Leg & Foot Flashcards
What tendon attaches to the tibial tuberosity?
Patellar ligament.
What are the “sticky out bits” of the ankle called?
Medial and lateral malleoli.
Which toe is used as a landmark to identify extensor tendons?
Hallux (big toe).
Which bone in the leg bears most body weight?
Tibia.
What connects the tibia and fibula?
Interosseous membrane.
How many tarsal bones are there?
7.
Name the proximal tarsal bones.
Talus and calcaneus.
What are the distal tarsals?
Cuboid and three cuneiforms.
Which nerve runs with the short saphenous vein and is used in nerve grafts?
Sural nerve.
Where does the sural nerve emerge from?
Popliteal fossa.
Muscles of the anterior compartment?
Tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, fibularis tertius.
Nerve and artery supply of the anterior compartment?
Deep fibular nerve, anterior tibial artery.
Main function of the anterior compartment?
Dorsiflexion (L4–L5).
Are tibialis muscles invertors or evertors?
Invertors.
Which artery becomes dorsalis pedis?
Anterior tibial artery.
Where is the dorsalis pedis artery located?
Deep to extensor hallucis longus tendon on dorsum of the foot.
Muscles of the lateral compartment?
Fibularis longus and brevis.
Nerve and blood supply to the lateral compartment?
Superficial fibular nerve, fibular artery (via perforators).
Function of the lateral compartment?
Eversion of the foot (L5, S1).
Name the superficial muscles.
Gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris.
Nerve and artery supply?
Tibial nerve, posterior tibial artery.
Main function?
Plantarflexion (S1, S2).
What is the squeeze test for?
Assessing calcaneal (Achilles) tendon rupture.
Name the deep muscles.
Tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, popliteus.
Mnemonic for tarsal tunnel contents?
TOM, DICK ANd HARRY
(Tibialis posterior, flexor Digitorum longus, artery/nerve, flexor Hallucis longus)
Where does the great saphenous vein run?
Anterior to the medial malleolus.
Where does the short saphenous vein run?
Posterior leg with the sural nerve.
What is the talocrural joint?
The ankle joint (between tibia, fibula, and talus).
When is the ankle joint most stable?
In dorsiflexion.
What is the subtalar joint responsible for?
Inversion and eversion.
Name the three lateral ankle ligaments.
Anterior talofibular, posterior talofibular, calcaneofibular.
What injuries stretch lateral ligaments?
Inversion injuries (varus force).
Name the deltoid ligament components.
Anterior tibiotalar, posterior tibiotalar, tibiocalcaneal, tibionavicular.
What injuries stretch deltoid ligaments?
Eversion injuries (valgus force).
What are the 3 arches of the foot?
Medial, lateral (longitudinal), and transverse.
What structure supports the medial arch?
Tibialis posterior.
What ligament acts like a spring to support arches?
Plantar calcaneonavicular ligament (spring ligament).
What is plantar fasciitis?
Inflammation/tightening of the plantar aponeurosis.
What is the dynamic support of foot arches?
Muscles that cross the joints.
What provides passive support to foot arches?
Ligaments: spring ligament, long/short plantar ligaments.
What is pes cavus?
High medial arch.
What is a trimalleolar fracture?
Fracture of medial, lateral, and posterior malleoli.
What is a calcaneal fracture often caused by?
Landing from a height (“lover’s fracture”).
What is hallux valgus?
Bunion deformity – medial deviation of the first metatarsal.
What is hallux varus?
Lateral deviation of the big toe (more common in barefoot populations).
How can you identify a cross-section through the hallux?
Single phalanx, thick flexor hallucis longus tendon.
