Distal lower limb

Question 1

What are the 3 main compartments of the leg?

Answer 1

Anterior
Lateral
Posterior

Question 2

What are the muscles of the anterior leg?

What is their common function?

Answer 2

Dorsiflexion + inversion 
Tibialis anterior ( inversion)
Extensor hallucis longus 
Extensor digitorum longus 
Fibularis tertius ( eversion)

Question 3

What is the blood + nerve supply to the anterior leg?

Answer 3

Anterior tibial artery

Deep fibular nerve

Question 4

What are the muscles of the lateral leg?

What is their common function?

Answer 4

Eversion
Fibularis longus
Fibularis brevis

Question 5

What is the blood + nerve supply to the lateral leg?

Answer 5

Superficial fibular nerve
Fibular artery ( branch of posterior tibial artery)

Question 6

What are the 2 groups of muscles ?
What muscles are in each group?
What is their common function?

Answer 6

Plantarflexion
Superficial group
- Gastrocnemius ( plantar flexion + knee flexion)
- Plantaris ( plantar flexion + knee flexion)
- Soleus ( plantar flexion)

Deep group

• Tibialis posterior - Inversion + plantarflexion
• Flexor digitorum longus - Inversion + plantarflexion
• Flexor hallucis longus Inversion + plantarflexion
• Popliteus : Unlocks the knee

Question 7

What is the blood + nerve supply to the posterior leg?

Answer 7

Posterior tibial artery

Tibial nerve

Question 8

Describe the blood flow to the lower limb

Answer 8

Femoral artery descends through the adductor hiatus to become the popliteal artery

Popliteal artery -> anterior tibial artery + posterior tibial artery
Posterior tibial artery has a branch to supply the lateral leg = fibular artery
Posterior tibial artery divides at the foot to give the medial plantar artery + lateral plantar artery
Anterior tibial artery divides to give dorsalis pedis artery

Question 9

What are the 2 dorsal intrinsic muscles?

Answer 9

Extensor hallucis brevis
Extensor digitorum brevis
Deep fibular nerve

Question 10

What are the 10 intrinsic muscles of the plantar surface?

Which nerves innervate these muscles?

Answer 10

Innervated by medial plantar or lateral plantar nerves
1st layer: Abductor hallucis
Flexor digitorum brevis
Abductor digita minimi

2nd layer:
Quadratus plantae
Lumbricals

3rd layer:
Flexor hallucis brevis
Flexor digiti minimi
Adductor hallucis

4th layer:
Dorsal interossei
Plantar interossei

Question 11

Where does the deep saphenous vein drain into?

Answer 11

Femoral vein

Question 12

Where does the lesser saphenous vein drain into?

Answer 12

Popliteal vein

Question 13

What makes up the 4 borders of the popliteal fossa?

What structures transverse this fossa?

Answer 13

• Semimembranosus, biceps femoris, medial + lateral heads of gastrognemius

From medial to lateral

• Popliteal artery
• Popliteal vein
• Tibial nerve
• Common fibular nerve