Lower Leg, Ankle and Foot Anatomy

Question 1

What are the muscle compartments of the leg?

Answer 1

• Lateral
• Anterior
• Posterior

Question 2

What nerves supply the muscles of the leg?

Answer 2

• Common fibular and its superficial and deep branches

- Tibial nerve (branch of sciatic)

Question 3

What is the most frequently injured joint of the body?

Answer 3

Ankle

Question 4

What type of joint is the ankle?

Answer 4

Uniaxial Synovial hinge

Question 5

Where is the ankle joint located

Answer 5

Between the distal part of tibia,fibula & upper part of talus

Question 6

What is the ankle joint critical in?

Answer 6

Weight bearing and walking

Question 7

What bones are involved in articulation at the ankle?

Answer 7

• Fibula
• Tibia
• Talus

Question 8

What are the 2 prominences present at the ankle joint?

Answer 8

• Medial malleolus

- Lateral malleolus

Question 9

When is malleolar grip strongest?

Answer 9

During dorsiflexion

Question 10

When is the ankle joint unstable?

Answer 10

During plantar felxion

Question 11

What are the features of the ankle capsule?

Answer 11

Thin in front and behind

Question 12

What is the ankle capsule supported by?

Answer 12

Collateral ligaments

• Medial (deltoid) ligament
• Lateral ligament

Question 13

What are the features of the medial (deltoid) ligament of the ankle?

Answer 13

• Large, strong triangular band
• Three slips from medial malleolus to talus, calcaneus & navicular
• Stabilizes the joint during eversion

Question 14

What are the features of the lateral ligament of the ankle?

Answer 14

• Has three slips
• Weaker than medial ligament
• Commonly involved in ankle injuries

Question 15

What muscles are involved in dorsiflexion?

Answer 15

• Tibialis anterior
• Extensor digitorum longus
• Extensor halluces longus
• Peroneus or fibular tertius

Question 16

What muscles are involved in plantar flexion?

Answer 16

• Gastrocnemius
• Soleus
• Assisted by plantaris,
• Tibialis posterior
• Flexor hallucis longus
• Flexor digitorum longus

Question 17

What type of injury is a sprain?

Answer 17

Invesrion injury

Question 18

What is a Pott fracture?

Answer 18

Dislocation of the ankle

Question 19

What is footballer’s ankle?

Answer 19

Repeated strain in the anterior capsule

Question 20

What is tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Answer 20

Tibial nerve compression deep to flexor retinacula

Question 21

What aponeurosis is present on the sole of the foot?

Answer 21

Plantar aponeurosis

Question 22

What nerves and arteries run deep to the plantar aponeurosis?

Answer 22

• Lateral plantar nerve and artery

- Medial plantar nerve and artery

Question 23

How many dorsal interossei are there?

Answer 23

4 (bipennate)

Question 24

How may plantar interossei are there?

Answer 24

3 (unipennate)

Question 25

What is the skeleton of the foot divided into?

Answer 25

Tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges

Question 26

What is the function of the foot?

Answer 26

- Support the body in standing and progression | - Lever it forwards in walking, running and jumping

Question 27

Where does inversion and eversion occur in the foot?

Answer 27

Movements occur at the subtalar and transverse tarsal joints

Question 28

What muscles invert the foot?

Answer 28

- Tibialis anterior | - Tibialis posterior

Question 29

What muscles evert the foot?

Answer 29

- Fibularis longus | - Fibularis brevis

Question 30

What are the functions of the arches of the foot?

Answer 30

- Acts as shock absorbers - Distribute weight over the foot - Act as springboards during walking,running & jumping

Question 31

What happens to the arches as we walk?

Answer 31

Bony arches are flexible and deform with each ground contact

Question 32

What are the 2 parts of the longitudinal arch?

Answer 32

- Medial and lateral | - Medial longitudinal arch is higher and more important than lateral

Question 33

Where is the transverse arch located?

Answer 33

Runs from side to side of the foot

Question 34

What is the intergrity of the arches maintained by?

Answer 34

- Shape of the united bones - Plantar aponeurosis - Long & short plantar ligaments - Spring ligament (calcaneonavicular) - Intrinsic muscles of foot

Question 35

When are flat feet common?

Answer 35

- Children under 3 (due to SC fat) | - Elderly

Question 36

What are acquired flat feet due to?

Answer 36

Fallen arches are due to dysfunction of tibialis posterior (arch support)

Question 37

What is the cause of high arched feet?

Answer 37

Congenital