Posterior Compartment of the Leg; The Foot

What are the superficial muscles of the leg?

Gastrocnemius, plantaris, soleus

What are the attachments of the gastrocnemius?

Lateral head: lateral aspect lateral condyle of femur

Medial head: popliteal surface of femur; superior to medial condyle

…to posterior surface of calcaneus via calcaneal tendon (fibers are more lateral than soleus)

What is the action of the gastrocnemius?

Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended, raises heel during walking, flexes leg at knee joint

What innervates the gastrocnemius?

Tibial nerve S1/2

What are the attachments of the plantaris?

inferior end of lateral supracondylar line of femur, oblique popliteal ligament, posterior calcaneus via calcaneal tendon

What is the action of the plantaris?

Weakly assists gastrocnemius in plantarflexing ankle

What innervates the plantaris?

Tibial nerve S1/2

What are the attachments of the soleus?

Posterior aspect of head and superior ¼ of posterior surface fibula; soleal line and middle 1/3 of media border of tibia; tendinous arch extending b/w the bony attachments to posterior surface of calcaneus via calcaneal tendon (fibers are more medial than gastroc)

What is the action of the soleus?

Plantarflexes ankle independent of position of knee; steading leg on foot

What innervates the soleus?

Tibial nerve S1/2

What is another name for the gastrocnemius and soleus?

Tricpes surae or gastrocsoleus

What is the strongest tendon in the body?

Calcaneal tendon

What are the deep muscles of the leg?

Popliteus, flexor hallucis longus (FHL), flexor digitorum longus (FDL), tibialis posterior

What are the extrinsic muscles of the foot?

Flexor hallucis longus (FHL), flexor digitorum longus (FDL), tibialis posterior

What are the attachments of the popliteus?

Lateral surface of lateral condyle of femur and lateral meniscus to posterior surface of tibia, superior to soleal line

What is the action of the popliteus?

Unlocks knee (rotates femur on fixed tibia/rotates tibia on fixed femur); weak knee flexion

What innervates the popliteus?

Tibial nerve L4/5, S1

What are the attachments of the FHL?

Inferior 2/3 of posterior surface of fibula; inferior part of interosseous membrane to base of distal phalanx of hallux

What is the action of the FHL?

Flex jallux at all joint; weak ankle plantarflexion; support medial longitudinal arch of foot

What innervates the FHL?

Tibial nerve S2/3

What are the attachments of the FDL?

Medial part of posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line; by broad tendon to fibular to base of distal phalanges of lateral 4 digits

What is the action of the FDL?

Flexes lateral 4 digits; ankle plantarflexion, supports longitudinal arched of foot

What innervates the FDL?

Tibial nerve S2/3

What are the attachments of the tibials posterior?

Interossoeus membrane; posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line; by broad tendon to fibula to base bases of distal phalanges of lateral 4 digits

What is the action of the tibials posterior?

Ankle plantarflexion and foot inversion

What innervates the tibials posterior?

Tibial nerve L4/5

Where do the tendons of the deep muscles of the leg pass?

Posterior and inferior to medial malleouls

From medial to lateral, what is the order of the deep muscles of the leg? What about their tendons?

Muscle: FDL, Tibialis posterior, FHL

Tendon: Tiablis posterior, FDL, FHL (Tom, Doug, and Harry)

What is the path of the tibial nerve?

Descends with posterior tibial vessels deep to soleus on tibialis posterior muscle, supplies all muscles in posterior compartment, leaves by passing deep to flexor retinaculum, lies between posterior tibial artery and FHL, posteroinferior to medial malleolus then divides into medial and lateral plantar nerves

A cutaneous branch of tibial (medial sural) unites with a cutaneous branch of common fibular (lateral sural) to create sural nerve on posterolateral side of leg

What is the path of the posterior tibial artery?

Begins at distal border of popliteus, passes deep to the origin of the soleus, gives off fibular artery (largest branch), passes inferiorly on tibialis posterior with tibial nerve; runs posterior to medial malleolus; deep to flexor retinaculum and origin of abductor hallucis muscle; then divides into medial and lateral plantar arteries

Label 1

Tom; Tibialis posterior

Label 2

Doug; Flexor digitorum longus

Label 4

And; Posterior tibial artery

Label 3

Very; Tibial vein

Label 5

Nervous; tibial nerve

Label 6

Harry; Flexor hallucis longus

What is the path of the fibular artery?

Begins inferior to distal border of popliteus and tendinous arch of soleus, descends obliquely towards fibula and passes along its medial side, gives off muscular branches to popliteus and others in posterior & lateral compartment, enters dorsum of foot and anastomoses with arcuate artery

What is the largest and most important branch of the posterior tibial artery?

Fibular artery