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Leg Muscles Flashcards

(106 cards)

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1
Q

The muscles of the leg are split into which compartments?

A

3 compartments

Anterior
Lateral
Posterior

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2
Q

How many muscles are there in the anterior compartment of the leg?

A

4

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3
Q

Name the 4 muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg

A

Tibialis anterior
Extensor digitorum longus
Extensor hallucis longus
Fibularis tertius

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4
Q

The anterior muscles of the leg collectively work to…

A

Dorsiflex and invert the foot at the ankle

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5
Q

As well as dorsiflexing and inverting the foot, the extensor hallicus longus and extensor digitorum longus also act to…

A

Extend the toes

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6
Q

The muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg are all supplied by which nerve?

A

Deep fibular nerve (L4-L5)

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7
Q

Which roots contribute to the deep fibular nerve?

A

L4-L5

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8
Q

Which vessel supplies the blood to the anterior leg muscle?

A

Anterior tibial artery

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9
Q

The tibialis anterior is located on the ___________ aspect of the tibia

A

Lateral

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10
Q

Which of the anterior leg muscles is the strongest dorsiflexor of the foot?

A

Tibialis anterior

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11
Q

What test can be carried out to test the power of the tibialis anterior?

A

Stand on their heels

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12
Q

Where does the tibialis anterior originate and attach?

A

Originates - lateral surface of the tibia

Attaches - medial cuneiform and the base of metatarsal I

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13
Q

What is the action of the tibialis anterior?

A

Dorsiflexion of the foot

Inversion of the foot

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14
Q

Where does the extensor digitorum longus lie relative to the tibialis anterior?

A

Lateral and deep to the tibialis anterior

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15
Q

Where can the tendons of the EDL be palpated?

A

On the dorsal surface of the foot

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16
Q

Where does the EDL originate and attach?

A

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

Attaches - converges into a tendon at the dorsum of the foot and split into 4, each inserting into a toe

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17
Q

What is the function of the EDL?

A

Dorsiflexion of the foot

Extension of the lateral four toes

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18
Q

Where is the extensor hallucis longus located relative to the EDL and TA?

A

Deep to both

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19
Q

Where does the extensor hallucis longus originate and attach?

A

Originates - medial surface of the fibular shaft

Attaches - base of the distal phalanx of the great toe

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20
Q

What is the function of the extensor hallucis longus?

A

Dorsiflexion of the foot

Extension of the big toe

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21
Q

Which muscle of the anterior compartment of the leg is not present in all individuals?

A

Fibularis tertius

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22
Q

Where does the fibularis tertius arise?

A

Most inferior part of the extensor digitorum longus

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23
Q

Where does the fibularis tertius originate and attach?

A

Originates - with the EDL at the medial surface of the fibula

Attaches - to metatarsal V

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24
Q

What is the function of the fibularis tertius?

A

Eversion and dorsiflexion of the foot

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25
Footdrop can be seen as a result of paralysis of the... Damage to which nerve commonly causes this?
Anterior muscles of the leg Common fibular nerve
26
Which nerve innervates all the anterior muscles of the leg?
Deep fibular nerve (L4-L5)
27
Which vessel supplies the blood to the anterior muscles of the leg?
Anterior tibial artery
28
Where are the plantarflexor muscles of the foot found?
In the posterior leg
29
Why does paralysis of the anterior leg muscles result in foot drop?
There is unopposed pull of the plantarflexor muscles in the posterior leg
30
What problems can foot drop cause? How are these overcome?
Problems with walking Eversion flick - flicking the foot outwards when walking
31
Which of the muscles in the anterior leg cause eversion of the foot?
Fibularis tertius
32
The nerve roots of the deep fibular nerve are...
L4-L5
33
Which muscle in the anterior leg attaches to the base of the first metatarsal?
Tibialis anterior
34
Which is the most superficial of the muscles of the anterior leg?
Tibialis anterior
35
How many muscles are there in the lateral compartment of the leg?
2
36
Name the two muscle of the lateral compartment of the leg
Fibularis longus | Fibularis brevis
37
What is the common function of the lateral muscles of the leg?
Eversion of the foot
38
Both the lateral muscles of the leg are innervated by which nerve?
Superficial fibular nerve
39
Which is the larger and more superficial of the two lateral muscles of the leg?
Fibularis longus
40
Where does the fibularis longus originate and attach?
Originates - superior/lateral surfaces of the fibula and lateral tibial condyle Attaches - medial cuneiform, base of metatarsal I
41
Where does the tendon that the fibularis longus fibres converge into pass?
Into and under the foot (posterior to the lateral malleolus)
42
What is the function of the fibularis longus?
Eversion Plantarflexion of the foot Supports the lateral and transverse arches of the foot
43
Which nerve innervates the fibularis longus?
Superficial fibular nerve (L4-S1)
44
Which roots contribute to the superficial fibular nerve?
L4-S1
45
Where does the fibularis brevis originate and attach?
Originates - inferolateral surface of the fibular shaft Attaches - a tubercle on metatarsal V
46
Where does the tendon of the fibularis brevis pass?
Posteriorly to the lateral malleolus over the calcaneus and cuboidal bones
47
What is the action of the fibularis brevis?
Eversion of the foot
48
Which nerve and roots innervate the fibularis brevis?
Superficial fibular nerve Roots (L4-S1)
49
What anatomical landmark can be used to locate the common fibular nerve?
Fibularis longus
50
How can the fibularis longus be used to identify the common fibular nerve?
The common fibular nerve passes through the gap between the origins of the FL at head of the fibula and at the neck of the fibula
51
What happens to the common fibular nerve after passing through the gap between the origins of the fibularis longus?
It divides into the deep and superficial fibular nerves
52
How many muscles are in the posterior compartment of the leg?
7
53
The posterior leg muscles can be categorised into which two categories?
Superficial Deep
54
What separates the superficial and deep muscles of the posterior leg?
A band of fascia
55
Which compartment of the leg is the largest?
Posterior compartment
56
Collectively, the muscles of the posterior leg act to...
Plantarflex the foot | Invert the foot
57
Which nerve innervates all the posterior muscles of the leg?
Tibial nerve
58
The tibial nerve is a terminal branch of which nerve?
Sciatic nerve
59
All the superficial muscles of the posterior leg insert into...
The calcaneus of the foot via the calcaneal tendon
60
All the superficial muscles of the posterior leg insert into the heel bone via which tendon?
Calcaneal tendon
61
The calcaneal reflex tests which roots?
S1-S2
62
How many muscles are there in the superficial layer of the posterior leg?
3
63
Name the muscles in the superficial layer of the posterior leg
Gastrocnemius Plantaris Soleus
64
How is friction minimised at the calcaneal tendon during movement?
By the presence of two bursae
65
Which two bursae are associated with the calcaneal tendon?
Subcutaneous calcaneal bursa | Deep bursa of the calcaneal tendon
66
Where does the subcutaneous calcaneal bursae lie? Where does the deep bursa of the calcaneal tendon lie?
Between the skin and calcaneal tendon Between the tendon and calcaneus
67
Which is the most superficial of all the posterior leg muscles?
The gastrocnemius
68
The gastrocnemius consists of how many heads?
2 Lateral and medial
69
Where does the lateral head of the gastrocnemius originate? Where does the medial head of the gastrocnemius originate?
Lateral femoral condyle Medial femoral condyle
70
Where does the gastrocnemius attach?
Combines with the soleus in the lower leg to form the calcaneal tenon which inserts into the calcaneus
71
What is the function of the gastrocnemius?
Plantarflexes the foot Flexes the knee
72
The plantaris is a small muscle with a long tendon and is often mistaken for a...
Nerve
73
Is the plantaris present in all people?
No - absent in around ~10% of people
74
Where does the plantaris originate and attach?
Originates - Lateral supracondylar line of the femur Attaches - blends with the calcaneal tendon and inserts into the calcaneus
75
What is the function of the plantaris?
Plantarflexes the foot Flexes the knee
76
Where is the soleus located relative to the gastrocnemius?
Deep to the gastrocnemius
77
Where does the soleus originate and attach?
Originates - soleal line of the tibia and proximal fibular area Attaches - joins the calcaneal tendon ---> calcaneus
78
What is the action of the soleus?
Plantarflexes the foot
79
Rupture of the calcaneal tendon is more likely to occur in people with a history of...
Calcaneal tendinitis
80
What is calcaneal tendinitis?
Chronic inflammation of the calcaneal tendon
81
What effect will rupture of the calcaneal tendon have on the foot?
Patient will be unable to plantarflex the foot against resistance - foot permanently dorsiflexed
82
What usually causes rupture of the calcaneal tendon?
Forceful plantarflexion of the foot
83
What can happen to the soleus and gastrocnemius in rupture of the calcaneal tendon?
They can form a lump in the calf region upon contraction
84
Treatment of a ruptured calcaneal tendon is usually...
Non-surgical (except in those with active lifestyles)
85
How many muscles are there in the deep layer of the posterior compartment of the leg?
4
86
Name the four muscles in the deep layer of the posterior compartment of the leg
Popliteus Flexor digitorum longus Flexor hallucis longus Tibialis posterior
87
Which muscle in the deep layer of the posterior leg only acts on the knee joint?
Popliteus
88
Where does the popliteus lie in the posterior leg?
Superiorly | Behind the knee
89
The popliteus forms the ___________ of the popliteal fossa
Base
90
Where is the popliteal bursa located?
Between the popliteal tendon and posterior surface of the knee
91
Where does the popliteus originate and attach?
Originates - posterior surface of the proximal tibia Attaches - lateral condyle of the femur and the lateral meniscus of the knee joint
92
Where do the fibres of the popliteus pass?
Upwards and laterally from the proximal tibia
93
What is the function of the popliteus?
Laterally rotates the femur on the tibia so that flexion can occur
94
Which is the deepest of the muscles in the posterior leg?
Tibialis posterior
95
What two muscles does the tibialis posterior lie between?
Flexor digitorum longus | Flexor hallucis longus
96
Where does the tibialis posterior originate and attach?
Originates - interosseous membrane and posterior surfaces of the tibia and fibula Attaches - plantar surfaces of the medial tarsal bones
97
What is the action of the tibialis posterior?
Inverts and plantarflexes the foot Maintains the medial arch of the foot
98
Which is bigger, the flexor digitorum longus or flexor hallucis longus?
Flexor hallucis longus
99
Where is the flexor digitorum longus located in the posterior leg?
Medially
100
Where does the FDL originate and attach?
Originates - medial surface of the tibia Attaches - plantar surface of the lateral four digits
101
What is the action of the FDL?
Flexes the lateral 4 toes
102
What aspect of the leg is the flexor hallucis longus found?
Lateral aspect of the posterior leg
103
Where does the flexor hallucis longus orignate and attach?
Originates - posterior surface of the fibula Attaches - plantar surface of the phalanx of the great toe
104
What is the function of the flexor hallucis longus?
Flexes the big toe
105
Which nerve roots does the calcaneal reflex test?
S1-S2
106
In which direction does the femur move to unlock the knee?
Rotates laterally

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