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The forming of the lower extremities shape

© Mikhail Yegorov, Alexander Barinov

An important factor influencing the form of the lower extremities is the distribution of the soft tissues around the femur, tibia and fibula. The muscles of the lower limb play the leading role here. The position of the femur and the shin, with a small valgum curving at the level of the knee joint, sufficient, but not over-developed muscle masses, without excessive fat in the subcutaneous fat tissue, gives an idea of a normal cosmetic form of the lower limb.

When planning cosmetic operations on the lower limb, it is necessary to have a notion of the positions and functions of the basic groups of muscles participating in making up the form of the femur and the shin.

The frontal femoral surface is occupied by the quadriceps femoris - the extensor of the femur. The muscle has four heads which, combining all together, form the common tendon, in the tick of which there is the patella, and its cord is attached to the upper area of the tibia. Rectus femoris is the longest of all the heads; it occupies the frontal surface of the femur, beginning from the lower frontal bone of the pelvis and becoming transformed into the common tendon in the lower third of the femur.

Vastus medialis muscle occupies the frontal medial surface of the femur, forming its internal surface together with adductor magnus.

Vastus lateralis occupies the frontal lateral surface of the femur; the descending muscle bundles turn into a wide tendon, which is a member of the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris. Together with the tensor fasciae latae and the ilio-tibial tract, it forms the frontal-outward contour of the femur.

Vastus intermedius is situated under the rectus femoris between the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis. It is weaker than other heads. Together with the rectus femoris, it participates in the formation of the muscle shape on the frontal surface of the femur.

Gracilis, semitendinosis and semimembranosis muscles occupy the back inward surface of the femur. The two latter possess the biggest muscle mass and play the most important role in forming the shape of the back inward surface of the femur.

The lateral back surface of the femur is occupied by biceps femoris having two heads.

The shape of the shin depends, first of all, on the extent of the development of shin muscles. On the back surface, triceps surae is located, consisting of gastrocnemius and soleus.

On the frontal surface of the shin, there are extensors of the foot and digits. The most important in forming the shape are peroneus longus et brevis, extensor digitorum longus.

The normal form of the lower extremities

The normal form of the lower extremities

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