LL Regions

• What are the five major regions of the lower extremity (LE)?


  Gluteal, femoral, leg, ankle, foot
• What is the gluteal region also known as?

  • AKA "buttock"
• What primarily composes the gluteal region?

  Gluteal muscles and thick superficial fascia
• What are the superior and inferior boundaries of the gluteal region?

  Superior: iliac crest; Inferior: fold of buttock
• What are the cutaneous nerves in the upper medial quadrant of the gluteal region?

  • Posterior rami of L1-3 and S1-3
• What nerves innervate the upper lateral quadrant of the gluteal region?

  • Anterior rami of iliohypogastric (L1) and subcostal (T12)
• Which nerve innervates the lower medial quadrant of the gluteal region?

  • Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
• What nerve supplies the lower lateral quadrant of the gluteal region?

  • Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
• What are the two types of fascia in the gluteal region?

  1. Superficial fascia
  2. Deep fascia
• What does the deep fascia in the gluteal region enclose?

  It encloses the gluteal muscles
• To what structure is the deep fascia attached?

  Attached to iliac crest
• What is the iliotibial tract (ITB)?

  Thickening of the deep fascia
• What are the three ligaments associated with the gluteal region?

  1. Sacrotuberous
  2. Sacrospinous
  3. Posterior sacroiliac
• What does the sacrotuberous ligament connect?

  Back of sacrum to ischial tuberosity
• What does the sacrospinous ligament connect?

  Back of sacrum to spine of ischium
• How is the posterior sacroiliac ligament related to the sacrotuberous ligament?

  It is continuous with the sacrotuberous ligament
• What are the two foramina in the gluteal region?

  1. Greater sciatic foramen
  2. Lesser sciatic foramen
• What forms the greater sciatic foramen?

  Greater sciatic notch and ligaments
• What exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen?

  Piriformis and several nerves and vessels
• What structures exit the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen?

  • Piriformis
  • Sciatic nerve
  • Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
  • Superior and inferior gluteal nerves, arteries, veins
  • Pudendal nerve
  • Internal pudendal artery and vein
  • Nerves to obturator internus and quadratus femoris
• What forms the lesser sciatic foramen?

  Lesser sciatic notch and ligaments
• What enters the perineum from the gluteal region through the lesser sciatic foramen?

  Tendon of obturator internus and nerves
• What structures enter the perineum through the lesser sciatic foramen?

  1. Tendon of obturator internus
  2. Nerve to obturator internus
  3. Pudendal nerve
  4. Internal pudendal artery
  5. Internal pudendal vein
• What is the superior gluteal artery a branch of?

  Branch of internal iliac artery
• Where does the superior gluteal artery enter the gluteal region?

  Through greater sciatic foramen above piriformis
• What is the inferior gluteal artery a branch of?

  Branch of internal iliac artery
• Where does the inferior gluteal artery enter the gluteal region?

  Through greater sciatic foramen below piriformis
• What does the superior gluteal vein drain into?

  Drains into internal iliac vein
• Where does the superior gluteal vein exit the gluteal region?

  Through greater sciatic foramen above piriformis
• What does the inferior gluteal vein drain into?

  Drains into internal iliac vein
• Where does the inferior gluteal vein exit the gluteal region?

  Through greater sciatic foramen below piriformis
• What is the femoral region also known as?

  • AKA "thigh"
• Where is the femoral region located?

  Between gluteal, abdominal, perineal, and knee regions
• What are the cutaneous nerves in the femoral region?

  1. Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
  2. Femoral cutaneous branch of genitofemoral nerve
  3. Ilioinguinal nerve
  4. Medial cutaneous nerve of thigh
  5. Intermediate cutaneous nerve of thigh
• What is the deep fascia in the femoral region called?

  • Fascia lata
• Where is the upper end of the fascia lata attached?

  Attached to pelvis and inguinal ligament
• What is the saphenous opening in the fascia lata?

  Gap below inguinal ligament for great saphenous vein
• What are the fascial compartments of the femoral region?

  1. Anterior
  2. Medial
  3. Posterior
• What are the contents of the anterior compartment of the femoral region?

  • Muscles: Sartorius, iliacus, psoas, pectineus, quadriceps femoris
  • Blood supply: Femoral artery, femoral vein
  • Nerve supply: Femoral nerve
• What are the contents of the medial compartment of the femoral region?

  • Muscles: Gracilis, adductor longus, brevis, magnus, obturator externus
  • Blood supply: Obturator artery
  • Nerve supply: Obturator nerve