Lower Limb Anatomy Hub
A structured, exam-oriented guide to the anatomy of the lower limb.
Lower Limb Anatomy Hub
Bones
Hip bone, femur, patella, tibia, and bones of the foot—key landmarks and clinical relevance.
Hip Bone (Os Coxae) – Ilium, Ischium & Pubis
An overview of the hip bone, its three fused parts (ilium, ischium, pubis), and key features like the acetabulum, iliac crest, and obturator foramen.
Femur Anatomy – Landmarks, Attachments & Fractures
A detailed look at the femur, covering its head, neck, trochanters, and condyles. Learn about its muscle attachments and clinical relevance in fractures.
Patella (Kneecap) – Anatomy, Attachments & Injury
An overview of the patella, the largest sesamoid bone. Learn its features, attachments, and clinical importance in dislocation and fracture patterns.
Tibia (Shinbone) – Anatomy, Landmarks & Attachments
A detailed overview of the tibia, the primary weight-bearing bone of the leg. Explore its condyles, tuberosity, shaft, and medial malleolus.
Foot Bones – Tarsals, Metatarsals & Phalanges
An overview of the 26 bones of the foot, including the tarsals (talus, calcaneus), metatarsals, and phalanges that form the foot's arches and framework.
Muscles
Gluteal region, thigh compartments, leg compartments, and intrinsic foot muscles.
Gluteal Muscles – Maximus, Medius & Minimus
An overview of the gluteal muscles, from the powerful gluteus maximus to the key hip abductors, gluteus medius and minimus, and their clinical importance.
Anterior Thigh Muscles – Quadriceps & Sartorius
An overview of the anterior thigh compartment muscles, including the four heads of the quadriceps femoris (knee extensors) and the sartorius ('tailor's muscle').
Medial Thigh Muscles – Adductor Group Anatomy
An overview of the adductor muscles of the thigh, arranged in three layers, including adductor longus, brevis, and magnus, and their role in hip adduction.
Posterior Thigh Muscles – Hamstrings Anatomy
An overview of the hamstring muscles—semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris—detailing their origins, insertions, and actions in knee flexion.
Anterior Leg Muscles – Dorsiflexors & Extensors
An overview of the muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg, including tibialis anterior and the extensors, responsible for dorsiflexion and toe extension.
Nerves
Major nerves of the lower limb including femoral, obturator, sciatic, tibial, and peroneal branches.
Femoral Nerve (L2–L4) – Course, Branches & Supply
An overview of the femoral nerve, the chief nerve of the anterior thigh. Learn its course, branches to the quadriceps, and cutaneous distribution via the saphenous nerve.
Obturator Nerve (L2–L4) – Course, Divisions & Injury
An overview of the obturator nerve, the primary nerve of the medial thigh, detailing its anterior and posterior divisions and supply to the adductor muscles.
Sciatic Nerve (L4–S3) – Course & Clinical Notes
A detailed overview of the sciatic nerve, the thickest nerve in the body. Learn its course, branches to the hamstrings, and the safe lateral side for surgery.
Deep Peroneal Nerve – Course & Motor Supply
An overview of the deep peroneal nerve, covering its course through the anterior leg compartment and its motor supply to the dorsiflexor muscles and foot.
Superficial Peroneal Nerve – Course & Sensory Supply
An overview of the superficial peroneal nerve, covering its motor supply to the peroneal muscles and its cutaneous distribution to the dorsum of the foot.
Arteries
Femoral system, gluteal vessels, tibial/peroneal arteries, dorsalis pedis and plantar supply.
Femoral Artery – Course, Branches & Clinical Use
An overview of the femoral artery, the main artery of the lower limb. Learn its course through the femoral triangle and adductor canal, its branches, and its clinical use.
Thigh Arteries – Profunda Femoris & Obturator
An overview of the deep arteries of the thigh, including the profunda femoris and its perforating branches, and the obturator artery's supply to the femoral head.
Gluteal Arteries – Superior & Inferior Branches
An overview of the superior and inferior gluteal arteries, branches of the internal iliac artery that supply the muscles and structures of the gluteal region.
Anterior Tibial Artery – Course & Branches
A detailed look at the anterior tibial artery, its course through the anterior compartment of the leg, its relations to nerves, and its main branches.
Peroneal (Fibular) Artery – Course & Supply
An overview of the peroneal artery, a branch of the posterior tibial artery, detailing its course along the fibula and its supply to the leg compartments.
Veins
Deep venous pathways and overall venous drainage patterns of the lower limb.
Femoral Vein – Course, Tributaries & Venous Access
An overview of the femoral vein, the main deep vein of the lower limb, detailing its course, major tributaries like the great saphenous vein, and its clinical use.
Lower Limb Veins – Saphenous System & DVT
An overview of the lower limb's superficial and deep venous systems, including the great saphenous vein, perforators, and the clinical risk of DVT.
Lymphatics
Key lymphatic drainage routes relevant to infection spread and oncology.
Joints
Hip, knee, tibiofibular, ankle, and foot joints with stability and movement essentials.
Hip Joint – Anatomy, Ligaments, Movements & Blood Supply
A brief overview of the hip joint, its ball-and-socket structure, major ligaments, labrum, joint capsule, blood supply and primary movements.
Knee Joint – Ligaments, Menisci & Injuries
A comprehensive overview of the knee joint, covering its complex structure, cruciate and collateral ligaments, menisci, and clinical conditions like 'unhappy triad'.
Tibiofibular Joints – Superior, Middle & Inferior
An overview of the three tibiofibular joints: the superior (synovial), middle (fibrous syndesmosis), and inferior (fibrous), which stabilize the leg bones.
Ankle Joint (Talocrural) – Ligaments & Sprains
A detailed overview of the ankle joint, a synovial hinge joint. Learn about its mortise structure, strong collateral ligaments, and common injuries like sprains.
Foot Joints – Subtalar, Midtarsal & MTP
An overview of the joints of the foot, focusing on the subtalar and transverse tarsal joints, which permit the crucial movements of inversion and eversion.
Anatomical Regions
High-yield spaces and regions including femoral triangle, adductor canal, popliteal fossa, and key gluteal/foot areas.
Femoral Triangle – Boundaries, Contents & Clinical Notes
A guide to the femoral triangle, a key landmark in the thigh. Learn its boundaries (SAIL), floor, roof, and contents including the femoral nerve, artery, and vein.
Adductor Canal (Hunter’s Canal) – Anatomy & Contents
A guide to the adductor (Hunter's) canal in the thigh, detailing its boundaries, contents like the femoral artery, and its clinical relevance in vascular surgery.
Popliteal Fossa – Boundaries, Contents & Anatomy
A guide to the diamond-shaped popliteal fossa behind the knee, detailing its boundaries, floor, and contents including the popliteal artery and tibial nerve.
Gluteal Ligaments & Sciatic Foramina – Anatomy
A guide to the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments and the greater and lesser sciatic foramina they form, detailing the nerves and vessels that pass through.
Sole of Foot – Skin, Fascia & Plantar Aponeurosis
An overview of the sole's anatomy, including its specialized skin, fibrofatty superficial fascia, and the strong plantar aponeurosis that supports the arch.
Fascia
Superficial/deep fascia, compartmental anatomy, and retinacula important for function and pathology.
Superficial Fascia of Thigh – Veins, Nerves & Lymph Nodes
An overview of the superficial fascia of the anterior thigh, covering its cutaneous nerves, the great saphenous vein, and superficial inguinal lymph nodes.
Deep Fascia of Thigh – Fascia Lata & IT Tract
Explore the fascia lata, iliotibial tract, and saphenous opening, which form the three fascial compartments of the thigh: anterior, medial, and posterior.
Gluteal Fascia – Superficial & Deep Layers
An overview of the superficial and deep fascia of the gluteal region, highlighting the thick, fatty superficial layer and the strong gluteal aponeurosis.
Superficial Fascia of Leg – Veins & Cutaneous Nerves
An overview of the superficial veins (great and small saphenous) and cutaneous nerves (saphenous, peroneal) found in the superficial fascia of the leg.
Deep Fascia of Leg – Compartments & Retinacula
A guide to the deep fascia of the leg, which forms the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartments, and thickens at the ankle to form the extensor retinacula.
Surface Anatomy
Palpable landmarks and practical surface mapping of the thigh, leg, foot, and gluteal region.
Thigh Surface Anatomy – Key Palpable Landmarks
An overview of the key palpable and visual landmarks of the thigh, including the fold of the groin, greater trochanter, and condyles of the femur and tibia.
Anterior Leg & Dorsum of Foot – Surface Anatomy
An overview of the surface anatomy and palpable bony landmarks of the anterior leg and dorsum of the foot, from the tibial tuberosity to the dorsalis pedis pulse.
Gluteal Surface Anatomy – Injection Landmarks
An overview of key palpable landmarks of the gluteal region, including the iliac crest, PSIS, and greater trochanter, vital for safe intramuscular injections.
Other
Big-picture overview and special topics like the arches of the foot.
Lower Limb Anatomy – Regions, Nerves & Blood Supply
An introduction to the lower limb, covering its regions (gluteal, thigh, leg, foot), major nerves like the sciatic, and its arterial and venous systems.
Foot Arches – Medial, Lateral & Transverse
A detailed look at the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot, the bones that form them, and the ligaments and muscles that provide critical support.
Explore Related Anatomy Hubs
Skeletal System Hub
Bones, joints, osteology, and biomechanics forming the structural framework of the body.
Muscular System Hub
Muscle groups, attachments, innervation, and functional anatomy.
Lymphatic System Hub
Lymphatic vessels, nodes, organs, and immune-related anatomy.