Muscles in the Posterior Compartment of the Leg Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Muscles in the Posterior Compartment of the Leg Deck (77)
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1
Q

How many muscles does the posterior compartment of the leg contain?

A

7

2
Q

How are the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg organised?

A

Superficial

Deep

3
Q

What separates the two compartments of the posterior compartment of the leg?

A

A band of fascia

4
Q

How does the size of the posterior compartment of the leg differ from the others?

A

It is the largest

5
Q

What do the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg collectively do?

A

Plantarflex and invert the foot

6
Q

What are the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg innervated by?

A

The tibial nerve

7
Q

What do the superficial muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg form?

A

The characteristic ‘calf’ shape of the posterior leg

8
Q

What do all the muscles of the superior compartment of the posterior leg insert into?

A

The calcaneus of the foot (the heel bone), via the calcaneal tendon

9
Q

What does the calcaneal reflex test?

A

Spinal roots S1-S2

10
Q

How is friction minimised during movement of the calcaneal tendon?

A

There are two bursae associated with the tendon

11
Q

What are the bursae associated with the calcaneal tendon?

A

Subcutaneous calcaneal bursa

Deep bursa of the calcaneal tendon

12
Q

Where does the subcutaneous calcaneal bursa lie?

A

Between the spin and the calcaneal tendon

13
Q

Where does the deep bursa of the calcaneal tendon lie?

A

Between the tendon and the calcaneus

14
Q

What are the muscles in the superficial compartment of the anterior leg?

A

Gastrocnemius
Plantaris
Soleus

15
Q

What is the most superficial of the muscles in the posterior leg?

A

The gastrocnemius

16
Q

What does the gastrocnemius have?

A

Two heads, the medial and lateral

17
Q

What happens to the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius?

A

They converge to form a single muscle belly

18
Q

What does the gastrocnemius muscle consist of?

A

Mainly fast twitch muscle fibres

19
Q

What do the muscle fibres of the gastrocnemius produce?

A

Forceful movements, such as running and jumping

20
Q

What is the proximal attachment of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius?

A

Lateral aspect of the lateral condyle of femur

21
Q

What is the proximal attachment of the medial head of the gastrocnemius?

A

Popliteal surface of the femur

Superior to medial condyle

22
Q

What is the distal attachment of the gastrocnemius?

A

Posterior surface of the calcaneous via the calcaneal tendon

23
Q

What is the innervation of the gastrocnemius?

A

Tibial nerve (S1, S2)

24
Q

What is the arterial supply of the gastrocnemius?

A

Sural artery

Posterior tibial artery

25
Q

What is the main action of the gastrocnemius?

A

Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended
Raises heel during walking
Flexes leg at knee joint

26
Q

What is the proximal attachment of the soleus?

A

Posterior aspect of head and superior quarter of posterior surface of fibia
Soleal line and middle third of medial border of tibia
Tendinous arch extending between the bony attachments

27
Q

What is the distal attachment of the soleus?

A

Posterior surface of calcaneus via calcaneal tendon

28
Q

What is the innervation of the soleus?

A

Tibial nerve (S1, S2)

29
Q

What is the arterial supply of the soleus?

A

Posterior tibial artery

30
Q

What is the main action of the soleus?

A

Plantarflexes ankle independent of the position of the knee

Steadies leg on foot

31
Q

What shape is soleus?

A

Large and flat

32
Q

Where is the soleus located?

A

Deep to the gastrocnemius

33
Q

How big is the plantaris?

A

Small

34
Q

What can the long tendon of the plantaris be mistaken for?

A

A nerve

35
Q

In what % of people is the plantaris absent in?

A

10%

36
Q

What is proximal attachment of the plantaris?

A

Inferior end of the lateral supracondylar line of the femur

Oblique popliteal ligament

37
Q

What is the distal attachment of the plantaris?

A

Posterior surface of the calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon

38
Q

What is the innervation of the plantaris?

A

Tibial nerve (S1, S2)

39
Q

What is the arterial supply of the plantaris?

A

Popliteal artery

40
Q

What is the main action of plantaris?

A

Weakly assists gastrocnemius in plantarflexing the ankle

41
Q

What does rupture of the calcaneal tendon refer to?

A

A partial or complete tear of the tendon

42
Q

Who is a rupture of calcneal tendon more likely to occur in?

A

People with a history of calcaneal tendonitis

43
Q

What is calcaneal tendonitis?

A

Chronic inflammation of the tendon

44
Q

How is a rupture of the calcaneal tendon usually sustained?

A

During forceful plantarflexion of the foot

45
Q

What normally happens in a rupture of the calcaneal tendon?

A

The patient will be unable to plantarflex the foot against resistance, and the affected foot will be permanently dorsiflexed

46
Q

What is formed in a rupture of the calcaneal tendon?

A

A lump in the calf region

47
Q

What forms a lump in the calf region with a rupture of the calcaneal tendon?

A

The soleus and gastrocnemius can contract

48
Q

What is the treatment for a ruptured calcaneal tendon?

A

Usually non-surgical, except in those with active lifestyles

49
Q

How many muscles are the in the deep compartment of the posterior leg?

A

4

50
Q

What are the muscles of the deep compartment of of the posterior leg?

A

Popliteus
Tibialis posterior
Flexor hallucis longus
Flexor digitorum longus

51
Q

What do the muscles of the deep compartment of the posterior leg act on?

A

The popliteus acts only on the knee joint

The other three act on the ankle and foot

52
Q

Where is the popliteus located?

A

Superiorly in the leg, behind the knee joint

53
Q

What does the popliteus form?

A

The base of the cubital fossa

54
Q

Where does the popliteus bursa lie?

A

Between the popliteal tendon and the posterior surface of the knee

55
Q

What is the proximal attachment of the popliteus?

A

Lateral surface of the lateral condyle of the femur and lateral meniscus

56
Q

What is the distal attachment of the popliteus?

A

Posterior surface of the tibia, superior to the soleal line

57
Q

What is the innervation of the popliteus?

A

Tibial nerve (L4, L5, S1)

58
Q

What is the arterial supply of the popliteus?

A

Popliteal artery

59
Q

What is the main action of the popliteus?

A

Weakly flexes knee and unlocks it by rotating the femur 5º on fixed tibia
Medially rotates tibia of unplanted limb

60
Q

What is the deepest of the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?

A

Tibialis posterior

61
Q

Where does the tibialis posterior lie?

A

Between the flexor digitorum longus and the flexor hallicus longus

62
Q

What is the proximal attachment of the tibialis posterior?

A

Interosseous membrane
Posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line
Posterior surface of fibula

63
Q

What is the distal attachment of the tibialis posterior?

A

Tuberosity of navicular cuneiform, cuboid and sustenaculum tali of calcaneous
Bases of 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsals

64
Q

What is the innervation of the tibialis posterior?

A

Tibial nerve (L4, L5)

65
Q

What is the arterial supply of the tibialis posterior?

A

Anterior tibial artery

66
Q

What is the main action of the tibialis posterior?

A

Plantarflexes ankle

Inverts foot

67
Q

Where is the flexor hallucis longus found?

A

On the lateral side of the leg

68
Q

What is the proximal attachment of the flexor hallicus longus?

A

Inferior two thirds of the posterior surface of fibula

Inferior part of interosseous membrane

69
Q

What is the distal attachment of the flexor hallicus longus?

A

Base of distal phalanx of great toe (hallux)

70
Q

What is the innervation of the flexor hallicus longus?

A

Tibial nerve (S2, S3)

71
Q

What is the arterial supply of the flexor hallicus longus?

A

Anterior tibial artery

72
Q

What is the main action of the flexor hallicus longus?

A

Flexes great toe at all joints
Weakly plantarflexes ankle
Supports medial longitudinal arch of foot

73
Q

Where is the flexor digitorum longus located?

A

Medially in the posterior leg

74
Q

What is the proximal attachment of the flexor digitorum longus?

A

Medial part of posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line, by a broad tendon to the fibula

75
Q

What is the distal attachment of the flexor digitorum longus?

A

Bases of distal phalanges of lateral four digits

76
Q

What is the innervation of the flexor digitorum longus?

A

Tibial nerve (S2, S3)

77
Q

What is the main action of the flexor digitorum longus?

A

Flexes lateral 4 digits
Plantarflexes the ankle
Supports longitudinal arches of foot