Leg and ankle Flashcards
what is the role of the foot and ankle?
Stability
Mobility
how do the foot an ankle provide stability?
-Stable base to support body weight during stance and locomotion
-Rigid lever for effective push-off during gait
how do the foot and ankle provide mobility?
Influences other joints
Flexible for shock absorption
Conform to changing surfaces
what is the tibial tuberosity?
attachment site of the patellar tendon
what are the bones of the leg?
Tibia (large)
Fibula (small)
what runs between the tibia and fibula?
interosseous membrane
what type of joint is the superior tibiofibular joint?
Synovial joint
what type of joint is the inferior tibiofibular joint?
Syndesmosis- fibrous joint with limited movement
what strengthens the inferior tibiofibular joint?
The anterior tibiofibular ligament
Posterior tibiofibular ligament
why are the arches of the foot important?
shock absorption
what are the 3 arches of the foot?
Medial arch
Lateral arch
Transverse arch
what are the three major bone groups of the foot?
Phalanges
Metatarsals
Tarsals
what are the names of the tarsels?
Cuneiforms (Medial, Intermediate, Lateral)
Navicular
Cuboid
Talus
Calcaneus
what forms the arches of the foot?
Bones, ligaments, plantar fascia, muscles, tendons
what is the function of the foot arches?
-Stability and flexibility
-Absorb and distribute force
-Aid propulsion
what type of joint in the ankle joint?
Hinge joint
what are the movements at the ankle joint?
Plantar flexion (point toes down)
Dorsiflexion (lift toes up)
What do the ankle muscles passing over the foot dorsal surface do?
Dorsiflex the ankle joint and/or extend the toes
what do the ankle muscles passing over the foot plantar surface do?
Plantarflex the ankle joint and/or flex the toes
what bones form the ankle joint?
The Medial malleolus (tibia)
The lateral malleolus (fibula)
Inferior surface of the distal end of the tibia
- all form the socket
The Talus inserts into the socket
where is the subtalar joint?
Between the talus and calcaneus
what is the function of the subtalar joint?
Allows inversion and eversion
what do the medial foot muscles do?
Muscles inserting from the medial side allow inversion of the foot (towards the midline)
what do the lateral foot muscles do?
Muscles inserted from the lateral side allow eversion of the foot (away from the midline
what are the ankle ligaments?
Lateral collateral ligaments
Medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
what is the function of the lateral collateral ankle ligaments?
Restrict inversion
- commonly damaged in ankle sprain
what is the function of the ankle medial collateral (deltoid) ligament?
Restricts Eversion
- stronger that the lateral collateral ligament
when does a sprain commonly occur?
during inversion of plantar flexion
- these positions are when the lateral ligament is stretched
what is the different rates of incidence of ankle sprain?
Female>Male
Children>Adolescents>Adults
what are the muscle compartments of the leg?
Anterior
Lateral
Deep
Superficial
Posterior (has two parts, superficial and deep)
what are the plantar flexor muscles?
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
what is the origin of gastrocnemius?
Medial and lateral femoral condyles
where is the insertion site of gastrocnemius?
Calcaneus via calcaneal (Achilles) tendon
what is the function of gastrocnemius?
Knee- flexes
Ankle- Plantarflexes
Propulsion during gait
what innervates the gastrocnemius?
Tibial nerve
where is the soleus muscle located?
Deep to gastrocnemius
-does not cross the knee joint
what is the origin of soleus?
Tibia and fibula
Interosseous membrane
what is the insertion of soleus?
Calcaneus via calcaneal (archilles) tendon
what is the function of soleus?
Knee- no action
Ankle- plantar flexion
Important postural muscle (during standing and propulsion during gait)
what innervates the soleus?
Tibial nerve
what is the function of the extrinsic foot muscles?
Control various foot movements
Each muscle has a belly in the leg and a long tendon attaching to the foot
what are the features of the long tendons of the foot?
-These tendons are held in place by retinacuclum (fibrous tissue)
-Have associated bursae to reduce friction
-Bones and muscles create pulleys- biomechanical advantage
where are the deep flexors located?
Deep posterior compartment of the leg
what are the deep flexor muscles?
Tibialis posterior
Flexor Digitorum longus
Flexor Hallucis longus
- Their tendons pass posterior to medial malleolus
what is the function of the deep flexors as the ankle and toes?
Ankle- plantar flexion of all toes
Toes- flexsion of big toe (flexor digitorum longus) and toes 2-5 (flexor hallucis longus)
Stabilise medial longitidinal arch
Propulsion at toe-off (flexor hallucis longus)
what is the tibialis posterior tendon?
Spring ligament that supports the head of talus
Further supported by the TP tendon to maintain the medial arch
what causes flat foot deformity?
Rupture of the spring ligament means it cannot support the head of the talus anymore
- TP tendon can rupture because of ageing, trauma or denervation
what are the three leg anterior compartment muscles?
Tibialis anterior
Extensor digitorum longus
Extensor hallucis longus
what innervates the anterior compartment leg muscles?
Deep fibular nerve
where does the tibialis anterior insert?
Medial cuneiform, base of 1st metatarsel
where does the Extensor digitorum longus insert?
Distal phalanges of toes 2-5
where does the extensor hallucis longus insert?
Distal phalanx of the big toes
what does the leg anterior compartment muscle tendons pass under?
The extensor retinacula
what is the function of the leg anterior compartent muscles?
Ankle- dorsiflexion
Toes- Extension of the hallus (extensor hallucis longus)extension of toes 2-5 (extensor digitorum longus)
Subtalar joint- Inversion (tibialis anterior)
Stabilise medial longitudinal arch (tibialis anterior)
what are the leg lateral compartmemt muscles?
Fibularis (peroneus) longus
Fibularis (peroneus) brevis
what is the origin of the leg lateral muscles?
Both originate from the fibula
where does the fibularis longus insert?
Base of the 1st metatarsal , passes under the foot
where does the fibularis brevis insert?
base of 5th metatarsal
what is the function of the fibularis longus?
Help stabilize the transverse arch
what is the function of the lateral compartment muscles of the leg?
Ankle- weak plantarflexion
Subtalar joint - Eversion
Toes- no action
Both stabilise lateral longitudinal arch
which tendons stabilize the medial foot arch?
Medial longitudinal arch is supported by tendons that pass on medial aspect of foot
- tibialis anterior
-tibialis posterior
- Long toe flexor tendons (when walking)
which tendons stabilse the lateal foot arch?
Lateral longitudianal arch is supported by tendons that pass on the lateral aspect of the foot
- fibularis longus
-Fibularis brevis
Which tendons stabilise the transverse foot arch?
The transverse arch is supported by tendons that pass transversely
-Fibularis longus
-Small intrinsic muscles of the foot
