Posterior compartment of the leg

Question 1

Gastrocnemius

lateral head

Answer 1

P: Lateral aspect of the femur lateral condyle

D: posterior surface of calcaneus

A: plantarflexes ankle, flexes leg at knee joint

N: Tibial nerve (S1, S2)

Question 2

Gastrocnemius

medial head

Answer 2

P: popliteal surface of femur

D: posterior surface of calcaneus

N: Tibial nerve (S1, S2)

A: plantarflexes ankle, flexes leg at the knee

Question 3

Soleus

Answer 3

p: posterior head & superior 1/4 posterior of fibula

D: posterior surface of calcaneus

N: tibial nerve (S1, S2)

A: plantarflexes ankle independent of position of knee

Question 4

Plantaris

Answer 4

P: inferior end of lateral supracondylar line of femur, oblique popliteal ligament

D: posterior calcaneus

N: Tibial nerve (S1, S2)

A: weakly assits gastrocnemius in plantarfexing ankle

Question 5

Popliteus

Answer 5

P: lateral surface of lateral condyle of Femur & Lateral meniscus

D: Posterior surface of tibia, superior of soleal line

N: Tibial nerve (L4, L5, S1)

A: weakly flexes knee, unlocks knee by rotating femur 5 degrees on fixed tibia, medially rotates tibia on unplanted limb

Question 6

Flexor Hallucis Longus

Answer 6

P: Inferior 2/3 of posterior fibula, inferior interosseous membrane

D: base of distal phalanx of hallux

N: Tibial nerve (S2, S3)

A: flexes great toe at all joints, weakly plantar flexes ankle

Question 7

Flexor digitorum longus

Answer 7

P: medial part of posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line

D: base of distal phalanges of lateral 4 digits

N: Tibial nerve (S2, S3)

A: flexes lateral 4 digits, plantarflexes ankle

Question 8

Tibialis posterior

Answer 8

P: interosseous membrane, posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line, posterior fibula

D: Tuberosity of navicular, cuneiform, cuboid, & sustentaculum tali of calcaneus, bases of 2nd, 3rd, 4th metatarsal

N: Tibial nerve (L4, L5)

A: plantarflexes ankle, inverts foot

Question 9

Which structures transit the flexor retinaculum?

Answer 9

1. Tibialis posterior tendon
2. Flexor digitorum posterior tendon
3. posterior tibial artery
4. posterior tibial vein
5. tibial nerve
6. flexor Hallucis longus tendon