Posterior Leg Muscles

Question 1

Posterior knee muscle

Answer 1

Popliteus

Question 2

Superficial leg muscles (from deep to superficial)

Answer 2

Soleus

Gastrocnemius

Question 3

Deep leg muscles (from lateral to medial)

Answer 3

Flexor hallucis longus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor digitorum longus

Question 4

Popliteus

Answer 4

• Originates on the lateral femoral condyle and the popliteal ligament
• Inserts on the proximal tibia;
• It flexes and medially rotates the leg,

Question 5

Soleus

Answer 5

• Originates on proximal head of the fibula and the soleal line of the tibia
• Inserts on the calcaneus via calcaneal tendon
• Plantar flexes the foot.

Question 6

Gastrocnemius

Answer 6

• Originates on lateral and medial femoral condyles
• Inserts on calcaneus via calcaneal tendon
• Plantar flexes the foot and flexes the knee.
• Gastrocnemius joins soleus to form the calcaneal tendon (aka the “Achilles’ tendon,” aka the “triceps surae”) where
they insert on the calcaneus.

Question 7

Flexor hallucis longus

Answer 7

• Originates on the distal 2/3rds of the fibula and interosseous membrane
• Inserts on the base of the distal phalanx of digit 1
• It plantar flexes the foot and flexes the distal phalanx of digit 1.

Question 8

Tibialis posterior

Answer 8

• Originates on the proximal tibia, fibula, and interosseous membrane
• Inserts primarily at the navicular tuberosity and medial cuneiform
• It plantar flexes and inverts the foot.
• Tibialis posterior is the deepest muscle of the posterior compartment; it lies directly against the posterior tibia.

Question 9

Flexor digitorum longus

Answer 9

• Originates on the middle tibial shaft
• Inserts on the distal phalanges of digits 2-5
• It flexes the corresponding toes and plantar flexes the foo

Question 10

From lateral to medial superior to the ankle, their order is:

Answer 10

– Flexor hallucis longus – Tibialis posterior – Flexor
digitorum longus A mnemonic to remember this order is: Have a Terrific Day (Have = Hallucis; Terrific = Tibialis; Day =
Digitorum)

Question 11

From medial to lateral at the ankle, their order is:

Answer 11

– Tibialis posterior – Flexor digitorum longus – Flexor hallucis longus A mnemonic to remember this order is: Tom, Dick,
and Harry (Tom = Tibialis; Dick = Digitorum; Harry = Hallucis)