Muscles Of The Leg, Neurovasculature Of The Leg And The Foot Flashcards
Popliteal fossa
A diamond-shaped depression behind the knee joint
Medial superior borders of popliteal fossa
Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus
Lateral superior border of popliteal fossa
Biceps femoris
Inferomedial and inferolateral borders of the popliteal fossa
2 heads of the gastrocnemius
Contents of the popliteal fossa
Popliteal artery
Popliteal vein
Tibial nerve
Common fibular nerve
What is the popliteal artery a continuation of
Femoral artery
What does the popliteal artery bifurcate into
Anterior and posterior tibial arteries
Tibial nerve
Descends through midline of popliteal fossa and innervates posterior leg muscldx
Common fibular nerve
Travels along the superolateral border of the popliteal fossa alongside the tendon of the biceps femoris
Wraps around the neck of the fibula and then splits into a superficial and deep branch
Superficial fibular nerve
Innervates lateral leg muscles
Deep fibular nerve
Innervates anterior leg muscles
What separates the leg into compartments
Inter muscular septa extending from the deep fascia
Number of muscles in the anterior leg
4-
Tibialis anterior
Extensor hallucis longus
Extensor digitorum longus
(fibularis tertius)
Innervation of anterior leg muscles
Deep fibular nerve
Function of anterior leg muscles
Dorsiflexors of the foot
Extensors of the toes
Function of tibialis anterior
Dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot
Path of tibialis anterior
Crosses the anterior aspect of the ankle and inserts into the medial cuneiform
Path of extensor hallucis longus
It’s tendon crosses the anterior aspect of the ankle and inserts onto the distal phalanx of the great toe
Function of extensor hallucis longus
Extensor of great toe
Dorsiflexion of the foot
Path of extensor digitorum longus
4 tendons
Cross the anterior aspect of the ankle and insert into the distal phalanges of the toes 2-5
Extensor retinacula
Covers the extensor tendons at the ankle joint
Function of extensor digitorum longus
Extend toes
Dorsiflexion of foot
Path of fibularis tertius
Extends from fibula to base of the 5th metatarsal
Function of fibularis tertius
Weakly Dorsiflexion and evert the foot
-small weak and not present in all people
Muscles of the lateral leg
2-
Fibularis longus
Fibularis brevis
Function of the lateral leg muscles
Evert foot at subtalar joint
What innervates the lateral leg muscles
Superficial fibular nerves
Path of fibularis longus
Fibula
Inserts onto the plantar surface of the medial cuneiform bone
Travels posterior to lateral malleoljs
Most superficial
Fibularis brevis
Inserts onto the 5th metatarsal
Travels posterior to lateral malleolus
Most deep
Function of posterior leg muscles
Plantarflexion
Flexion of the toe
Innervation of the posterior leg muscles
Tibial nerve
Superficial posterior leg muscles
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Plantaris
What do the tendons of the superficial posterior leg insert into
Calcaneus via the calcaneal tendons (Achilles)
Function of gastrocnemius
Flexion of knee
Plantarflexion
Path of gastrocnemius
Most superficial
Attaches via 2 heads to distal femur
Function of soleus
Compressed deep veins of leg - important for venous return
Path of soleus
Large flat muscle deep to gastrocnemius
Attached to soleal line of tibja
Plantaris
Very small muscle located close to popliteal fossa
Gives rise to very long thin tendon which merges with the calcaneal tendon
Non-essential
Which tendon in the leg is used to repair or replace damaged ligaments or tendons as a graft
Plantaris
Deep muscles of posterior leg
4-
Popliteus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor hallucis longus
Flexor digitorum longus
What do the tendons of the tibialis posterior, FHL and FDL insert into
Travel posterior to medial malleolus and insert into the plantar surface of the bones of the foot
Path of popliteus
Located deep in the popliteal fossa
Attached to tibia and femur
Function of popliteus
Small degree of rotation of the knee
Unlocks the knee
Function of tibialis posterior
Plantarflexion
Inversion
Function of flexor hallucis longus
Flexes the great toe via insertion on distal phalanx
Plantarflexion
Function of flexor digitorum longus
Flexion of toes
Plantarflexion
Insertion of flexor digitorum longus
Distal phalanges of 2-5