Tibial Nerve Flashcards
What are the roots of the tibial nerve?
L4-S3
What are the sensory functions of the tibial nerve?
Innervates the skin on the posterolateral side of the leg, lateral side of the foot, and the sole of the foot
What are the motor functions of the tibial nerve?
Innervates posterior compartment of the leg
What is the tibial nerve a branch of?
The sciatic nerve
Where does the tibial nerve arise?
At the apex of the popliteal fossa
What is the anatomical course of the tibial nerve?
It travels through the popliteal fossa
It continues its course down the leg, posterior to the tibia.
At the foot, it passes posteriorly and inferiorly to the medial malleolus, through a structure known as the tarsal tunnel
What does the tibial nerve do as it travels through the popliteal fossa?
Gives off branches to muscles in the superficial posterior compartment of the leg
Gives rise to branches that contribute towards the sural nerve
What does the sural nerve do?
Innervates the posterolateral aspect of the leg
What does the tibial nerve do during its course down the leg?
Supplies the deep muscles of the posterior leg
What is the tarsal tunnel covered with?
Superiorly, by the flexor retinaculum
What happens within the tarsal tunnel?
The tibial nerves gives branches to supply cutaneous innervation to the heal
Where does the tibial nerve terminate?
Immediately distal to the tarsal tunnel
How does the tibial nerve terminate?
By dividing into sensory branches, which innervate the sole of the foot
What is tarsal tunnel syndrome?
A condition where the tibial nerve is compressed within the tarsal tunnel
What are the main causes of tarsal tunnel syndrome?
Osteoarthritis
Rhuematoid arthritis
Post-trauma ankle deformities
What do patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome complain of?
Paresthesia in the ankle and sole of the foot, which can radiate up the leg slightly. It is aggravated by activity and relieved by rest
How can tarsal tunnel syndrome be treated?
Conservatively, by anti-inflammatory drugs and changes in footwear.
If thats not successful, the flexor retinaculum can be cut surgically, which releases the pressure
What muscles does the tibial nerve innervate?
All the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg
What can the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg be divided into?
A deep and superficial compartment
What muscles are in the deep compartment of the posterior leg?
Popliteus
Flexor hallucis longus
Flexor digitorum longus
Tibialis posterior
What does the popliteus do?
Laterally rotates the femur on the tibia to unlock the knee
What does the flexor hallucis longus do?
Flexes the big toe, and plantar flexes the ankle
What does the flexor digitorum longus do?
Flexes the other digits and plantar flexes the ankle
What muscles are in the superficial compartment of the posterior leg?
Plantaris
Soleus
Gastrocnemius