Neurovascular structures of the leg

Question 1

What is the sural nerve and what does it innervate?

Answer 1

Sensory nerve made up of branches from tibial nerve and common peroneal/fibular nerve
-innervates the posterolateral leg and lateral border of foot

Question 2

Describe the route of the tibial nerve down the leg

Answer 2

1) Arises from the apex of popliteal fossa
2) Pass deep to soleus muscle (between FDL and FHL)
3) Passes beneath flexor retinaculum behind medial malleolus

Question 3

Describe the route of the common peroneal/fibular nerve down the leg

Answer 3

1) Arises from bifurcation of sciatic nerve at the apex of popliteal fossa
2) Superolateral border of the popliteal fossa (medial border of biceps femoris)
3) Winds around neck of fibula
4) Divide into superficial and deep peroneal nerve

Question 4

What are the root values of the superficial peroneal/fibular nerve and what does it innervate?

Answer 4

L4-S1 and innervates the lateral compartment of the leg (muscles)
-anterolateral aspect of leg

Question 5

What are the root values of the deep peroneal/fibular nerve and what does it innervate?

Answer 5

L4 + L5 and innervates the anterior compartment of the leg

-Skin between great and second toe

Question 6

What are the two terminal divisions of the popliteal artery?

Answer 6

Anterior tibial artery
Tibioperoneal trunk (posterior tibial and peroneal (fibular))

Question 7

What is the arrangement of the structures behind the medial malleolus from medial to lateral?
Tom, Dick And a Very Nervous Harry

Answer 7

• Tibialis posterior
• flexor Digitorum
• posterior tibial Artery
• posterior tibial Vein
• tibial Nerve
• flexor Hallucis longus

Question 8

What forms the plantar arch of the foot?

Answer 8

Dorsal pedis artery (continuation of anterior tibial artery)

Lateral plantar artery (from posterior tibial artery)

Question 9

What is the main venous drainage for the foot?

Answer 9

Dorsal venous arch

Plantar venous arch

Question 10

What is the main venous drainage for the anterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 10

Anterior tibial vein

Question 11

What is the main venous drainage for the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 11

Posterior tibial vein (made from medial and lateral plantar veins)

Question 12

What is the popliteal fossa?

Answer 12

A diamond-shaped depression on the posterior aspect of the knee where major structures pass through

Question 13

What are the 4 borders of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 13

Semimembranosus (superiomedial)
Biceps femoris (Superolateral)
Medial head of gastrocnemius (inferiomedial)
Lateral head of gastrocnemius (inferiolateral)

Question 14

What are the structures that pass through the popliteal fossa?

Answer 14

• Politeal artery
• Politeal vein
• Short saphenous vein
• Tibial nerve
• Common peroneal/fibular nerve
• Popliteal lymph nodes

Question 15

What neurovascular structure is deepest in the popliteal fossa?

Answer 15

Popliteal artery

Question 16

Where is the pulse of dorsalis pedis artery palpated?

Answer 16

Between the tendons of extensor hallucis longus and the extensor digitorum longus (to the second toe)
-it is the continuation of the anterior tibial artery