The lower extremity, not unlike the first, is a system made up of bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, and much more that all work together to give the lower extremity its functions. The video starts by discussing the pelvis. The hip bone, though it appears to be a single bone, is actually the fusion of three different bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis. Each section of the hip bone has different features associated with each bone. The ilium is characterized with the ala, the iliac crest, the anterior superior iliac spine, and the posterior superior iliac spine. The ischium also has a spine, but it also contains the greater and lesser sciatic notch. The area where the hip joint is located, the acetabulum, is a location that contains …show more content…
This ligament connects the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle. The femoral nerve, artery, and vein pass beneath this inguinal ligament. The femoral triangle is an important structure associated with the inguinal ligament. The other two borders are the sartorius muscle and adductor longus muscle. Pectineus, psoas major, and iliacus muscles can be seen through the femoral triangle. The femoral vein and artery are named differently above the inguinal ligament where they are referred to as the external iliac vein and artery. The long or greater saphenous vein does not run alongside an artery of the same name. This vein begins at the ankle, passes by the medial side of the knee, and goes all the way up the medial thigh where it joins with the femoral vein at the border of the inguinal ligament. Once the external iliac artery passes under the inguinal ligament, two small branches arise which are referred to as the superficial circumflex iliac artery which travels laterally and the external pudendal artery which travels medially. Further down the femoral artery, a larger branch arises which is referred to as the deep femoral artery. This deep femoral artery becomes the main artery to supply the thigh while the femoral artery continues down to supply the rest of the lower extremities. The arteries which supply the gluteal region are the superior and inferior gluteal arteries, which …show more content…
The distal end of the femur makes up the superior portion of the knee while the proximal end of the tibia makes up the inferior portion of the knee. The lateral and medial condyles of the femur articulate with the medial and lateral condyle of the tibia. The patella, also known as the kneecap, articulate with these condyles. There are many different portions of the knee which are not bones. The flexible fibrocartilage between the bones of the knee are called the menisci. The medial meniscus is far apart while the lateral one is closer together. These menisci produce synovial fluid which is a very good lubricator of the knee joint. There are two ligaments that hold the femur and the tibia together at the joint which are in between the menisci and inside the knee joint, and two ligaments on the outside of the knee joint. The two ligaments inside the knee joint are referred to as the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. These ligaments prevent anterior and posterior movement of the femur with relation to the tibia. The two ligaments on the sides of the knee joint are the tibial or medial collateral ligament and the fibular or lateral collateral ligament. These ligaments keep the knee joint from bending from side to side. The patella is enclosed within a patellar ligament and tendon in the front of the knee. Along with the muscles that have already been introduced that flex at the