Muscles of the posterior leg Flashcards
How many muscles are in the posterior compartment of the leg?
7
What are the layers of the posterior compartment of the leg?
Superficial and deep separated by a band of fascia
What nerve innervates all the muscles of the posterior leg?
Tibial nerve (Branch of Sciatic nerve)
What is the main action of the superficial muscles of the posterior leg?
Plantar flexion
What muscles are the superficial muscles of the posterior leg?
Gastrocnemius
Plantaris
Soleus
What are the names of the 2 heads of the Gastrocnemius?
Medial and lateral
What type of muscle fibres make the Gastrocnemius?
Fast twitch muscles fibres
What muscles does the Gastrocnemius converge with to form the Calcaneal tendon?
The Soleus muscle
What are the main actions of the Gastrocnemius muscle?
Plantarflexes at the ankle
Flexor at the knee
What can the Plantaris tendon easily be mistaken for?
A nerve
What is the action of the Plantaris?
Plantarflexes at the ankle
Flexor at the knee
NOT ESSENTIAL FOR EITHER
What is the main action of the Soleus muscle?
Plantarflexes the foot at the ankle joint
How many deep muscles are there in the posterior leg?
4
Which muscles are in the deep layer of the posterior leg?
Popliteus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor digitorum longus
Flexor Hallucis longus
What is the main action of the Popliteus muscle?
Laterally rotates the femur on the tibia so flexion of the knee joint can occur
