Anatomy - Lower Limb: Leg, Popliteal Fossa, Vasculature

what are the two bones of the leg?

tibia medially and fibula laterally

where is the tibia located?

medially

where is the fibula located?

laterally

what is found between the tibia and fibula?

interosseous membrane

the medial malleolus is found on what bone?

tibia

the lateral malleolus is found on what bone?

fibula

what is found on the posterior surface of the tibia?

soleal line

the posterior compartment of the leg is innervated by what?

tibial nerve

the lateral compartment of the leg is innervated by what?

superficial fibular nerve

what is the main action of the posterior compartment of the leg?

• plantarflexion

• inversion of foot

• flexion of toes

the posterior compartment of the leg includes what groups?

superficial and deep groups separated by deep fascia

what are the superficial muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?

• gastrocnemius

• plantaris

• soleus

what are the deep muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?

• popliteus

• flexor hallucis longus

• flexor digitorum longus

• tibialis posterior

what is the most superficial muscle of the posterior compartment?

gastrocnemius muscle

the gastrocnemius muscle has what?

two heads, medial and lateral

the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle originates from what?

close to medial condyle of femur

the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle originates from what?

lateral condyle of femur

the heads of the gastrocnemius do what?

combine into muscle belly → soft tissue bulge known as the calf

the muscle fibers of the gastrocnemius coverge with soleus muscle to do what?

the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon and attach to calcaneus (heel)

what is the action of the gastrocnemius muscle?

plantarflexion, flexes leg/knee

what describes the plantaris muscle?

small muscle belly and long muscle tendon

the plantaris muscle originates where?

superior to lateral condyle of femur and from oblique popliteal ligament of knee

the plantaris muscle inserts where?

into calcaneal tendon, near posterior calcaneus

what is the action of the plantaris muscle?

plantarflexion, flexion of knee

what is the origin of the soleus muscle (3 points)?

proximal fibula, soleal line, and medial border of tibia + tendinous ligament between bony attachment

the ligament of the soleus muscle arches over what?

popliteal vessels and tibial nerve

the soleus muscle contributes to what?

calcaneal tendon

what is the action of the soleus muscle?

plantarflexion

what forms the base of the popliteal fossa?

popliteus

what is found between the tendon of the popliteus and the posterior surface of the knee joint?

popliteal bursa

what is the origin of the popliteus?

lateral condyle of femur and lateral meniscus of knee

what is the insertion of the popliteus?

superior to soleal line

what is the action of the popliteus?

“unlocks” the knee via lateral rotation of femur relative to tibia, initiates flexion of knee

what is the origin of the flexor hallucis longus?

posterior surface of fibula and adjacent interosseous membrane

what is the insertion of the flexor hallucis longus?

plantar surface of distal phalanx of great toe

what is the action of the flexor hallucis longus?

flexes great toe

what is the origin of the flexor digitorum longus?

posterior surface of medial tibia

what is the insertion of the flexor digitorum longus?

plantar surface of bases of distal phalanges of the lateral four toes

what is the action of the flexor digitorum longus?

flexes four lateral toes

what is the origin of the tibialis posterior?

interosseous membrane and adjacent bony surfaces

the tibialis posterior wraps around what?

medial margin of the foot

what is the insertion of the tibialis posterior?

plantar surfaces of the tarsal bones

what is the action of the tibialis posterior?

inversion and plantarflexion

what muscle supports the medial arch of the foot?

tibialis posterior

what are two muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg?

• fibularis longus

• fibularis brevis

what is the common action of the lateral compartment of the leg?

evert the foot

fibularis longus has an added action of what?

plantarflexion, supports the arch of the foot

what are the four muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg?

• tibialis anterior

• extensor hallucis longus

• extensor digitorum longus

• fibularis tertius

what is the collective action of the anterior compartment of the leg?

dorsiflex the foot, extend the toes, and invert the foot

what is the common innervation of the anterior compartment of the leg?

deep fibular nerve

what is the origin of the tibialis anterior?

lateral surface of the tibia

what is the insertion of the tibialis anterior?

medial cuneiform and the base of etatarsal I

what is the action of the tibialis anterior?

dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot

what is the origin of the extensor digitorum longus?

lateral condyle of the tibia and the medial surface of the fibula

what is the insertion of the extensor digitorum longus?

distal and middle phalanges of lateral four toes

what is the action of the extensor digitorum longus?

extension of the lateral four toes, and dorsiflexion of the foot

what is the origin of the extensor hallucis longus?

medial surface of the fibular shaft and adjacent interosseous membrane

what is the insertion of the extensor hallucis longus?

distal phalanx of great toe

what is the action of the extensor hallucis longus?

extension of great toe and dorsiflexion of foot

the fibularis tertius is considered what?

part of extensor digitorum longus, normally connected

what is the origin of the fibularis tertius?

distal part of medial fibula

what is the insertion of the fibularis tertius?

metatarsal V

what is the action of the fibularis tertius?

dorsiflexion and eversion of foot

what is the upper medial margin of the popliteal fossa?

semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles

what is the upper lateral margin of the popliteal fossa?

biceps femoris

what is the lower medial margin of the popliteal fossa?

gastrocnemius muscle

what is the lower lateral margin of the popliteal fossa?

gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles

the floor of the popliteal fossa is formed by what?

capsule of knee joint, femur and tibia, and popliteus muscle

the roof of the popliteal fossa is covered by what?

superficial fascia and skin

what are the contents of the popliteal fossa?

• popliteal artery

• popliteal vein

• tibial and common fibuluar nerve

  • in this order (artery→vein→nerve)

the popliteal artery is what in the popliteal fossa?

deep

the arterial supply to the thigh is mainly through what?

femoral artery

what branches in the femoral triangle and gives off three branches?

profunda femoris

the profunda femoris gives off what three branches?

perforating branches, lateral and medial femoral circumflex arteries

the arterial supply to the thigh exits the femoral triangle and continues through what?

adductor canal

the femoral artery becomes the popliteal artery where?

at the adductor hiatus

the obturator artery arises from what?

internal iliac

obturator artery supplies from what?

medial compartment of thigh and some deep gluteal muscles

the obturator artery enter the thigh via what?

obturator canal

the gluteal region is supplied mainly via what?

superior and inferior gluteal arteries

the superior and inferior gluteal arteries arise from what?

internal iliac artery

the superior and inferior gluteal arteries enter the gluteal region via what?

greater sciatic foramen

popliteal artery descends from where?

posterior thigh

what supplies the knee joint?

genicular branches

what describes the path of anterior tibial artery?

goes through interosseous membrane, descends down anterior leg, and ends as dorsalis pedis artery

the tibial artery ends as what?

dorsalis pedis artery

popliteal artery bifurcates into what?

posterior tibial and fibular (peroneal arteries)

what describes the path of the posterior tibial artery?

descends along surface of deep posterior leg muscles

the perforating branches of the peroneal artery supply what?

lateral compartment muscles

what are the two systems of venous drainage?

deep and superficial 

the deep venous drainage accompanies what?

major arteries and located beneath deep fascia

the superficial venous drainage found?

in subcutaneous tissue, drain into deep system

dorsal venous arch of foot mostly drains into superficial system, some penetrate into leg, and into what vein?

anterior tibial vein

plantar veins combine to form what?

posterior tibial and fibular veins

anterior tibial, posterior tibial, and fibular veins unite to form what?

popliteal vein

the popliteal vein turn into what?

femoral vein in the thigh

what is the main venous structure in the thigh?

deep vein of the thigh

deep vein of the thigh empties into what?

distal section of the femoral vein

deep vein of the thigh drains blood from what?

thigh muscles

femoral vein empties into what?

external iliac vein