Posterior Leg Flashcards
What is the common attachment of the muscles of the superficial posterior leg?
Calcaneal tendon onto the calcaneum,
What is the function of the superficial posterior leg muscles?
Plantar flexion
What is the function of the deep posterior leg muscles?
Ankle inversion
Where do the deep muscles of the posterior leg enter the foot?
Inferior and posterior to the medial malleolus.
What nerve innervates all the muscles of the posterior leg?
Tibial nerve (L4-S3)
Name the three muscles in the posterior leg
Gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris
What functions can gastrocnemius perform and why?
This crosses two joints so can plantar flex ankle but also flex knee as it attaches onto the femoral epicondyles.
Where does soleus originate?
The soleal line on the tibia, and the superior quarter of the fibula.
Where does plantaris originate from?
Inferior aspect of the supra epicondylar line on the femur. This can assist in knee flexion as well as plantar flexion.
Name the structures which pass inferior and posterior to the medial malleolus.
Tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, tibial artery, tibial vein, tibial nerve, flexor hallucis longus,
Where does tibialis posterior originate and insert?
It originates on the superioposterior tibia and the interosseous membrane and inserts into Cuneiform, cuboid and navicular and the base of metacarpals 2-4
State the origin of flexor hallucis longus
Inferior 2/3 of fibula and interosseous membrane.
State the origin of flexor digitorum longus.
This originates inferior to the soleal line on the tibia.
Describe the root of the tibial nerve
This is a branch of sciatic from popliteal fossa and runs down back of leg and then posterior to medial malleolus. It supplies the posterior leg and the plantar foot. It splits into medial and lateral plantar branches.
Where is the tibial artery palpatable?
Posterior to the medial malleolus
