Achilles Tendon

Question 1

The Achilles tendon is shared between which muscles of the posterior leg?

Answer 1

Gastrocnemius and the soleus

Question 2

What does the Achilles tendon connects the two muscles to?

Answer 2

The calcaneus

Question 3

What is the thickest tendon in the human body?

Answer 3

The achilles tendon

Question 4

What is the Achilles tendon a distal attachment site for ?

Answer 4

The soleus

The gastrocnemius (medial and lateral heads)

Question 5

What is the insertion of the Achilles tendon?

Answer 5

The posterior surface of the calcaneus

Question 6

What movement is the achilles tendon involved with?

Answer 6

Plantar flexion

Question 7

What tensile load can the achilles tendon withstand?

Answer 7

10x body weight

Question 8

What does the anatomy of the achilles tendon provide for when running?

Answer 8

Elasticity (recoil)

Shock absorbance in the foot

Question 9

Name the two main blood vessels of the achilles tendon

Answer 9

Posterior tibial artery

Peroneal artery

Question 10

What sections of the achilles tendon does the posterior tibial artery supply?

Answer 10

The proximal and distal sections

Question 11

What sections of the achilles tendon does the peroneal artery supply?

Answer 11

Supplies the middle section

Question 12

Does the achilles tendon have relatively good or bad bloody supply?

Which section has a particularly low blood supply?

Answer 12

Relatively bad blood supply.

The midsection - this is where you see a lot of injuries take place.

Question 13

The Achilles tendon is innervated by…

Answer 13

Mainly the sural nerve, with minor contributions from smaller branches of the tibial nerve.

Question 14

What type of injuries is the Achilles Tendon susceptible to?

And what are the most common?

Answer 14

Overload

Achilles tendinopathy (55-65%)

Insertional issues account for 25-35% of cases