Lower Limb 4

Question 1

What is the popliteal fossa?

Answer 1

Fat filled diamond shaped space posterior to the knee joint

Question 2

What are the borders of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 2

Upper medial border = semimembranosus muscle
Upper lateral border = biceps femoris muscle
Inferior boundary = Lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius

Question 3

List the contents of the popliteal fossa

Answer 3

Fat

Termination of the small saphenous vein

Popliteal artery and vein and their branches and tributaries

Tibial and common fibular nerves

Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh

Popliteal lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels

Question 4

When does the femoral artery become the popliteal?

Answer 4

As it emerges from the adductor hiatus

Question 5

What muscle makes up most of the superficial group of posterior leg muscles?

Answer 5

Gastrocnemius

Question 6

how many heads does the gastrocnemius muscle have?

Answer 6

Two

Question 7

What is the function of the gastrocnemius?

Answer 7

Powerful muscle that flexes the ankle and the knee and is essential for a walking gait

Question 8

What nerve innervates the gatsrocnemius?

Answer 8

Tibial

Question 9

What is the function of the small muscle with its very long tendon, plantaris?

Answer 9

Minor motor role

Question 10

What 3 muscles make up the superficial group of the posterior leg?

Answer 10

Gastrocnemius
Plantaris
Soleus

Question 11

Which nerve innervates all the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 11

Tibial nerve

Question 12

Which branch of the popliteal artery supplies the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 12

Posterior tibial

fibular vessels

Question 13

What are the 4 muscles of the deep group of the posterior leg?

Answer 13

Popliteus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor digitorum longus
Flexor hallucis longus

Question 14

What is the action of the popliteus?

Answer 14

Initiates flexion of the knee by unlocking it

Question 15

Which 3 muscles pass posterior to the medial malleolus to enter the sole of the foot?

What nerve and vessel accompany them?

Answer 15

Tibialis posterior
Flexor digitorum longus
Flexor hallucis longus

Tibial nerve
Posterior tibial artery

Question 16

Subtalar joint is also known as?

Answer 16

Talocalcaneal

Question 17

What does plantar fasciitis present as commonly and what causes it?

Answer 17

Often as heel pain

Generally brought on by overuse (running) or increase in weight and/ or age

Question 18

Between the talus and navicular bones of the foot exists what type of joint?

What movements does it allow?
What other joint assists with this?

Answer 18

Ball and socket

Allows foot to pivot from side to side

Talus and calcaneal (talocalcaneal = subtalar)
Slide from side to side

Question 19

What 3 muscles are in layer 1 of the foot?

Answer 19

Abductor hallucis
Abductor digiti minimi
Flexor digitorum brevis

Question 20

What structures are in layer 2 of the foot?

Answer 20

Flexor hallucis longus tendon
Flexor digitorum longus tendon
Quadratus plantae

Medial plantar nerve
Lateral plantar nerve and artery

Question 21

What muscles are in layer 3 of the foot?

Answer 21

Transverse and oblique head of adductor hallucis
Flexor hallucis brevis
Flexor digiti minimi brevis

Question 22

What muscles are in layer 4 of the foot?

Answer 22

Dorsal and plantar Interossei

Question 23

What are the actions of the dorsal and plantar interossei?

Answer 23

Plantar interossei ADduct (PAD)

Dorsal interossei ABduct (DAB)

…the digits

Question 24

Where does the axis of the foot run?

What does this mean for abductors and adductors?

Answer 24

Unlike in the hand the axis of the foot runs through the second digit, therefore it has 2 abductors and no adductors

Question 25

What are the two terminal branches of the tibial nerve which innervates the intrinsic muscles of the foot?

Answer 25

The medial plantar and lateral plantar nerves

Question 26

What are the two terminal branches of the posterior tibial artery which supply the foot region?

Answer 26

Lateral plantar artery

Medial plantar artery

Question 27

The bones of the foot are arranged in two arches.

What is the orrientation of these arches?

Answer 27

Longitudinal and transverse

Question 28

What is the function of the arches of the foot?

Answer 28

Distribute body weight

SHock absorbers

Question 29

Body weight acting vertically downwards on the talus will cause what?

Answer 29

Force the navicular and calcaneus bones apart.

Question 30

Body weight on the foot is resisted by what structures?

Answer 30

This force is resisted by many of the muscle tendons which cross these joints but also by an important ligament.

This is the plantar calcaneonavicular or “spring” ligament.

This helps to maintain the medial longitudinal arch and contribute to the subtalar joints

Question 31

What passive factors maintain the integrity of the arches?

Answer 31

Shape of the united bones
Plantar aponeurosis
Long plantar ligament
Short plantar ligament

Question 32

What dynamic factors maintain the integrity of the arches?

Answer 32

Intrinsic muscles of the foot
Long flexor tendons
Tendon of tibialis anterior and fibularis longus

Question 33

WHat is the medical name for flat feet?

Answer 33

Pes Planus

Question 34

What is the order for the structures entering the “door to the foot”?

Answer 34

TOM = Tibialis Posterior
DICK = Flexor digitorum longus
and
BLOODY = Posterior Tibial artery
NERVOUS = Tibial Nerve
HARRY = Flexor hallucis longus