Lower Leg Anatomy

Question 1

Describe the tibia.

Answer 1

weight bearing bone

Question 2

Describe the fibula.

Answer 2

• ​next​ ​to​ ​tibia
• generally​ ​covered​ ​by​ ​muscles​ ​until​ ​you​ ​get​ ​to​ ​lateral​ ​malleolus
• not weight​ ​bearing​ ​bone

Question 3

What is between the tibia and fibula?

Answer 3

• interosseous membrane
• holds​ ​bones​ ​together
• divides​ ​front and​ ​back​ ​half​ ​of​ ​leg
• can​ ​be​ ​damaged

Question 4

What muscles pull toes up?

Answer 4

muscles​ ​in​ ​front​ ​(anterior​ ​compartment)​ ​of​ ​leg​ ​to​ ​lateral​ ​side​

Question 5

What muscles evert the foot (pull foot out to the side)?

Answer 5

muscles​ ​in​ ​lateral​ ​compartment:​ ​perronials​ ​or​ ​fibularis​ ​muscles

Question 6

What is the superficial posterior compartment?

Answer 6

• muscles you can touch in the back of the leg
• Gastrocnemius
• Solus

Question 7

The gastrocnemius and the solus join to make the ______ ________.

Answer 7

achilles tendon

Question 8

What action do the gastrocnemius and solus do?

Answer 8

point toes

Question 9

What is the strongest muscle in the lower leg?

Answer 9

tibialis​ ​posterior​ ​(deep​ ​posterior​ ​compartment),​ ​hard​ ​to find

Question 10

What action does the tibialis posterior do?

Answer 10

plantar flexion movement (strong, pushing off)

Question 11

Why can swelling be bad in the leg?

Answer 11

• Each​ ​one​ ​of​ ​these​ ​compartments​ ​are​ ​surrounded​ ​by​ ​tissue​ ​(bag)
• Injury​ ​to​ ​one​ ​area​ ​=​ ​injury/swelling​ ​will​ ​be​ ​confined​ ​to​ ​one​ ​area​ ​=​ ​tension
• Swelling​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​within​ ​the​ ​compartment​ ​and​ ​will​ ​not​ ​leave,​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​too​ ​much pressure​ ​and​ ​damage​ ​to​ ​nerves,​ ​vessels​ ​etc.

Question 12

What are the 4 movements of the ankle?

Answer 12

• Dorsi​ ​flexion:​ ​pull​ ​feet/toes​ ​up
• Plantar​ ​flexion:​ ​point​ ​toes​ ​down
• Inversion:​ ​bottoms​ ​of​ ​the​ ​feet​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​midline
• Eversion:​ ​bottoms​ ​of​ ​the​ ​feet​ ​out​ ​to​ ​the​ ​side

Question 13

What 2 parts make up the ankle joint?

Answer 13

• talocrural joint

- subtalar joint

Question 14

What is the talocrural joint?

Answer 14

• between​ ​talus,​ ​fibula,​ ​and​ ​tibia

- dorsi​ ​flexion​ ​and​ ​plantar​ ​flexion​ ​at​ ​this​ ​joint

Question 15

What is the subtalar joint?

Answer 15

• between ​talus​ ​and​ ​calcaneus

- Inversion​ ​and​ ​eversion​ ​at​ ​this​ ​joint

Question 16

Where is the medial longitudinal arch?

Answer 16

first 3 toes in the medial side

Question 17

What 2 muscles support the medial longitudinal arch?

Answer 17

• plantar fascia

- tibialis posterior

Question 18

What ligament holds the navicular up?

Answer 18

• calcaneonavicular ligament
• aka spring ligament
• connects calcaneus and navicular

Question 19

Spraining the ankle means more weight where?

Answer 19

inside of arches (navicular)