HAL Lab 11: Posterior leg and Popliteal fossa

Question 1

Which one is medial and lateral: biceps femoris and semimembranosus/semi tendinosus

Answer 1

Medial is semitendinosus, semimembranosus

Lateral is biceps femoris

Question 2

What is the most superficial vein and nerve going to the popliteal fossa that passes around the lateral malleolus

Answer 2

Lesser saphenous vein and the sural nerve- a cutaneous nerve for posterior leg and lateral foot. (from tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve).

Question 3

What is the deepest structure in the popliteal fossa and which is the most protected

Answer 3

Deepest is Popliteal artery, but this is more at risk to posterior dislocation and knee trauma whereas sciatic Nerve, more superficial of the vessels is more protected

Question 4

Which muscle do the popliteal vascular structures go under before branching out to supply compartments of the leg

Answer 4

Go under the soleus muscle

Question 5

What is the deepest muscle of the posterior compartment and where does it sit

Answer 5

Tibialis posterior, sits between the two long flexors (flexors are on the wrong medial/ lateral side for what they flex)

Question 6

Where is the flexor retinaculum- roof of tarsal tunnel- for the posterior leg and what is its purpose

Answer 6

Over posterior to the medial malleolus. Stop them from subluxing and bowstringing anteriorly over the malleolus

Question 7

Which tendon sits anterior in the tarsal tunnel

Answer 7

Tibialis posterior (tom)

Question 8

Which posterior leg muscle crosses over two muscles and what are those before inserting

Answer 8

Flexor Digitorum longus: first over tib post in tarsal tunnel and later over FHL in foot- Dick is double crosser