Posterior Leg

Question 1

what are the muscles of the superficial compartment of the posterior leg

Answer 1

• gastrocnemius
• soleus

Question 2

what are the muscles of the deep compartment of the posterior leg

Answer 2

• popliteus
• flexor hallucis longus
• flexor digitorum longus
• tiabialis posterior

Question 3

gastrocnemius:
origin
insertion
innervation
action

Answer 3

• origin: above the medial and lateral femoral condyles
• insertion: tendo achilles
• innervation: tibial nerve
• action: plantarflexion, knee flexion

Question 4

how many joints does gastrocnemius cross

Answer 4

1. knee
2. ankle
3. subtalar

Question 5

soleus:
origin
insertion
innervation
action

Answer 5

• origin: head and upper 1/3 of fibula, soleal line
• insertion: joins with gastrocnemius into tendo achilles
• innervation: tibial nerve
• action: active in gait from forefoot landing to toe off

Question 6

plantaris: small muscle of little functional importance
origin
insertion
action

Answer 6

origin: lateral supracondylar line
insertion: achilles tendon
action: very weak plantarflexor and knee flexor

Question 7

flexor hallucis longus:
origin
insertion
innervation
action

Answer 7

• origin: lower 2/3 fibula and Iom
• insertion: passes between sesamoids to insert into distal hallux phalanx
• innervation: tibial nerve
• action: 1st MTPJ/IPJ flexion, AJ flexion

Question 8

flexor hallucis longus:
origin
insertion
innervation
action

Answer 8

• origin: lower 2/3 fibula and Iom
• insertion: passes between sesamoids to insert into distal hallux phalanx
• innervation: tibial nerve
• action: 1st MTPJ/IPJ flexion, AJ flexion

Question 9

flexor digitorum longus:
origin
insertion
innervation
action

Answer 9

• origin: posterior tibia
• insertion: distal phalanx of lesser 4 toes
• innervation: tibial nerve
• action: plantarflexes lesser 4 toes and foot, stablises toes on ground during gait

Question 10

tibialis posterior:
origin
insertion
nerve supply
action
pathology

Answer 10

• origin: IoM and tibia/fibula
• insertion: naviular tuberosity
• nerve supply: tibial nerve
• action: foot inversion and AJ plantarflexion
• pathology: weakness/rupture - progressively pronated foot

Question 11

structures under flexor retinaculum

Answer 11

Tom, Dick And Very Naughty Harry
(anterior to posterior)

Question 12

what are the cutaneous nerves of the leg (4)

Answer 12

• posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh (sacral plexus)
• lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf (common peroneal)
• sural nerve (tibial nerve)
• saphenous nerve (femoral nerve)