Anatomy of Lower Leg, Ankle and Foot

Question 1

What are the different compartments of muscles of the lower leg?

Answer 1

• Anterior
• Lateral
• Posterior

Question 2

What divides the different compartments of muscle?

Answer 2

Intermuscular septum from deep fascia divides the muscle compartment

Question 3

What are the main nerves of the lower leg?

Answer 3

• Common fibular nerve and branches (superficial and deep fibular nerves)
• Tibial nerve
  
  • Branch of sciatic nerve
  • Enters foot and divides into medial and lateral plantar nerves

Question 4

What does the tibial nerve branch from?

Answer 4

Sciatic nerve

Question 5

What is the function of the ankle joint?

Answer 5

• Critical in weight bearing and walking

Question 6

What type of joint is the ankle joint?

Answer 6

Hinge type of synovial joint

Question 7

What are the articulations of the ankle joint?

Answer 7

• Between distal part of tibia, fibula and upper part of talus

Question 8

Is the ankle joint more stable in plantar or dorsal flexion?

Answer 8

Dorsal flexion

Question 9

Describe the structure of the capsule of the ankle

Answer 9

• Capsule is thin in front and behind
• Supported on each side by strong collateral ligaments
  
  • Medial ligament and lateral ligament

Question 10

The medial ligaments stablise the ankle during what movement?

Answer 10

Eversion

Question 11

The lateral ligaments stablise the ankle during what movement?

Answer 11

Inversion

Question 12

Are the medial or lateral ligaments of the ankle more commonly involved in injuries?

Answer 12

Lateral

Question 13

Anterior compartment of muscles are responsible for what movement?

Answer 13

Dorsiflexion

Question 14

What is the anterior compartment of muscles composed of?

Answer 14

• Tibialis anterior
• Extensor digitorum longus
• Extensor halluces longus
• Peroneus or fibular tertius

Question 15

Posterior complartment of muscles is responsible for what?

Answer 15

Plantar flexion

Question 16

Posterior compartment of muscles is composed of what?

Answer 16

• Superficial
  
  • Gastronemius
• Intermediate
  
  • Soleus
  • Assisted by plantaris
  • Tibialis posterior
• Deep flexors
  
  • Flexor halluces longus
  • Flexor digitorum longus

Question 17

What are some different pathologies of the ankle?

Answer 17

• Ankle sprains
  
  • Inversion injury
• Pott fracture
  
  • Dislocation of ankle
• Footballer’s ankle
  
  • Repeated strain on the anterior capsule
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  
  • Tibial nerve compression

Question 18

What is footballer’s ankle?

Answer 18

Repeated strain on the anterior capsule

Question 19

What is tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Answer 19

Tibial nerve compression

Question 20

What are the 4 different layers of the sole of the foot?

Answer 20

• First layer
  
  • Plantar aponeurosis
• Second layer
  
  • Lateral plantar nerve and artery
• Third layer
  
  • Medial planter nerve and artery
• Fourth layer
  
  • Dorsal interossei
  • Plantar interossei

Question 21

What are the functions of the bones of the foot?

Answer 21

Supports the body in standing and progression, by levering it forwards

Question 22

Skeleton of the foot is divided into?

Answer 22

• Tarsus
• Metatarsus
• Phalanges
  
  • Big toe only has 2, the rest have 3

Question 23

At what joints is inversion and eversion carried out?

Answer 23

Carried out at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints

Question 24

What muscles are inverters?

Answer 24

• Tibialis anterior and posterior

Question 25

What muscles are everters?

Answer 25

• Fibularis longus and brevis

Question 27

What are the functions of the arches of the foot?

Answer 27

• Flexible and deform on uneven ground
• Shock absorbers
• Distribute weight over foot
• Acts as springboards during walking, running and jumping

Question 28

What are the arches of the foot?

Answer 28

• Longitudinal arch
  
  • Medial and lateral parts
  • Medial is more important
• Transverse arch

Question 29

What are some clinical problems with the arches of the foot?

Answer 29

• Flat feet
  
  • Common in children <3 due to subcutaneous fat
  • Also in old people
  • Can be acquired due to dysfunction of tibialis posterior
• High arched foot
  
  • Congenital