Posterior muscles of the leg Flashcards
Describe the posterior muscles of the leg
Name them
Can be organised into superficial and deep, they act to plantarflex and invert the foot. Both compartments are innervated by the tibial nerve although they are seperated by fascia
Gastrocnemius
Plantaris
Soleus
Poplitues
Tibialis longus
flexor hallicus logus
flexor digitorum longus
Describe the superifical muscles of the posterior compartment of the knee
What are the bursae associated with them?
Form the characteristic calf shape of the posterior leg they all insert into the calcaneus of the foot via the calcaneal tendon (achilles tendon)
Subcutaneous bursae- lies between skin adn calcaneal tendon
Deep bursa of calcaneal tendon- between the tendon and the calcaneus
What is the Gastrocnemius?
What innervates it?
Most superficial of all the muscles, has two heads that converge to form a body
Tibial nerve
What are the attachments of the gastrocenimus?
What are its functions?
Lateral head- lateral femoral condyle
Medial head- medial femoral condyle
forms calcaneal tendon
Plantarflexes ankle joint and flexes knee
What is the plantaris?
What innervates it?
Small muscle with long tendon, absent in around 10% of people
Tibial nerve
What are the attachments of the plantaris?
What are its functions?
originates from lateral supracondylar line of the femur
Inserts with calcaneal tendon
What is the soleus?
What innervates it?
large flat muscle, deep to the gastrocnemius
Tibial nerve
What are the attachments of the soleus?
What are its functions?
originates from soleal line of the tibia and proximal fibular area
Narrows in lower leg and joins calcaneal tendon
What is the polpliteus?
What innervates it?
Located superiorly in the leg, lies behind the knee forming the base of the popliteal fossa
Tibial nerve
What are the attachments of the popliteus?
What are its functions?
originates from lateral condyle of femur and posterior horn of lateral meniscus.
Inserts above origin of soleus muscle
Laterally roates the femur to unlock the knee, allowing for flexion
What is the tibialis posterior?
What innervates it?
Deepest of the four muscles
Tibial nerve
What are the tibialis posteriors’ attachments?
What are its functions?
originates from interosseous membrane. Attaches to plantar surface of medial tarsal bones
What is the flexor digitorum longus
What innervates it
smaller muscle than FHL
Tibial nerve
What is flexor digitorum longus’ attachments?
What are its functions?
Originates from medial surface of tibia,
attaches to plantar surfaces of lateral four digits
Flexes lateral four digits
What is flexor hallicus longus?
What innervates it?
Muscle found on lateral leg
Tibial nerve
