Week 11 - Posterior Leg Flashcards
Where are the pulse points in the lower limb?
- Femoral pulse: mid-inguinal point
- Popliteal pulse: deep in popliteal fossa, if leg is flexed then the fascia will relax so it will be easier to find
- Dorsalis pedis: on the dorsum of the foot, just lateral to extensor hallucis longus tendon
What are the superficial muscles in the posterior leg?
- Gastrocnemius
- Plantaris
- Soleus
What are the collective actions of the posterior leg muscles?
- Plantarflex foot
- Invert foot
What is the innervation of the superficial muscles in the posterior leg?
Tibial nerve
What is the insertion of the superficial muscles in the posterior leg?
They all insert into the calcaneus of the foot, via the calcaneal tendon
What are the actions of gastrocnemius?
- Plantarflexes at the ankle
- Flexes at the knee
What is the structure of the gastrocnemius?
- Has 2 heads: medial and lateral
- Converge to form a single muscle body
What is plantaris?
A small muscle with a long tendon
- Found in the superficial posterior leg
- Absent in 10% of people
What are the actions of plantaris?
- Plantarflexes at ankle joint
- Flexes knee
What are the actions of soleus?
Plantarflexes the foot
What is the innervation of the deep muscles in the posterior leg?
Tibial nerve
What are the deep muscles in the posterior leg?
- Popliteus
- Tibialis posterior
- Flexor digitorum longus
- Flexor hallucis longus
What is the action of popliteus?
Laterally rotates the femur on the tibia, unlocking the joint so that flexion at the knee joint can occur
What is the action of tibialis posterior?
- Inverts the foot
- Plantarflexes the foot
- Maintains the medial arch of the foot
What is the action of flexor digitorum longus?
Flexes the lateral 4 toes