BI2333 – Practical Anatomy
Osteology of the lower limb and gluteal region
Dr Helen McCarthy, Dr Kirsty Richards
Bones of the lower limb
i. Hip bone
Made up of 3 parts:
a) Ilium
b) Ischium
c) Pubis
Connects the sacrum to the femur (long bone of the thigh)
ii. Femur
Forms the structure of the
thigh, longest and heaviest
bone in the body due to its
function as a weight bearing
structure. Made up of:
Head – articulated with
the acetabulum of the
pelvis to form hip joint
Neck – connects head
of femur with shaft
Greater trochanter –
site of attachment for many muscles of the gluteal region
Lesser trochanter – projects from the posteromedial side of the femur, inferior to the neck-shaft
junction
Intertrochanteric line – site of attachment for the iliofemoral ligament
Intertrochanteric crest – connects 2 trochanters together
iii. Patella
Also known as the knee cap is a sesamoid bone embedded in
the insertion tendon of the quadriceps femorous muscle + can
be moved side to side when the muscle is relaxed. It is located
within the patellofemoral groove of the femur.
iv. Tibia
Medial and lateral condyles articulate with the femur (medial
= largest). Distal end of the tibia articulates with the Talus (one
of the 7 bones of the tarsus.
It is the second largest bone due to its function as a
weightbearing structure
Tibial plateau – fund between 2 condyles
articulates with the femoral condyles to form the
major articulation of the knee joint
Tibial tuberosity – where patella ligament attaches
v. Fibula
, located on the lateral side of the tibia, with which it is connected. It has 3 main articulations:
a) Proximal tibiofibular joint – articulates with the lateral condyle of the tibia
b) Distal tibiofibular joint – articulates with the fibular
notch of the tibia.
c) Ankle joint – articulates with the talus bone of the foot.
Arteries of the thigh and lower leg
Arteries of the thigh
Lateral and medial femoral
Descending genicular artery
Femoral and deep femoral arteries
Inferior and superior gluteal arteries
The superior and inferior gluteal arteries are branches of the internal
iliac artery that supply the gluteal region. Inferior supplies the piriformis
muscle and the quadratus femoris muscle. The superior gluteal artery has
superficial and deep branches, supplying the gluteal musculature,
piriformis muscle and the tensor fasciae latae muscle.
The femoral artery is the main artery of the leg and is a continuation of
the external iliac artery which originates form the aorta. Becomes the
femoral artery when it crosses the inguinal ligament. It runs down the
popliteal fossa and from there it is known as the popliteal artery.
Branches of the femoral artery:
1. Deep femoral artery
- Medial femoral circumflex artery
- Lateral femoral circumflex artery
2. Genicular artery
Arteries of the lower leg
The popliteal artery divides at the lower arch of the popliteal muscle into the
anterior and posterior tibial arteries.
Superior, inferior medial and lateral genicular arteries are found around the
knee joint and are branches of the popliteal artery they form anastomoses
and supply the knee.
The posterior tibial artery begins at the level of the
popliteus muscle and runs caudally with the tibial
nerve into the deep flexor group of the lower leg and
gives off the fibular artery.
Veins of the = thigh and lower leg
Veins of the thigh
Osteology of the lower limb and gluteal region
Dr Helen McCarthy, Dr Kirsty Richards
Bones of the lower limb
i. Hip bone
Made up of 3 parts:
a) Ilium
b) Ischium
c) Pubis
Connects the sacrum to the femur (long bone of the thigh)
ii. Femur
Forms the structure of the
thigh, longest and heaviest
bone in the body due to its
function as a weight bearing
structure. Made up of:
Head – articulated with
the acetabulum of the
pelvis to form hip joint
Neck – connects head
of femur with shaft
Greater trochanter –
site of attachment for many muscles of the gluteal region
Lesser trochanter – projects from the posteromedial side of the femur, inferior to the neck-shaft
junction
Intertrochanteric line – site of attachment for the iliofemoral ligament
Intertrochanteric crest – connects 2 trochanters together
iii. Patella
Also known as the knee cap is a sesamoid bone embedded in
the insertion tendon of the quadriceps femorous muscle + can
be moved side to side when the muscle is relaxed. It is located
within the patellofemoral groove of the femur.
iv. Tibia
Medial and lateral condyles articulate with the femur (medial
= largest). Distal end of the tibia articulates with the Talus (one
of the 7 bones of the tarsus.
It is the second largest bone due to its function as a
weightbearing structure
Tibial plateau – fund between 2 condyles
articulates with the femoral condyles to form the
major articulation of the knee joint
Tibial tuberosity – where patella ligament attaches
v. Fibula
, located on the lateral side of the tibia, with which it is connected. It has 3 main articulations:
a) Proximal tibiofibular joint – articulates with the lateral condyle of the tibia
b) Distal tibiofibular joint – articulates with the fibular
notch of the tibia.
c) Ankle joint – articulates with the talus bone of the foot.
Arteries of the thigh and lower leg
Arteries of the thigh
Lateral and medial femoral
Descending genicular artery
Femoral and deep femoral arteries
Inferior and superior gluteal arteries
The superior and inferior gluteal arteries are branches of the internal
iliac artery that supply the gluteal region. Inferior supplies the piriformis
muscle and the quadratus femoris muscle. The superior gluteal artery has
superficial and deep branches, supplying the gluteal musculature,
piriformis muscle and the tensor fasciae latae muscle.
The femoral artery is the main artery of the leg and is a continuation of
the external iliac artery which originates form the aorta. Becomes the
femoral artery when it crosses the inguinal ligament. It runs down the
popliteal fossa and from there it is known as the popliteal artery.
Branches of the femoral artery:
1. Deep femoral artery
- Medial femoral circumflex artery
- Lateral femoral circumflex artery
2. Genicular artery
Arteries of the lower leg
The popliteal artery divides at the lower arch of the popliteal muscle into the
anterior and posterior tibial arteries.
Superior, inferior medial and lateral genicular arteries are found around the
knee joint and are branches of the popliteal artery they form anastomoses
and supply the knee.
The posterior tibial artery begins at the level of the
popliteus muscle and runs caudally with the tibial
nerve into the deep flexor group of the lower leg and
gives off the fibular artery.
Veins of the = thigh and lower leg
Veins of the thigh
