Module 34: Lower Extremity II – Gluteal Region, Thigh, and Knee (36/22) -- Anatomy 337 eReader

Module 34: Lower Extremity II – Gluteal Region, Thigh, and Knee Learning Objectives: By the end of this class, students will be able to: - Describe the features of the femur. - Name the origins, insertions, innervation, and blood supply of the gluteal and thigh muscles. - Understand the function of thigh muscles that act on the hip and knee. - Describe the bones of the knee joint and leg and their features. - Explain the anatomy of the knee joint. Terms to Know | Bones of the Lower Extremity Knee Joint Other Terms | Muscles of the Gluteal Region Muscles of the Thigh *Covered only in lecture, not in this text | The Femur This content will be covered in the assignment and briefly reviewed in lecture. You covered the features of the proximal femur in the previous module. This section will cover the features of the distal femur. The distal end of the femur has medial and lateral bony expansions. On the lateral side, the smooth portion that covers the distal and posterior aspects of the lateral expansion is the lateral femoral condyle of the femur. The roughened area on the outer, lateral side of the condyle is the lateral femoral epicondyle of the femur. Similarly, the smooth region of the distal and posterior medial femur is the medial femoral condyle, and the irregular outer, medial side of this is the medial femoral epicondyle of the femur. The lateral and medial condyles articulate with the tibia to form the knee joint, and the medial condyle is slightly larger than the lateral condyle. The epicondyles provide attachment for muscles and supporting ligaments of the knee. Extending superiorly from the medial and lateral condyles are the medial and lateral supracondylar ridges, which also serve as muscle attachment sites. The adductor tubercle is a small bump located at the superior margin of the medial epicondyle. Posteriorly, the medial and lateral condyles are separated by a deep depression called the intercondylar fossa. Anteriorly, the smooth surfaces of the condyles join together to form a wide groove called the patellar surface, which provides for articulation with the patella bone. Here is an introduction connecting bony landmarks of the distal femur with the muscles and neurovasculature: - Medial and lateral condyles: Articular surfaces for articulation with the medial and lateral condyles of the tibia - Medial epicondyle: Attachment site for the medial collateral ligament, origin for the medial head of the gastrocnemius - Lateral epicondyle: Attachment site for the lateral collateral ligament, origin for the lateral head of the gastrocnemius - Intercondylar fossa: Attachment site for the cruciate ligaments of the knee - Patellar surface: Articular surface for articulation with the patella - Adductor tubercle: Insertion for part of the adductor magnus Patella This content will be covered in the assignment and briefly reviewed in lecture. The patella (kneecap) is largest sesamoid bone of the body. A sesamoid bone is a bone that is incorporat