Joints of the lower limb

Synovial ball and socket joint
Articulation occurs between head of femur and acetabulum of the hip bone
Articular surface is horseshoe-shaped and deficient at acetabular notch
Cavity is deepened by rim of fibrocartilage knows as the acetabular labrum
Articular surfaces are covered with hyaline cartilage
Capsule is strengthened by ligaments
- Iliofemoral ligament
- Pubofemoral ligament
- Ischiofemoral ligament
- Transverse acetabular ligament
The nerve supply is from the femoral, obturator and sciatic nerves

Flexion
- Iliopsoas
- Rectus femoris
- Sartorius
Extension
- Gluteus maximus
- Hamstring muscles
Abduction
- Gluteus medius and minimus
- Tensor fascia lata
- Piriformis
Adduction
- Adductor longus
- Adductor fibres of the adductor magnus
Lateral rotation
- Piriformis
- Obturator internus and externus
- Quadratus femoris
Medial rotation
- Anterior fibres if gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimus
- Tensor fasciae lata

Synovial hinge joint
Articulation occurs between the lower end of tibia, the two malleoli and body of talus
Articular surfaces are covered with hyaline cartilage
Capsule is thin and allows large range of movement
Capsule is strengthened by ligaments
- Medial or deltoid ligament
- Anterior talofibular ligament
- Calcaneofibular ligament
- Posterior talofibular ligament
The nerve supply is from the deep peroneal and tibial nerves

Dorsiflexion
- Tibialis anterior
- Extensor hallucis longus
- Extensor digitorum longus
- Peroneus tertius
Plantar flexion
- Gastrocnemius
- Soleus
- Plantaris
- Peroneus longus
- Peroneus brevis
- Tibialis posterior
- Flexor digitorum longus
- Flexor hallucis longus
Inversion and eversion take place at the tarsal joints

Structures that pass superficial to extensor retinacula
- Saphenous nerve
- Long saphenous vein
- Superficial peroneal nerve
Structures that pass deep to extensor retinacula
- Tibialis anterior tendon
- Extensor hallucis longus tendon
- Anterior tibial artery
- Deep peroneal nerve
- Extensor digitorum longus
- Peroneus tertius
Structures that pass behind medial malleolus deep to flexor retinaculum
- Tibialis posterior tendon
- Flexor digitorum longus
- Posterior tibial artery
- Tibial nerve
- Flexor hallucis longus
Structure that pass behind the lateral malleolus superficial to superior peroneal retinaculum
- Sural nerve
- Short saphenous vein
Structure that pass behind the lateral malleolus deep to superior peroneal retinaculum
- Peroneus longus tendon
- Peroneus brevis tendon