Thigh (Human Anatomy): Image, Function, Diseases, and Treatments

The term 'thigh' refers to the region of the leg that is between the knees and the hip bone. It is made up of a variety of muscle groups all working together. Because of their high degree of elasticity, skeletal muscles may be stretched to extremely great lengths. Several examples of which are shown down below.

The biceps femoris, the semitendinosus, and the semimembranosus are the three muscles that form the hamstrings, and they can be found towards the back of the thigh, beginning at the hip and ending just below the knee. The hamstring muscles are the largest muscle group in the human body. The flexibility of the knee is also helped along by the hamstrings.

• Pectineus: It is a flat muscle that goes downward and in front of the pelvis and terminates at the top of the femur bone. This muscle is known as the pectineus. It also helps rotate and flex the thigh from the hip joint and strengthens the area around the pelvis.
• Adductors: Obliquus extensor, gracilis, adductor longus, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus are the five muscles that make up the adductors. These muscles are located on the inside of the thigh, and their range of motion extends from the femur, or thigh bone, all the way down to the pelvis.
• Sartorius: The Sartorius is a long, slender muscle that is also noted for being the muscle in our body that is the longest in length. It begins above the hip, travels forward down the front of the leg, and then curves back around behind the knee. It is helpful for a person to rotate and flex their thigh from the hip joint while also bending their legs to view the bottom of their feet and sitting on the floor in a posture where their legs are crossed.
• Quadriceps: The quadriceps are made up of four different muscles: the vastus intermedius, the vastus medialis, the vastus lateralis, and the rectus femoris. It extends all the way down to the kneecap and the shin bone, beginning at the pelvis and the femur.

Your thighs are responsible for supporting the majority of your body weight, making them an essential component of your anatomy. When a person walks with one leg behind the other, it is beneficial to tilt or extend the hips and position the leg behind the rest of the body.

It aids in the action of bending the leg in that direction. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the hips and knees are better connected to the rest of the body as a result of this. The thigh helps in movements as well as locomotion of the body from one place to the other.

• Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a disorder that weakens the bones, which makes them more prone to fractures that come on suddenly and unexpectedly.
• Hereditary spastic paraplegia/ HSP: Genetic illnesses that cause a person's legs to gradually get weaker and stiffer are collectively known as familial spastic paraparesis (FSP), or hereditary spastic paraplegia.
• Thrombophlebitis: A blood clot forms and blocks a vein, typically in the legs, due to an inflammatory disease called thrombophlebitis. The affected vein might be near the surface of the skin/superficial thrombophlebitis or deep within a muscle.
• Lymphedema: Lymphedema also refers to tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluid that's usually drained through the body's lymphatic system.
• Runner's or jumper's knee: Runner's or jumper's knee, often known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, There is discomfort all around and beneath the kneecap as a result of this. It may be caused by excessive use of the knees in conjunction with the wearing of new shoes.
• Femoral Shaft Fracture: Abduction and flexion are performed on the proximal component of the femur, whereas abduction into a varus deformity and extension are performed on the distal piece. Signs such as significant swelling of the thigh owing to huge volumes of bleeding from the femoral artery may be visible, and there is also a danger of injury to the femoral nerve.
• Distal Femoral Fracture: Fractures of the distal femur may occur as a result of trauma sustained in contact sports or from falls experienced by older people. Pain and swelling in the lower part of the thigh are two of the symptoms that are present. If displacement is seen, there is a possibility that harm will occur to the popliteal artery.
• Meralgia paresthetica: it is characterised by the compression of the lateral cutaneous nerve at the point where it passes through the fascia lata or the inguinal ligament. People who are overweight, pregnant, or have diabetes are at an increased risk. Symptoms include a feeling similar to a burning or stinging in the thigh, which becomes worse while standing or walking.
• Iliopsoas bursitis: Iliopsoas bursitis is caused by distension of the iliopsoas muscle bursa owing to synovial fluid. This condition is known as iliopsoas bursitis. Thigh bone friction syndrome is a painful condition in which the connective tissue on the thigh bone rubs against the bone itself.
• Iliotibial band syndrome: it takes place when the connective ligament that runs from the pelvic bone to the shinbone gets so tight that it scrapes on the thigh bone.The most common places for thigh injuries to occur are in the front and on the outside of the leg. Some of the symptoms that may show up in the affected area are pain, trouble bearing weight, swelling, and what looks like a huge lump.
• Deep vein thrombosis: in one or more of the veins when there is thrombotic lesion formation occurred then it is called as deep vein thrombosis In some cases, there are no symptoms, but most of the time, people experience things like swelling, soreness, tenderness, a warm feeling, and a discoloration that is either pale or blue in tone.
• Hereditary spastic paraplegia/ HSP1: Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that develops as a consequence of excessive blood sugar levels that are not properly managed. Diabetic neuropathy naged. The hands and feet are the most common locations where it starts, although it may spread to other regions of the body, including the thighs. Symptoms such as sensitivity to touch, loss of sensation of touch, difficulties with coordination when walking, numbness in extremities, muscular weakness or wasting, and difficulty walking are all signs of multiple sclerosis
• Hereditary spastic paraplegia/ HSP3: in this disease there is inflammation of joints , muscles and swelling around the joints. This condition makes it hard to walk and do other everyday things. It can show up in the hips, knees, or ankles.
• Tendinitis: This is an inflammation of the tendons that may be caused by abnormal movement of a certain joint. This kind of movement can lead to tendinitis. It is an injury that happens when the hip, knee, and ankle do the same thing over and over again.
• Hereditary spastic paraplegia/ HSP5: This pain is caused by too little blood flow to muscles during exercise.

• Physical Exam: A doctor can typically diagnose bursitis by examining the patient's range of motion in the hip joint, the strength of the patient's muscles, and the location of the pain along the different regions of the thigh are helpful in determining the problem of inflammation of different muscles.
• Nerve conduction test: During a nerve conduction study, the patient will have electrodes in the form of patches put on their skin. These electrodes will send a small electrical impulse to the nerve. The nerve injury may be diagnosed with the assistance of the electrical impulse. It is possible to conduct an examination that involves contrasting the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve on both sides.
• Anaesthesia test: Injection of an anaesthetic into the region of the thigh where the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve enters may be used to confirm if a person has meralgia paresthetica by providing pain alleviation.
• X-rays: X-rays are a kind of radiation that provides pictures of the bones in the femur. When diagnosing a thigh fracture, X-rays are needed to see which part of the femur is broken and how bad the break is.
• CT scan: In a CT scan, X-rays and computers work together to generate a picture of a cross-section of the patient's body. Images that are detailed need to be taken from a variety of angles on the body.
• Magnetic resonance imaging: The MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, method uses a large amount of magnetic waves, radio waves, and a computer to take high-resolution pictures of the thigh bone.
• Radiography: An X-ray does not look at the bursa itself, but it can be used to rule out bone damage or arthritis as possible causes of shoulder pain. Radiography is a form of imaging that uses electromagnetic radiation. This is something that should be taken into consideration when selecting the appropriate form of treatment.
• MRI Scans: An MRI scan can show whether or not there is inflammation in the bursa, as well as whether or not there is damage to the bone and the surrounding tissue. MRI scans are typically unnecessary during the diagnostic process.
• Bone Marrow And Fluid Aspiration And Testing: Testing the Fluid Fluid can be drawn from the bursa and tested to determine whether or not an infection is present. This process is referred to by its proper term, aspiration.
• DEXA SCAN: A dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan is the method that is used most frequently and provides the most reliable results. Low-dose x-rays are used in DEXA imaging. It is one of the gold standards for checking the fractures and symptoms of arthritis.

• Physical Therapy: A popular form of treatment is called physical therapy. The muscles that surround the femur will most likely be the primary focus of this workout. However, if the condition is severe enough, surgery can be necessary.
• Physiotherapy: When the femur is damaged due to injury, illness, or disability, physiotherapy can assist restore motion and function to the hip joint. More than that, it can help lessen the chances of you getting sick or hurt in the future. It calls for a comprehensive approach that maximally involves the patient in shaping his or her own treatment.
• Steroid Injections: Ultrasound-guided steroid injection into the pelvic bone requires only a tiny amount of steroid but has been shown to significantly reduce swelling, irritation, and pain. Low doses of steroids are used in injectable forms.
• RICE Therapy: The RICE therapy protocol consists of the following steps; Rest, Icing, Compression (using an athletic bandage or something similar), and Elevation. An injury to the foot can typically be treated using the RICE method, which consists of applying ice, resting the injured part of the femur, applying compression, and elevating it.
• Open Reduction And Internal Fixation ORIF: The term 'open reduction and internal fixation,' or 'ORIF,' refers to a type of surgery that is performed to help stabilise and repair a broken bone. It's possible that you'll require this operation to treat the fracture in your femur.
• Insertion of Plates and screws: Plates and screws are fastened to the bone's external surfaces. In most cases, the hardware is not removed once the bone has healed, unless it is causing the patient distress (this usually happens a year or more after the surgery).
• Insertion Of Screws Or Pins: screws or pins that are driven through the bone. After the fracture has sufficiently healed, they are often removed.they are useful in treatment partial fractures of femur.

• Analgesics for pain in thigh muscles: Analgesics, sometimes known as painkillers, include medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin.They are used to relieve pain.
• Corticosteroids For treating inflammation of thigh: Injections of corticosteroids have been shown to temporarily alleviate pain and decrease inflammation. There is a possibility of experiencing adverse effects such as joint infection, nerve damage, discomfort, and skin whitening around the injection site.
• Muscle relaxants: Orphenadrine, metaxalone, methocarbamol, orphenadrine, tizanidine, and carisoprodol are some of the muscle relaxants that a specialist may give. Other options include methocarbamol and orphenadrine.
• Blood thinners for treatment of thrombophlebitis: Blood thinners like ecosprin and warfarin are useful in treatment of deep vein thrombosis.