Lower Limb 4 Flashcards
What is the popliteal fossa?
Fat filled, diamond shaped space posterior to the knee joint
What are the borders of the popliteal fossa?
Upper medial - semimembranosus
Upper lateral - biceps femoris
Lower - medial and lateral heads of gastroc
What are the contents of the popliteal fossa?
Fat
Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh
Tibial and common fibular nerves
Popliteal artery and vein and their branches
Termination of the small saphenous vein
Popliteal lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels
What is a popliteal aneurysm?
Abnormal dilatation of part/all of the popliteal artery
Collectively the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg do what?
Plantarflex and invert the foot
What muscles are in the superficial posterior leg group?
Gastrocnemius
Plantaris
Soleus
What is the action of gastrocnemius?
Flexes the ankle and the knee
Essential for a walking gait
What innervates the posterior compartment of the leg?
Tibial nerve
What is the action of plantaris?
Weakly assists the gastrocnemius in plantarflexing the ankle
Function mainly proprioceptive
What artery supplies all the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?
What is it a branch of?
Posterior tibial artery
Branch of popliteal artery
What are the deep muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?
Popliteus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor digitorum longus
Flexor hallicus longus
What is the action of popliteus?
Weak knee flexor
What is the action of tibialis posterior?
Unlocks knee from extended position, plantar flexes ankle, inverts foot
What is the action of flexor digitorum longus?
Flexes 4 digits, plantarflexes ankle
What is the action of flexor hallucis longus?
Flexes big toe, weakly plantar flexes the ankle