Advanced Greater Trochanter Quiz

Q1. Why can displacement of a greater trochanter fracture weaken hip abduction?

• It severs the patellar ligament
• It can disrupt the attachment and leverage of the hip abductors
• It removes the tibial attachment of the hamstrings
• It eliminates the ankle plantarflexors

Q2. Why is the greater trochanter an important landmark during lateral surgical approaches to the hip?

• It identifies the medial malleolus
• It provides a palpable reference for proximal femoral and abductor anatomy
• It marks the center of the knee joint
• It lies within the acetabular cavity

Q3. Which attachment pattern best distinguishes gluteus medius from gluteus minimus at the greater trochanter?

• Both insert only on the lesser trochanter
• Both insert only in the trochanteric fossa
• Gluteus medius is lateral and gluteus minimus is anterior
• Gluteus medius is medial and gluteus minimus is posterior

Q4. Why can pathology around the greater trochanter produce pain during side lying?

• Direct compression can stress the peritrochanteric bursae and gluteal tendons
• Side lying dislocates the femoral head normally
• The patellar tendon crosses the greater trochanter
• The greater trochanter contacts the tibial plateau

Q5. How does the lateral projection of the greater trochanter affect the hip abductor moment arm?

• It moves the abductors medial to the joint center
• It increases the leverage of the abductors about the hip joint
• It converts the abductors into knee extensors
• It eliminates the abductor moment arm

Q6. Which anatomical relationship explains why obturator externus inserts in a relatively deep location?

• It crosses anterior to the tibial tuberosity
• It passes through the patellar ligament
• It passes posterior to the femoral neck to reach the trochanteric fossa
• It inserts into the acetabular labrum

Q7. Why is preservation of the greater trochanter and its abductor attachments important in proximal femoral reconstruction?

• It restores the cruciate ligaments
• It helps preserve abductor tension and pelvic stability during gait
• It controls ankle dorsiflexion directly
• It provides the main attachment of the adductor longus

Q8. How can greater trochanteric displacement alter gait mechanics?

• It fuses the knee joint
• It can impair pelvic stabilization during single-limb stance
• It directly paralyzes the plantarflexors
• It prevents movement of the toes

Q9. Why is the greater trochanter useful as a surface landmark when assessing proximal femoral alignment?

• It directly marks the knee joint line
• It is fixed to the pelvis independently of the femur
• It is hidden completely by the acetabulum
• Its palpable prominence reflects the position of the proximal femur

Q10. Which statement best integrates the anatomy of the greater trochanter?

• It is a distal femoral process forming the knee
• It is a tibial prominence receiving the patellar ligament
• It is a major proximal femoral process for muscle attachment, leverage, surface orientation, and hip stability
• It is a pelvic process forming the acetabular roof