributed passed both HUB1019F and HUB1020S with over 90%, and so we are quite confident that they
cover most of the information that is necessary to pass these courses. However, new things can be added
to the syllabus so we would not recommend solely relying on these notes.
We put many hours into these, and hope that they can be of great use to you. We would advise using these
notes as a supplement to your lectures. Not having to write down notes in every lecture is helpful, as it
eliminates stress and allows you to understand the work better as you are covering it.
We wish you all the best for your first year!
INDEX
Introduction to lower limb Pg 2
Anterior & Medial thigh Pg 10
Gluteal Region Pg 27
Posterior Thigh & Leg Pg 47
Lower Limb (Anterior & Medial) Pg 73
Lower Leg (Lateral compartment) Pg 79
Foot Pg 91
Embryology Pg 107
Muscle Physiology Pg 142
Nerve Physiology Pg 171
Integumentary System Pg 195
1
, • Carries entire weight of erect body
• Subjected to exceptional forces – e.g., jumping, running
• 3 segments: thigh, leg, foot. (whole leg: lower limb. Area between thigh and foot: leg)
Bones of lower limb:
- Os coxae (hip bone: ilium (wing of pelvis), ischium, pubic bone)
- Femur
- Patella
- Tibia
- Fibula
- Tarsals
- Metatarsals
- Phalanges
Femur articulates with the tibia and the patella embedded in the quadriceps femoris tendon
The knee joint allows flexion/extension of leg, rotation of femur on tibia (locks the knee when standing)
The fibula doesn’t form part of the knee joint – only the most lateral part of the ankle joint. Forms two joints
with tibia: superior & inferior tibiofibular joints (synovial, little movements)
Distal ends of tibia and fibula form a deep recess for the ankle joint
DIVISIONS OF THE LOWER LIMB
- Sacroiliac joints + ligaments are the anchor point for attachment of the lower limb to the axial
skeleton
- Gluteal region: posterolateral, between iliac crest & gluteal fold.
- Thigh: between inguinal ligament (anteriorly)/gluteal fold (posteriorly) and knee joint
- The hip joint is inferior to the middle third of the inguinal ligament
- Leg (lower) between knee and ankle
- Foot is distal to the ankle
TRANSITION AREAS:
1. The femoral triangle
Common femoral artery & femoral nerve enter the thigh from the abdomen by passing under the
inguinal ligament
2. Popliteal fossa
Popliteal artery/vein and sciatic nerve pass from thigh to
leg
3. Tarsal tunnel
Many nerves, vessels and flexor tendons pass between
leg and foot. Flexor retinaculum holds tendons in position.
OS COXAE (hip bone)
• Ischium (sits bone)
• Pubis (anterior aspect)
• Ilium (wing)
• Greater Sciatic Notch
• Pubic Symphysis
• Obturator Foramen
2
,FEMUR
- Head
- Shaft
- Patella articular surface
- Fovea capitis (area to which ligament attaches – connects head of femur to acetabulum)
- Greater trochanter
- Lesser trochanter
- Linea aspera
- Popliteal surface
- Medial epicondyle
- Lateral epicondyle
- Medial condyle
- Lateral condyle
KNEE JOINT
Lateral view:
fibula is
lateral
TIBIA AND FIBULA
- Tibia weight bearing
- Fibula non-weight bearing
- Fibula stabilises the ankle joint
3
, MOVEMENTS OF LOWER LIMB
Plantar flexion = ankle/foot extension (point towards the ‘plants’)
Dorsiflexion = ankle/foot flexion
Anatomical definition:
Flexion: refers to a movement that decreases the angle between two body parts
Extension: refers to a movement that increases the angle between 2 body parts
MUSCLE COMPARTMENTS
4
Emma Muirhead (OT)
Sacha Armstrong (Physio)
Claire Thomson (OT)
Note:
These notes are made from the lecture slides and prescribed textbook (Tortora). All three of us who
contributed passed both HUB1019F and HUB1020S with over 90%, and so we are quite confident that they
cover most of the information that is necessary to pass these courses. However, new things can be added
to the syllabus so we would not recommend solely relying on these notes.
We put many hours into these, and hope that they can be of great use to you. We would advise using these
notes as a supplement to your lectures. Not having to write down notes in every lecture is helpful, as it
eliminates stress and allows you to understand the work better as you are covering it.
We wish you all the best for your first year!
INDEX
Introduction to lower limb Pg 2
Anterior & Medial thigh Pg 10
Gluteal Region Pg 27
Posterior Thigh & Leg Pg 47
Lower Limb (Anterior & Medial) Pg 73
Lower Leg (Lateral compartment) Pg 79
Foot Pg 91
Embryology Pg 107
Muscle Physiology Pg 142
Nerve Physiology Pg 171
Integumentary System Pg 195
1
, • Carries entire weight of erect body
• Subjected to exceptional forces – e.g., jumping, running
• 3 segments: thigh, leg, foot. (whole leg: lower limb. Area between thigh and foot: leg)
Bones of lower limb:
- Os coxae (hip bone: ilium (wing of pelvis), ischium, pubic bone)
- Femur
- Patella
- Tibia
- Fibula
- Tarsals
- Metatarsals
- Phalanges
Femur articulates with the tibia and the patella embedded in the quadriceps femoris tendon
The knee joint allows flexion/extension of leg, rotation of femur on tibia (locks the knee when standing)
The fibula doesn’t form part of the knee joint – only the most lateral part of the ankle joint. Forms two joints
with tibia: superior & inferior tibiofibular joints (synovial, little movements)
Distal ends of tibia and fibula form a deep recess for the ankle joint
DIVISIONS OF THE LOWER LIMB
- Sacroiliac joints + ligaments are the anchor point for attachment of the lower limb to the axial
skeleton
- Gluteal region: posterolateral, between iliac crest & gluteal fold.
- Thigh: between inguinal ligament (anteriorly)/gluteal fold (posteriorly) and knee joint
- The hip joint is inferior to the middle third of the inguinal ligament
- Leg (lower) between knee and ankle
- Foot is distal to the ankle
TRANSITION AREAS:
1. The femoral triangle
Common femoral artery & femoral nerve enter the thigh from the abdomen by passing under the
inguinal ligament
2. Popliteal fossa
Popliteal artery/vein and sciatic nerve pass from thigh to
leg
3. Tarsal tunnel
Many nerves, vessels and flexor tendons pass between
leg and foot. Flexor retinaculum holds tendons in position.
OS COXAE (hip bone)
• Ischium (sits bone)
• Pubis (anterior aspect)
• Ilium (wing)
• Greater Sciatic Notch
• Pubic Symphysis
• Obturator Foramen
2
,FEMUR
- Head
- Shaft
- Patella articular surface
- Fovea capitis (area to which ligament attaches – connects head of femur to acetabulum)
- Greater trochanter
- Lesser trochanter
- Linea aspera
- Popliteal surface
- Medial epicondyle
- Lateral epicondyle
- Medial condyle
- Lateral condyle
KNEE JOINT
Lateral view:
fibula is
lateral
TIBIA AND FIBULA
- Tibia weight bearing
- Fibula non-weight bearing
- Fibula stabilises the ankle joint
3
, MOVEMENTS OF LOWER LIMB
Plantar flexion = ankle/foot extension (point towards the ‘plants’)
Dorsiflexion = ankle/foot flexion
Anatomical definition:
Flexion: refers to a movement that decreases the angle between two body parts
Extension: refers to a movement that increases the angle between 2 body parts
MUSCLE COMPARTMENTS
4
