Anatomy- Popliteal fossa and posterior leg

Question 1

what is the popliteal fossa

Answer 1

space posterior to the knee joint, the main structure by which things enter and leave the leg

Question 2

what is the superiormedial border of the popliteal fossa

Answer 2

semitendinosus/ semimembranosus

Question 3

what is the superolateral border of the popliteal fossa

Answer 3

biceps femoris

Question 4

what is the inferior border of the popliteal fossa

Answer 4

medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius

Question 5

what happens to the small saphenous vein at the popliteal fossa

Answer 5

ends- passes through the deep fascia (popliteal fascia) in the median plane of the limb to drain into the popliteal vein

Question 6

what is the roof of the popliteal fossa

Answer 6

popliteal fascia

Question 7

what is contained in the PF in the median plane from superficial to deep (4) and where do these come from

Answer 7

(neurovascular bundle)

• tibial nerve (from sciatic)
• popliteal vein (continuation of posterior tibial vein)
• popliteal lymph nodes (located along the popliteal vein)
• popliteal artery (continuation of femoral artery)

Question 8

where does the sciatic nerve divide and into what

Answer 8

sueprior apex of the fossa

into the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve

(this can happen in the gluteal or posterior thigh region)

Question 9

what is the path of the tibial nerve

Answer 9

descends vertically through the fossa, straight down leg

Question 10

what is the path of the common fibular nerve

Answer 10

skirts the lateral border of the fossa, deep to the beceps femoris tendon leaving the fossa between that tendon and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius to reach the fibular neck

Question 11

what happens to the common fibular as it reaches the fibular head

Answer 11

winds around fibular head then divides into deep and superficial fibular nerves

Question 12

where are the sural nerves found

Answer 12

within the region of the popliteal fossa (mainly in superficial fascia)

Question 13

what do the sural nerves supply

Answer 13

skin and fascia on the posterolateral aspect of the leg and foot

Question 14

what nerves give rise to the sural cutaneous nerves (which produces which nerve)

Answer 14

tibal nerve- medial sural cutaneous nerve

common fibular- lateral sural cutaneous nerve

Question 15

what is the sural communicating branch

Answer 15

nerve that connects the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves and allows them to communicate

Question 16

what forms the sural nerve

Answer 16

medial sural sutaneous nerve and fibres in the communicating branch combine to form sural nerve

Question 17

what is the path of the sural nerve

Answer 17

leave the fossa to descend alongside the small saphenous vein in the superficial aspect of the medial plane of the posterior aspect of the leg

Question 18

what does the tibial nerve give branches to supply

Answer 18

both heads of the gastrocnemius

the 2 deeper muscles of the fossa

Question 19

what lies deep to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius in 90% of people

Answer 19

plantaris muscle

Question 20

what is the calcaneal tendon

Answer 20

achilles tendon

Question 21

what muscles combines inferiorly with the achilles tendon

Answer 21

plantatis

Question 22

what muscle is deep to the plantaris

Answer 22

popliteus muscle

Question 23

what tendons form the calcaneal

Answer 23

gastrocnemius and soleus

Question 24

where does the calcaneal tendon attach

Answer 24

calcaneal tuberosity of the calcaneus

Question 25

what is the normal result of the ankle jerk reflex

Answer 25

contraction of the gastrocnemius and soleus with the ankle slight platar flexing

Question 26

what nerve roots does the ankle jerk reflex test

Answer 26

S1,2 (tibial nerve)

Question 27

what is the common fibular nerve vulnerable to

Answer 27

compression injury against the neck of the fibula- causes dysfunction of the nerve and muscle it supplies and abnormal sensation in the area of skin supplied by the nerve can also be damage in fractures of the fibular neck

Question 28

what can make it difficult to palpate the popliteal pulse

Answer 28

popliteal artery's deep location the presence of popliteal fat

Question 29

what aids examination of the popliteal pulse

Answer 29

flexion of the knee to 30 degrees and relaxation of the hamstring muscles

Question 30

what muscles are in the superficial posterior compartment of the leg

Answer 30

gastrocnemius soleus plantaris popliteus

Question 31

what nerve supplies the superficial group

Answer 31

tibial nerve

Question 32

what does the superficial group do

Answer 32

platarflexors

Question 33

what do the deep group of muscles do

Answer 33

flexors of toes and platarflexors of ankle

Question 34

what nerve supplies the deep group muscles

Answer 34

tibial

Question 35

what muscles are in the deep posterior compartment of the leg

Answer 35

flexor hallucis longus (toes) flexor digitorum longus (digits) tibialis posterior

Question 36

what divides the posterior compartment of the leg

Answer 36

intermuscular septa and the interoseous membrane between the tibia and the fibula

Question 37

what is the extra role of the tibialis posterior

Answer 37

assists the tibialis anterior (ant compartment) in inversion of the food

Question 38

what is the path of the tibial nerve in the posterior compartment

Answer 38

goes through the compartment deep to soleus in the company of the posterior tibial artery (and accompanying veins)

Question 39

from anterior to posterior, what leaves the posterior compartment to reach to sole of the foot

Answer 39

Tom Dick ANd Harry tendons of Tibialis posterior and flexor Digitorum longus posterior tibial Atery tibial Nerve the tendon of flexor Hallucis longus

Question 40

how do 'Tom Dick And Harry' reach the sole of the foot

Answer 40

pass posterior to the medial malleolus and deep to the flexor retinaculum

Question 41

where does the plantaris orginiate and insert

Answer 41

supracondylar ridge calcaneal tendon

Question 42

where does the popliteus originate and insert

Answer 42

posterior surface of proximal tibia lateral femoral condyle

Question 43

what doe s gastrocnemius have two of

Answer 43

heads muscle bellies

Question 44

where do the heads of the gastrocnemius attach distally

Answer 44

to calcaneus via the achilles tendon

Question 45

where do the heads of the gastrocnemius attach to proximally

Answer 45

to their respective (medial and lateral) femoral condyle

Question 46

what are the roles of the gastrocnemius

Answer 46

as passes both knee and ankle joints: - weak knee flexor - powerful ankle plantar-flexor

Question 47

what is the proximal attachment of the soleus

Answer 47

neck of the fibula and the soleal line of the tibia (appears to slope inferiorly from lateral to medial)

Question 48

what is the distal attachment of the soleus

Answer 48

calcaneus via the achilles tendon

Question 49

is the ankle jerk reflex a deep tendon reflex

Answer 49

yes

Question 50

what position must the patient be in for the ankle jerk reflex

Answer 50

supine, lower limb external rotated, knee flexed, ankle dorsiflexed with gastrocnemius and soleus relaxed

Question 51

what tendon is struck in the ankle jerk test and where

Answer 51

calcaneal- proximal to its insertion into the calcaneus

Question 52

what is the fibular artery a branch of

Answer 52

the posterior tibial artery

Question 53

where does the popliteal artery branch and into what

Answer 53

immediately distal to the popliteal fossa anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 54

what does the anterior tibial artery do

Answer 54

pierces the interosseous membrane to supply the anterior compartment of the leg

Question 55

what does the posterior tibial artery do

Answer 55

supplies the posterior compartment of the leg

Question 56

what is the path of the posterior tibial artery

Answer 56

runs with the tibial nerve, mainly between the superficial and deep muscles

Question 57

how does the posterior tibial artery leave the compartment

Answer 57

passes posterior to the medial malleolus (posterior tibial pulse) and deep to the flexor retinaculum

Question 58

where does the posterior tibial artery terminate and how

Answer 58

in the foot by dividing into the medial and lateral plantar arteries

Question 59

what does the fibular artery branch from

Answer 59

posterior tibial artery in the proximal half of the compartment

Question 60

what is the path and role o the fibular artery

Answer 60

descends in the compartment on the posterior intermuscular septum and sends perforating branches through the septum to supply to lateral compartment of the leg

Question 61

where does the flexor digitorum longus attach to proximally and distally

Answer 61

medial surface of tibia (inferior to soleal line) distal phalanges of lateral four toes

Question 62

where does the flexor hallucis longus attach to proximally and distally

Answer 62

posterior surface of the tibula and the interosseous membrane distal phalanx of the great toe

Question 63

where does the tibilalis posterior attach to proximally and distally

Answer 63

interosseous membrane medial tarsal bones

Question 64

what in the lower limb does the sciatic nerve supply

Answer 64

posterior compartment of thigh all compartments of the leg intrinsic muscles of the foot