LOWER LIMB
Chapter 7
Pelvic (hip) Girdle
• Attaches the lower limb to the axial skeleton• Secured to the axial skeleton with the strongest
ligaments in the body
• Transmits full body weight of the upper limb to the lower limbs
• Supports the visceral organs of the pelvic region
• Lacks the mobility of the shoulder but is more stable
• Made of 7 bones: Sacrum, Ilium (2), ishium (2), Pubis (2)
• Known as the “os coxae”
• The “acetabulum” is the socket in which the head of the femur sits (hip joint)
Ilium
• Known as the flank and has wing like projections called “ala”
• When you rest your hands on your hips your are placing them on the “iliac crest” on each side
• The “iliac fossa” is on the medial surface of and is concave, has an ear like shape
Ischium
• Is the lower bone of the pelvic girdle
• It is “L” shaped
• Attaches to the ilium superiorly and the pubis anteriorly
Pubis
• Anterior portion of the hip bone
• Lies horizontally and the bladder rest upon it
• Joined together by the pubic symphysis – a fibrocartilage disc between the tow pubis bones
• Forms the pubic arch which is helpful in determining the gender of a skeleton• A larger arch indicates a female• A smaller arch indicates a male
LOWER LIMB
• The “thigh” is the region between the knee and the hip.
• Contains only one bone the “FEMUR”• It is the largest, longest and strongest bone in
the body• Articulates with the hip via a ball and socket
type joint• Articulates distally with the TIBIA via the
lateral and medial epicondyles
• Patella is a triangular sesamoid bone that articulates anteriorly with the femur and tibia
• Held in place the patellular ligament
LOWER LEG
• Region between the knee and the ankle
• Composed of two bones: Tibia (larger) & Fibula (smaller)
• Fibula is stick like and non weight bearing
• Tibia bears the weight of the body• Key features include medial and lateral condyles • Articulates with the femur and distally with the
medial malleolus
FOOT
• The tarsus consists of 7 tarsal bones that compose the posterior half of the foot
• The metarsus is very important for it is a weight bearing region that consists of 5 bones
• There are 14 phalanges the big toe is number 1 known as the “hallux”
• There are 3 arches of the foot: medial, lateral longitudinal and transverse connected by tendons and ligaments