Muscles of the Leg, Ankle and Foot

Question 1

What are the primary movements of the ankle joint?

Answer 1

The ankle joint allows for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

Question 2

What is dorsiflexion of the ankle?

Answer 2

Dorsiflexion is the movement where the foot moves upward towards the shin, decreasing the angle between the dorsum of the foot and the leg.

Question 3

What is plantarflexion of the ankle?

Answer 3

Plantarflexion is the movement where the foot moves downward, increasing the angle between the dorsum of the foot and the leg.

Question 4

Which movements occur at the subtalar joint of the ankle?

Answer 4

The subtalar joint allows for inversion and eversion of the foot.

Question 5

What is inversion?

Answer 5

Inversion is the movement where the sole of the foot turns inward towards the midline.

Question 6

What is eversion?

Answer 6

Eversion is the movement where the sole of the foot turns outward, away from the midline.

Question 7

What movements occur at the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of the foot?

Answer 7

The foot allows for flexion and extension at the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints.

Question 8

What is flexion of the foot?

Answer 8

Flexion is the bending movement where the toes move downward, decreasing the angle between the phalanges and metatarsals.

Question 9

What is extension of the foot?

Answer 9

Extension is the movement where the toes are straightened, increasing the angle between the phalanges and metatarsals.

Question 10

What is abduction of the foot?

Answer 10

Abduction is the movement of the toes away from the midline of the foot.

Question 11

Which muscles make up the superficial layer of the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 11

The superficial layer includes the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris.

Question 12

Which muscles make up the deep layer of the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 12

The deep layer includes the popliteus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus.

Question 13

What nerve innervates the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 13

The tibial nerve.

Question 14

Which muscles are found in the anterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 14

The anterior compartment includes the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and fibularis (peroneus) tertius.

Question 15

What nerve innervates the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 15

The deep fibular nerve.

Question 16

Which muscles are found in the lateral compartment of the leg?

Answer 16

The lateral compartment includes the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis.

Question 17

What nerve innervates the muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg?

Answer 17

The superficial fibular nerve.

Question 18

Which muscles are found in the 1st layer of the plantar aspect of the foot?

Answer 18

The 1st layer includes abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, and abductor digiti minimi.

Question 19

Which muscles are found in the 2nd layer of the plantar aspect of the foot?

Answer 19

The 2nd layer includes quadratus plantae and lumbricals.

Question 20

Which muscles are found in the 3rd layer of the plantar aspect of the foot?

Answer 20

The 3rd layer includes flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, and flexor digiti minimi brevis.

Question 21

Which muscles are found in the 4th layer of the plantar aspect of the foot?

Answer 21

The 4th layer includes plantar interossei and dorsal interossei.

Question 22

Which muscles are found in the dorsal aspect of the foot?

Answer 22

The dorsal aspect includes extensor digitorum brevis and extensor hallucis brevis.

Question 23

What is the deep fascia of the leg called, and with what is it continuous?

Answer 23

The deep fascia of the leg is called the crural fascia, and it is continuous with the fascia lata.

Question 24

What does the interosseous membrane separate in the leg?

Answer 24

The interosseous membrane separates the anterior compartment from the posterior compartment.

Question 25

What does the anterior intermuscular septum separate?

Answer 25

The anterior intermuscular septum separates the anterior compartment from the lateral compartment.

Question 26

What does the posterior intermuscular septum separate?

Answer 26

The posterior intermuscular septum separates the lateral compartment from the posterior compartment.

Question 27

What does the transverse intermuscular septum separate?

Answer 27

The transverse intermuscular septum separates the superficial posterior compartment from the deep posterior compartment.

Question 28

What are the two primary retinacula on the medial side of the ankle?

Answer 28

The flexor retinaculum and the structures associated with it, such as tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus.

Question 29

What are the primary retinacula on the lateral side of the ankle?

Answer 29

The fibular (peroneal) retinacula, which stabilize the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis tendons.

Question 30

Which retinaculum covers the tendons of tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, and extensor hallucis longus?

Answer 30

The extensor retinaculum, which is continuous with the deep fascia of the leg.

Question 31

Which muscles pass through the fibular (peroneal) retinacula?

Answer 31

The fibularis longus and fibularis brevis muscles.

Question 32

Which retinaculum helps contain fibularis tertius and extensor digitorum longus tendons?

Answer 32

The extensor retinaculum.

Question 33

What forms the roof of the tarsal tunnel?

Answer 33

The flexor retinaculum.

Question 34

What is the function of the tarsal tunnel?

Answer 34

It provides a passage for structures to travel from the posterior leg to the foot.

Question 35

What is the function of the tarsal tunnel?

Answer 35

It provides a passage for structures to travel from the posterior leg to the foot.

Question 36

List the contents of the tarsal tunnel in order from anterior to posterior.

Answer 36

Tom: Tibialis posterior Dick: Flexor digitorum longus And: Posterior tibial artery Very: Posterior tibial vein Nervous: Tibial nerve Harry: Flexor hallucis longus

Question 37

Which nerve passes through the tarsal tunnel?

Answer 37

The tibial nerve.

Question 38

What condition can occur when there is compression of the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel?

Answer 38

Tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Question 39

What is the origin and insertion of the Extensor Digitorum Longus?

Answer 39

Origin: Fibula & lateral tibial condyle Insertion: Middle & distal phalanges of lateral four toes (via dorsal expansion)

Question 40

What action does the Extensor Digitorum Longus perform?

Answer 40

Ankle dorsiflexion and extension of the lateral four toes.

Question 41

What is the origin and insertion of the Tibialis Anterior?

Answer 41

Origin: Tibia & interosseous membrane Insertion: Medial cuneiform & base of 1st metatarsal

Question 42

What actions does the Tibialis Anterior perform?

Answer 42

Ankle dorsiflexion and foot inversion.

Question 43

What is the origin and insertion of the Fibularis Tertius?

Answer 43

Origin: Distal fibula Insertion: Base of 5th metatarsal

Question 44

What actions does the Fibularis Tertius perform?

Answer 44

Ankle dorsiflexion and foot eversion.

Question 45

What is the origin and insertion of the Extensor Hallucis Longus?

Answer 45

Origin: Fibula & interosseous membrane Insertion: Distal phalanx of the great toe

Question 46

What action does the Extensor Hallucis Longus perform?

Answer 46

Ankle dorsiflexion and extension of the great toe.

Question 47

What nerve innervates all the muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg?

Answer 47

The deep fibular nerve.

Question 48

What is the origin and insertion of the Fibularis Longus?

Answer 48

Origin: Fibular head and superior 2/3 of fibula Insertion: Base of 1st metatarsal & medial cuneiform

Question 49

What is the origin and insertion of the Fibularis Brevis?

Answer 49

Origin: Inferior 2/3 of fibula Insertion: Base of 5th metatarsal

Question 50

What are the common actions of the Fibularis Longus and Fibularis Brevis?

Answer 50

Foot eversion Weak ankle plantarflexion Help support the arches of the foot

Question 51

What nerve innervates the lateral compartment of the leg?

Answer 51

The superficial fibular nerve.

Question 52

What structure holds down the fibularis tendons?

Answer 52

The fibular retinaculum.

Question 53

What is the insertion point of the Abductor Digiti Minimi?

Answer 53

Base of the proximal phalanx of the little toe.

Question 54

What actions does the Abductor Digiti Minimi perform?

Answer 54

Abduction and flexion of the little toe.

Question 55

Which nerve innervates the Abductor Digiti Minimi?

Answer 55

Lateral plantar nerve.

Question 56

What is the insertion point of the Flexor Digitorum Brevis?

Answer 56

Middle phalanges of the lateral four toes.

Question 57

What action does the Flexor Digitorum Brevis perform?

Answer 57

Flexion of the lateral four toes at the PIP joints.

Question 58

Which nerve innervates the Flexor Digitorum Brevis?

Answer 58

Medial plantar nerve.

Question 59

What is the insertion point of the Abductor Hallucis?

Answer 59

Base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.

Question 60

What actions does the Abductor Hallucis perform?

Answer 60

Abduction and flexion of the great toe.

Question 61

Which nerve innervates the Abductor Hallucis?

Answer 61

Medial plantar nerve.

Question 62

What is the origin of the Lumbricals in the foot?

Answer 62

Tendons of flexor digitorum longus.

Question 63

Where do the Lumbricals insert?

Answer 63

Extensor hoods of the lateral four toes.

Question 64

What are the actions of the Lumbricals?

Answer 64

Flexion of the MTP joints and extension of the IP joints.

Question 65

Which nerves innervate the Lumbricals?

Answer 65

Medial plantar nerve for the 1st lumbrical, and lateral plantar nerve for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbricals.

Question 66

What is the insertion point of the Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis?

Answer 66

Base of the proximal phalanx of the little toe.

Question 67

What action does the Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis perform?

Answer 67

Flexion of the little toe.

Question 68

Which nerve innervates the Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis?

Answer 68

Lateral plantar nerve.

Question 69

What is the insertion point of the Adductor Hallucis?

Answer 69

Base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.

Question 70

What action does the Adductor Hallucis perform?

Answer 70

Adduction of the great toe.

Question 71

Which nerve innervates the Adductor Hallucis?

Answer 71

Lateral plantar nerve.

Question 72

What is the insertion point of the Flexor Hallucis Brevis?

Answer 72

Base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe (with sesamoid bones within its tendons).

Question 73

What action does the Flexor Hallucis Brevis perform?

Answer 73

Flexion of the great toe.

Question 74

Which nerve innervates the Flexor Hallucis Brevis?

Answer 74

Medial plantar nerve.

Question 75

What are the two heads of the Flexor Hallucis Brevis?

Answer 75

The transverse head and the oblique head.

Question 76

What is the origin of the Interossei muscles in the foot?

Answer 76

Metatarsals

Question 77

Where do the Interossei muscles insert?

Answer 77

Base of the proximal phalanx and extensor expansion.

Question 78

What is the action of the Plantar Interossei (PAD)?

Answer 78

Adduction of the toes toward the 2nd digit.

Question 79

What is the action of the Dorsal Interossei (DAB)?

Answer 79

Abduction of the toes away from the 2nd digit.

Question 80

Which nerve innervates the Interossei muscles?

Answer 80

Lateral plantar nerve.

Question 81

What is the common innervation of the muscles on the dorsal aspect of the foot?

Answer 81

Deep fibular nerve.

Question 82

Where does the Extensor Hallucis Longus insert?

Answer 82

Base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.

Question 83

What action does the Extensor Hallucis Longus perform?

Answer 83

Extension of the great toe.

Question 84

Where does the Extensor Hallucis Brevis insert?

Answer 84

Base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe (similar to extensor hallucis longus).

Question 85

Where does the Extensor Digitorum Brevis insert?

Answer 85

Tendons of extensor digitorum longus (EDL).

Question 86

What is the action of the Extensor Digitorum Brevis?

Answer 86

Assists the extensor digitorum longus in the extension of digits 2 to 4.

Question 87

What tendons are visible on the dorsal aspect of the foot related to the extension of the toes?

Answer 87

Extensor Digitorum Longus tendons and extensor expansion.