Posterior Leg Flashcards
The posterior process of the Talus has a Medial Tubercle and Lateral Tubercle. The groove between houses what tendon?
Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon
This is the largest foot bone that articulates with the Talus superiorly and the Cuboid anteriorly.
Calcaneus
This ligament supports the Talus and is a shelf-like projection that provides the groove for the Flexor Hallucis Longus M.
Sustentaculum tali
This foot bone articulates with the Talus posteriorly, 3 cuneiforms anteriorly, and the Cuboid laterally.
Navicular
This is the attachment for the Tibialis Posterior M.
Navicular Tuberosity
What is part of the Dynamic Arch of the foot?
Tibialis Posterior M. Tibialis Anterior M. Flexor Hallucis Longus M. Fibularis Longus M. Intrinsic Plantar Muscles
This fascia covers the entire lower leg.
Crural Fascia
What are the compartments of the leg?
Anterior
Lateral
Posterior (can be divided into superficial and deep)
***Compared to the thigh, which has an Anterior, Medial, and Posterior Compartment
What divides the different compartments of the leg?
Thick septa, which are:
Anterior septum – divides anterior and lateral compartments
Posterior septum – divides lateral and posterior (superficial) compartments
Transverse septum – divides posterior (deep) and posterior (superficial) compartments
What do the structures in each compartment share?
- Same general function
- Nerve
- Artery and vein
What divides the anterior and posterior (deep) compartments of the leg?
Interosseous membrane
What septa divide all the compartments of the thigh?
Lateral intermuscular septum – divides anterior and posterior compartments
Medial intermuscular septum – divides anterior and medial compartments
Posterior intermuscular septum – divides medial and posterior compartments
What does the superficial posterior group of the leg contain?
Gastrocnemius M.
Soleus M.
Plantris M.
The Gastrocnemius M. and Soleus M. together make up a group called…
Triceps surae
What does the deep posterior group of the leg contain?
Popliteus M.
Flexor Hallucis Longus M.
Flexor Digitorum Longus M.
Tibialis Posterior M.
What nerve and vessels are deep to the transverse crural intermuscular septum (lies in deep posterior compartment)?
Tibial N.
Posterior Tibial A. and V.
This is the most superficial posterior compartment muscle that is two-headed and crosses the knee and ankle joints.
Gastrocnemius M.
This head of the of the Gastrocnemius is slightly larger (extends slightly further distally).
Medial head
Where do the medial and lateral heads of the Gastrocnemius M. originate, respectively?
Superior to medial femoral condyle
Superior to lateral femoral condyle
Where does the Gastrocnemius M. insert?
Posterior surface of Calcaneus via the Tendo Calcaneus (Achilles Tendon)
***Soleus and Plantaris also insert via this tendon
What actions does the Gastrocnemius M. perform?
Plantar flexion
Flexes leg
The lateral head of the Gastrocnemius M. may have a sesamoid bone close to its attachment within the tendon. This bone is called ________ and occurs in 3-5 percent of people.
Fabella
What is the functional and clinical significance of a Fabella?
– Possibly provide leverage for lateral head of Gastrocnemius M.
– Painful fabellar stress fracture may accompany total knee replacement
This is a broad, flat multipennate muscle that lies deep to the Gastrocnemius M. It has horseshoe-shaped proximal attachments.
Soleus M.
The Soleus M. originates the soleal line of the Tibia and posterior Fibula, but inserts along with the Gastrocnemius M. in the…
Tendo Calcaneus (Achilles Tendon)
What actions does the Soleus M. perform?
Plantar flexion
***Only crosses ankle joint
This is a small muscle with a short belly and long tendon. It is often absent.
Plantaris M.
The Plantaris M. originates on the lateral supracondylar line (femur) and inserts with the Soleus and Gastrocnemius via the…
Tendo Calcaneus (Achilles Tendon)
Where does the long tendon of the Plantaris M. run?
Between the Gastrocnemius M. and Soleus M.
What actions does the Plantaris M. perform?
Weak plantar flexion
Weak leg flexion
The Plantaris M. has an unusually high density of _________ receptor end organs for foot position. This means it knows the position of the foot and leg in space.
Proprioceptive
The long tendon of this muscle is commonly used in reconstructive surgery of hand tendons. Its removal does not affect knee or ankle movements (usually).
Plantaris M.
There is a possibility of rupturing this muscle during violent ankle moments, such as sudden dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. Common injury in basketball players, sprinters, and ballet dancers. Pain may be so severe that a person is unable to bare weight.
Plantaris M.
This is a thin, flat triangular muscle that lies deep to the Plantaris M. It forms the inferior floor of the Popliteal Fossa.
Popliteus M.
The Popliteus M. originates on the posterior Tibia and inserts on the lateral surface of…
Lateral Femoral Condyle
Lateral Meniscus
What are the functions of the Popliteus M.?
Laterally rotates femur when leg is extended (Tibia is stationary)
Weakly flexes leg
These arteries are just superior to the medial and lateral heads of the Gastrocnemius M.
Superior Medial Genicular A.
Superior Lateral Genicular A.
This artery is deep to the medial head of the Gastrocnemius M.
Inferior Medial Genicular A.
This artery is deep to the Plantaris M. and superficial to the Popliteus M.
Inferior Lateral Genicular A.
This is the largest deep posterior muscle and lies deep to the Soleus M. and passes inferiorly deep to the Flexor Retinaculum.
Flexor Hallucis Longus M.
The Flexor Hallucis Longus M. crosses deep to the tendon of which muscle in the sole of the foot (provides a tendinous slip for this muscle tendon)?
Flexor Digitorum Longus M.
The tendon for the Flexor Hallucis Longus M. approaches the great toe between sesamoid bones in the tendons of what muscle?
Flexor Hallucis Brevis M.
The Flexor Hallucis Longus M. originates on the posterior Fibula and inserts where?
Base of distal phalanx of great toe
What are the functions of the Flexor Hallucis Longus M.?
Flexes great toe
Plantar flexion
This muscle is deep to the Soleus and lies directly posterior to the Tibia.
Flexor Digitorum Longus M.
The Flexor Digitorum Longus M. originates on the posterior Tibia and has its tendon pass posterior to the _______ _______ M. diagonally in the foot and attaches to the distal phalanx base of the lateral four digits.
Tibialis Posterior
What are the functions of the Flexor Digitorum Longus M.?
Flexes lateral four digits
Plantar flexion
Is the tendon of the FDL or the FHL more superficial?
FDL tendon is superficial to FHL tendon
This is the deepest posterior crural muscle and lies in the same plane as the leg bones. It lies between FDL and FHL.
Tibialis Posterior M.
The Tibialis Posterior M. originates on the Interosseous Membrane and posterior Tibia and Fibula. The tendon then passes anterior to the FDL and inserts onto the…
Navicular tuberosity
Cuneiforms
2-4 Metatarsals
What are the functions of the Tibialis Posterior M.?
Inversion
Plantar flexion
The Tarsal Tunnel lies on the medial side of the ankle and contains what (anterior to posterior)?
Tibialis Posterior M. tendon Flexor Digitorum Longus M. tendon Posterior Tibial A. Tibial N. Flexor Hallucis Longus M. tendon
***Tom Dick A.N. Harry
What lies over the top of the Tarsal Tunnel?
Flexor Retinaculum
***Very similar to carpal tunnel
What innervates all posterior compartment muscles?
Tibial N.
The Tibial N. passes with the Posterior Tibial A. and V. which are deep to the _______ and posterior to the _______ _______.
Soleus M.
Tibialis Posterior M.
The Tibial N. leaves the posterior compartment by passing deep to the Flexor Retinaculum between what two bony landmarks?
Medial Malleolus
Calcaneus
The Tibial N. ends by dividing into what nerves?
Medial Plantar N.
Lateral Plantar N.
This provides the blood supply of the posterior leg.
Posterior Tibial A.
***Gives rise to Fibular A.
How does the Posterior Tibial A. terminate?
Medial Plantar A.
Lateral Plantar A.
This is the largest branch of the Posterior Tibial A. and ends by piercing the Interosseous Membrane and anastomosing with the Anterior Lateral Malleolar A. It is the primary blood supply to the lateral compartment of the leg.
Fibular A.
The posterior tibial pulse is usually palpated where?
Posterior to medial malleolus and medial to calcaneal tendon
Lies deep to flexor retinaculum, so it’s important to have patient relax retinaculum by inverting foot
When is the posterior tibial pulse used?
Used to examine patients with occlusive peripheral arterial disease (intermittent claudication)
***Condition caused by ischemia of leg muscles due to narrowing or occlusion of arteries. Characterized by leg cramps and pain during walking (goes away with rest)
