Biology 122 Spring, 2008

Laboratory 7

Anterior, Medial and Lateral Aspects of the Thigh

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this laboratory you should be able to:

1. Know the parts of the bony pelvis associated with the origins of the anterior (flexor), lateral (abductor) and medial (adductor) muscles of the thigh. Know the following features of the pelvis:

Iliac crest, anterior superior iliac spine, anterior inferior iliac spine, acetabulum, acetabular notch, pecten pubis, pubic tubercle, symphysis pubis, obturator foramen

2. Be able to demonstrate the movements that occur at the hip and knee joints.

3. Understand the role of the femoral and obturator nerve-innervated muscles in movements at the hip and knee, and in locomotion and supporting the weight of the body during standing. Be able to discuss how lesions of these nerves would affect sensations and muscle activity during walking and standing.

4. Know the origin, course and distribution of the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous and obturator nerves.

5. Know the venous and lymphatic drainage of the skin of the lower limb and understand where the superficial vessels of this system join the deep vessels.

6. Be able to outline the course and distribution of the femoral artery and its branches in the thigh (i.e.: be able to find the midinguinal point and adductor tubercle and draw a straight line between them - this approximates the course of the femoral artery).

7. Be able to relate each of the following bony or soft tissue landmarks with specific muscles, vessels or nerves: a) anterior superior iliac spine; b) lesser trochanter; c) adductor tubercle; d) midinguinal point; e) inferior ramus of pubis; f) obturator canal; g) femoral triangle; h) subsartorial (adductor) canal; i) linea aspera.

8. Know the boundaries and contents of the femoral ring and canal and the relationship of these structures and their contents to the femoral sheath. The position and course of a femoral hernia should be understood.

PRELAB PREPARATION

1. Read the material in M&D on the osteology of the pelvis and femur (pp. 555-566). Read the sections on the fascia, vessels and cutaneous nerves of the lower limb pp. 578-587) and the thigh and (pp. 589-607). Give special consideration to: a) the basic skeletal elements; b) the names given to specific regions (e.g. femoral triangle, gluteal region, popliteal fossa, calf, etc.) and muscle groups and their innervations; c) the arrangement of dermatomes; and d) the venous and lymphatic drainage of the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the lower limb.

2. Study the segmental origins of the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous and obturator nerves. Some textbooks will provide tables showing the segmental nerve supply to individual muscles. These do not need to be learned.