The Leg and Thigh Flashcards
What are the muscles of the deep posterior compartment?
- tibialis posterior
- flexor hallucis longus
- flexor digitorum longus
What are the actions of gastrocnemius?
- plantar flexion
- knee flexion (weak)
Gastrocnemius and soleus are sometimes collectively referred to as…
triceps surae
What muscles, together, are sometimes called the triceps surae?
gastrocnemius and soleus
What are the attachment points of tibialis anterior?
S/P: anterior, lateral, superior 1/2 of the tibia, interosseous membrane
I/D: base of the first MT, first (medial) cuneiform
What are the actions of flexor digitorum longus?
- PIP/DIP, MTP flexion of 2nd-5th toes
- plantar flexion
- inversion
What are the muscles of the superficial posterior compartment?
- gastrocnemius
- soleus
- plantaris
What are the attachment points of extensor hallucis longus?
S/P: anterior middle fibula and interosseous membrane
I/D: base of the distal phalanx of the first toe (dorsal surface)
How is the connective tissue sheath, around tendons that pass through the retinacula, structured?
Connective tissue outer layer for structure and protection with a synovial inner layer for lubrication (as the tendon moves)
What are the attachment points of Popliteus?
S/P: lateral condyle of the femur
I/D: posterior proximal surface of the tibia, superior to the soleal line
What’s the a.k.a. for peroneus?
Fibularis
What does the anterior ligament of fibular head attach?
anterior proximal tibia – anterior proximal fibula
What’s the name of the tunnel that the flexor retinaculum makes?
tarsal tunnel
What’s the fascia of the calf continuous with?
plantar aponeurosis
What are the actions of extensor digitorum longus?
- extension of 2nd to 5th toes (MTPs, PIPs, DIPs)
- dorsiflexion
- eversion
What are the attachment points of gastrocnemius?
S/P: 2 heads attaching to the medial and lateral femoral condyles
I/D: calcaneus (via the achilles tendon)
What are the actions of flexor hallucis longus?
- 1st MTP, 1st IP flexion
- plantar flexion
- inversion
What do muscles in a compartment have in common?
They have similar functions and share the same nerve and blood supply
What are the attachment points of peroneus longus?
S/P: lateral proximal 2/3rds of fibula
I/D: base of the 1st MT, 1st (medial) cuneiform (plantar surface)
What are the attachment points of peroneus tertius?
S/P: anterior distal fibula
I/D: base of the 5th MT (dorsal surface)
What’s the a.k.a. for the achilles tendon?
calcaneal tendon
What are the attachment points of extensor digitorum longus?
S/P: proximal three quarters of the anterior fibula, interosseous membrane
I/D: middle and distal phalanges of lateral four toes (dorsal surface)
What are the actions of peroneus tertius?
- dorsiflexion
- eversion
What are the attachment points of peroneus brevis?
S/P: lateral distal 2/3rds of fibula
I/D: tuberosity of the 5th MT
What are the attachment points of flexor hallucis longus?
S/P: lower 2/3rds of posterior fibula, interosseous membrane
I/D: plantar surface of 1st distal phalanx
What is the action of soleus?
plantar flexion
What are the muscles of the lateral compartment?
- peroneus longus
- peroneus brevis
Which muscles share the achilles tendon?
gastrocnemius and soleus
What type of joint is the distal tibiofibular?
fibrous (it’s a thickening of the interosseous membrane at its distal end)
Which tendons pass behind the medial malleolus?
Tendons of: -tibialis posterior -flexor hallucis longus -flexor digitorum longus (Tendons of the deep posterior compartment)
What are the attachment points of tibialis posterior?
S/P: posterior tibia, interosseous membrane, fibula
I/D: navicular tuberosity and surrounding bones
Why/where would you find a tendon sheath around a tendon in the distal leg?
Where there is a possibility of friction between the tendons and retinacula
What are the attachment points of soleus?
S/P: proximal posterior fibula, soleal line (tibia), middle 1/3rd of medial border of tibia
I/D: calcaneus (via the achilles tendon)
What’s the femoral triangle?
-a depression in the superomedial thigh (inferior to the inguinal ligament) observable during hip flexion
Boundaries:
-superiorly: inguinal ligament
-medially: adductor longus
-laterally: sartorius
-floor (medial to lateral): pectinius, iliopsoas
-roof: fascia lata
An a.k.a. for “calf”
surae
What keeps the tendons from the anterior compartment from bowing when muscles contract?
Superior and inferior extensor retinaculum
What does the posterior ligament of fibular head attach?
posterior proximal tibia – posterior proximal fibula
What are the actions of the tibialis posterior?
- plantar flexion
- inversion
What are the actions of extensor hallucis longus?
- extension of the first toe (MTP, IP)
- assists in dorsiflexion
- inversion (minimal)
What are the actions of peroneus brevis?
- eversion
- plantar flexion (weak)
What actions does tibialis anterior perform?
- dorsiflexion
- inversion
- eccentrically contracts to prevent anterior foot from dropping when walking
What are the actions of Popliteus?
- flexion of the knee (very weak because attachments are so close to the joint)
- medial rotation of the knee for unlocking of the screw-home mechanism
What are the muscles of the anterior compartment?
- tibialis anterior
- extensor hallucis longus
- extensor digitorum longus
- peroneus tertius
What are the muscles of the deep posterior compartment?
- tibialis posterior
- flexor hallucis longus
- flexor digitorum longus
What actions does plantaris perform?
- plantar flexion (weak)
- knee flexion (weak)
Where are anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments located?
distal end
What are the muscles of the superficial posterior compartment?
- gastrocnemius
- soleus
- plantaris
What are the muscles of the lateral compartment?
- peroneus longus
- peroneus brevis
What are the attachment points of flexor digitorum longus?
S/P: posterior middle tibia
I/D: plantar surface of distal phalanges of lateral 4 toes
What are the actions of peroneus longus?
- eversion
- plantar flexion (weak)
What type of joint is the proximal tibiofibular and what movements are allowed?
- synovial plane
- limited superior glide with dorsiflexion
- limited inferior glide with plantar flexion
What are the compartments of the leg?
- anterior compartment
- lateral compartment
- superficial posterior compartment
- deep posterior compartment
What two muscles form a stirrup on the plantar surface?
peroneus longus and tibealis anterior
What are the attachment points of plantaris?
S/P: distal lateral supracondylar ridge of the femur
I/D: calcaneus
What keeps the tendons of the lateral compartment from bowing when muscles contract?
superior and inferior peroneal retinaculum
Tendons of which two muscles pass behind the lateral malleolus?
peroneus longus and peroneus brevis
What’s the Screw Home Mechanism?
When the knee is fully extended, the tibia rotates laterally which locks the knee into a more stable position - this is the screw home mechanism. To flex the knee, the popliteus medially rotates the tibia to “unlock” the knee and allow it to flex.