Anatomy dissection notes 4 Flashcards
What/where is the popliteal fossa ?
It is the space behind the knee joint
What are the boundaries of the popliteal fossa ?
- Superomedially - semitendinous and semimembranous
- Superolaterally - Biceps femoris
- Inferiorly - medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius
The popliteal fossa is the main conduit for neurovascualr structures leaving and entering the leg, what are the contents of the popliteal fossa ?
From medial to lateral:
- Popliteal artery
- Popliteal vein (popliteal lymph nodes are found along this)
- Tibial nerve
- Common fibular nerve
Describe the route of the tibial nerve
Arises as a branch of the sciatic nerve, then descends vertically through the popliteal fossa into the posterior compartment of the leg where it courses through the compartment deep to the soleus
Describe the route of the common fibular nerve
- Arises from the sciatic nerve, follows the medial border of the biceps femoris, running in a lateral and inferior direction, over the lateral head of the gastrocnemius.
- The nerve wraps around the neck of the fibula, splitting into the superficial and deep fibular branches which then go to there respective compartments they supply
What do the sural cutnaneous branches supply ?
They supply the skin and fascia on the posterolateral aspect of the leg and foot
From what does the sural nerves arise from ?
The tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa gives rise to medial sural cuntaneous branch
and the common fibular nerve gives rise to the lateral sural cuntaneous branch
Appreciate that there is frequent communication between the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves
appreciate this
What forms the sural nerve ?
The medial sural cuntaneous nerve and communicating fibres from the lateral sural cutaneous nerve
When is the common fibular nerve vulnerable to compression ?
Vulnerable to compression injury against the neck of the fibula (e.g. a tight plaster cast)
Can also be damaged in fractures of the fibular neck.
The posterior compartment of the leg is split into two groups (superifical and deep) what are the superficial muscles of the leg ?
- Gastrocnemius
- Soleus
- Plantaris
- Popliteus
(Girls Suck Plenty Penis)
What are the deep muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg ?
- Flexor hallucis longus (FHL)
- FLexor digitorum longus (FDL)
- Tibialis posterior (TP).
What nerve is the posterior compartment of the leg supplied by ?
Tibial nerve
What is the main function of the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?
To plantar flex the ankle and toes
What is the acronym Tom, Dick ANd Harry used to remember ?
The tendons of Tibialis posterior and flexor Digitorum longus, the posterior tibial Artery, the tibial Nerve and the tendon of flexor Hallucis longus leave the compartment to reach the sole of the foot by passing posterior to the medial malleolus and deep to the flexor retinaculum.
Describe the attachements of the gastrocnemius muscles and therefore there function
Attach distally to the calcaneus via achillies tendon and proximally to the femoral chondyles
This means that they cross both the ankle and knee joint giving it weak knee flexor and powerful ankle plantar-flexor (push off phase in walking/running).
Describe the appearance of the soleus and its attachments
- Soleus has a flat shape
- Attaches to the neck of the fibula and distally to the calcaneus via the achillies tendon
Describe the ankle jerk reflex and what it confirms
- Have the knee flexed, foot dorsiflexed with gastrocnemius and soleus relaxed
- Hammer hit against the achillies tendon (calcaneal) causes the ankle to plantar flex
Positive test confirms functioning of the muscles, and tibial nerve and the central connections at spinal cord level (reflex arc) and above
Immediately after the popliteal fossa the popliteal artery branches into what ?
Into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries and the fibular artery
Match the artery to the compartment of the leg it supplies:
- Anterior tibial artery
- Posterior tibial artery
- Fibular artery
Anterior, posterior, lateral compartmeant
- Anterior tibial artery - anterior compartment
- Posterior tibial artery - posterior compartment
- Fibular artery - lateral compartment
Describe the route of the posterior tibial artery
It passes out of the posterior compartment of the leg, posteriorly to the medial mallelous and then branches into the medial and lateral plantar arteries
What are the attachments of the deep posterior muscles of the leg?
- All three attach proximally to tibia, mid-shaft of the fibula and the interosseous membrane.
- The tendons of all three pass into the sole of the foot to attach to medial tarsal bones (TP), distal phalanges of lateral four toes (FDL) and distal phalanx of great toe (FHL).
Think flexor so they are on the sole of the foot then in relation to where they attach
