Leg Flashcards
Tarsal tunnel
Most structures pass between leg and foot through here, except anterior tibial artery, and ends of deep and superficial peroneal nerve which enter foot anterior to ankle
Anterior compartment of leg
Dorsiflex ankle, extend toes and invert foot
Posterior compartment of leg
Planterflex ankle, flex toes and invert foot
lateral compartment of leg
evert foot
Shaft of tibia
Borders - anterior, medial and interosseous
Surface - lateral, medial and posterior
Posterior surface marked by soleal line (an oblique line)
Has a groove for tibialis posterior tendon
Soleal line
Descends from lateral to medial side where it merges with medial border
Fibula
3 borders - anterior, posterior, interosseous
3 surfaces - lateral, posterior, medial
Has groove for peroneal longus and brevis muscles
Posterior compartment of leg - muscles
Separated into 2 groups - superficial and deep, separated by a layer of deep fascia.
All are innervated by tibial nerve
Superficial muscle in posterior compartment
gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris
All insert into calcaneus and plantarflex the ankle joint
Gastroc and plantaris originate from distal end of femur hence can also flex the knee
Gastrocnemius
Most superficial in posterior compartment of leg
Medial head - attached to posterior aspect of distal femur just behind adductor tubercle and above articular surface of medial condyle
Lateral head - from lateral femoral condyle
In lower leg, converge with deeper soleus muscle to form calcaneal tendon
Innervated by tibial nerve (S1, S2)
Plantaris
Small muscle belly proximally and long thin tendon which descends through leg medially, between soleus and gastroc and joins calcaneal tendon
Origin - lateral supracondylar line of femur and oblique popliteal ligament of knee
Tibial nerve S1-S2
Soleus
Origin - soleal line and medial border of tibia (originates from tibia, fibula and tendinous ligament)
Insertion - calcaneal tendon to posterior surface of calcaneus
Deep posterior compartment of leg
popliteus, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus and tibialis posterior
Popliteus acts on knee whilst the others on foot
Popliteus
Smallest and most superior of deep posterior comp
Unlocks extended knee at initiation of flexion and stabilizes knee by resisting external rotation of tibia on femur
Origin - lateral femoral condyle
Insertion - posterior surface of tibia
Forms part of floor of popliteal fossa
Tibial nerve L4-S1
Flexor hallucis longus
Most lateral side in posterior comp
Origin - lower 2/3 of posterior surface of fibula and adjacent interosseous membrane
Insertion - plantar surface of great toe on medial side of foot
Tibial nerve S2-S3
Flexes great toe