Leg Flashcards
popliteal fossa boundaries
superomedially: semitendinosus & semimembranosus
superlaterally: biceps femoris
inferiolaterally: lateral head gastrocnemius
inferomedially: medial head gastrocnemius
popliteal fossa contents (superficial to deep)
tibial n.
popliteal vein, lymph nodes, and branches
popliteal artery and branches
the small saphenous v. terminates into the ___
popliteal v.
deep fascia of the leg is called
crural fascia
fabella
- what is it
- what does it do
- problems associated
a sesamoid bone on the femur that sits under the lateral head of the gastrocnemius
- possibly provides leverage for lateral head
- can be fractured during knee replacements, causing pain
triceps surae
gastrocnemius + soleus
why is the plantaris m. proposed to be a proprioceptive organ
it has an unusually high density of proprioceptive receptor end organs
what are the 2 clinical relevances of the plantaris m. tendon
it can be used in reconstructive surgeries of hand tendons
common injury for basketball players, sprinters, ballet dancers caused by sudden dorsiflexion of ankle
how does the tibial n. leave the posterior compartment
passing deep to the flexor retinaculum between medial malleolus and calcaneus
how does the tibial nerve terminate
into medial and lateral plantar nerves
how does the posterior tibial a. terminate
into medial and lateral plantar arteries
what is the main arterial and nerve supply for the posterior compartment of the leg
tibial n.
posterior tibial a.
what does the fibular a. vascularize
posterior and lateral compartments of the leg
where is the posterior tibial pulse palpated
in between posterior surface of medial malleolus and medial border of achilles tendon
what must the patient do in order to feel the posterior tibial artery pulse
invert the foot to relax the flexor retinaculum
why would you try to feel for the posterior tibial pulse
if the patient has occlusive peripheral arterial disease
occlusive peripheral arterial disease
- what is it/what causes it
- symptoms
condition caused by ischemia of the leg muscles due to narrowing or occlusion of the leg arteries
- leg cramps, pain with walking
how does the extensor retinaculum form
distal thickening of crural fascia
purpose of extensor retinaculum
prevents bowstringing during dorsiflexion
primary function of the anterior compartment muscles
dorsiflexion and toe extension
how does the deep fibular n. terminate
into medial and lateral terminal branches on the dorsum of the foot
what demarcates the approximate point of division of anterior and posterior tibial arteries
tibial tuberosity
what supplies nearly the entire dorsal surface of the foot and most of the dorsal aspect of the digits
superficial fibular n.
what is the most commonly injured lower extremity nerve
common fibular n.
foot drop
- what is it
- common sign
- other sx
damage to the common fibular n. causing loss of dorsiflexion and eversion
- characterized by a “clop” sound of the foot
- loss of sensation along anterolateral leg and dorsum of foot
what is the arterial supply for the lateral compartment of the leg
fibular a.
compartment syndrome
- what causes it
- what can it lead to
- how can it be fixed
pressure in the legs from fluid build up and the toughness of the crural fascia
- may lead to ischemia and permanent injury
- can be fixed with fasciotomy
shin splints
- what is it
- what causes it
- small tears to the perisoteum over the tibia or tears to the overlying deep fascia causing pain
- caused by repetitive microtrauma to tibialis anterior
(a mild form of compartment syndrome)
