13. Posterior Leg (No OIAN)

Question 1

What are the terminal branches of the posterior tibial artery?

Answer 1

Medial and Lateral plantar arteries

Question 2

What bone is the origin of the flexor hallucis longus?

Answer 2

The fibula!

(despite attaching on the tibial side at the great toe, it originates on the fibula)

Question 3

What separates the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg?

Answer 3

The anterior septum

Question 4

What is the action of the popliteus muscle?

Answer 4

Laterally rotates the femur on a planted tibia to unlock the knee

Question 5

What bone serves as the origin for the flexor digitorum longus?

Answer 5

Tibia

Question 6

What is the probable function of the plantaris muscle?

Answer 6

Proprioception

Question 7

Where are Tom Dick AN Harry located?

What structures are they?

Answer 7

Just behind the medial malleolus

Tibialis posterior

flexor Digitorum longus

posterior tibial Artery

tibial Nerve

flexor Hallucis longus

(anterior to posterior)

Question 8

What rare small bone can fracture during total knee replacement, and where does it reside?

Answer 8

The fabella

In the lateral head of the gastrocnemius

Question 9

What four muscles of the posterior leg act as dynamic support to the arch of the foot?

Answer 9

Tibialis anterior

Tibialis posterior

Fibularis longus

Flexor hallucis longus

Question 10

In the posterior compartment, what muscle should you look under in order to find the fibular artery?

Answer 10

The flexor hallucis longus

Question 11

Why might you want to palpate the tibial pulse?

Answer 11

To check for occlusive peripheral arterial disease

Question 12

What tendon occupies the groove on the bottom of the sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus?

Answer 12

Tendon of the Flexor Hallucis Longus

Question 13

What is the best method to palpate the tibial pulse?

Answer 13

Place your fingers on the posterior surface of the medial malleolus and instruct the patient to invert their foot.

(Inverting the foot relaxes the flexor retinaculum)

Question 14

What two muscles of the posterior leg did Dr. Wright say are “especially useful” for maintaining the arches of the foot?

Answer 14

Tibialis posterior

Flexor hallucis longus

Question 15

What muscles are involved in inversion of the foot?

Answer 15

Tibialis anterior and posterior

Question 16

What separates the lateral and posterior compartments of the leg?

Answer 16

The posterior septum

Question 17

In the posterior compartment of the leg, what muscle should you look deep to in order to find the tibial nerve?

Answer 17

The soleus

Question 18

What two bones does the spring ligament run between?

Answer 18

Calcaneus

Navicular

(The other name is the Plantar Calcaneonavicular Ligament)

Question 19

How does the fibular artery terminate?

Answer 19

Runs through the interosseous membrane and anastomoses with the anterior lateral malleolar artery

Question 20

What separates the superficial and posterior deep compartments of the leg?

Answer 20

The transverse septum

Question 21

What two arteries are located in the posterior compartment of the leg?

Which one primarily provides blood supply to the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 21

Posterior tibial artery and fibular artery

Posterior tibial artery

Question 22

What small muscle has a long tendon which can be used in reconstructive surgery of the hand?

Answer 22

Plantaris