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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the flexor digitorum longus muscle?
Which artery is the larger terminal branch of the popliteal artery?
Which muscle primarily assists in the flexion of the big toe?
What is the main function of the tibialis posterior muscle?
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What type of branches does the fibular (peroneal) artery have?
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What is the primary function of the gastrocnemius muscle?
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Which nerve innervates the gastrocnemius muscle?
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Where does the small saphenous vein drain into?
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Which structure acts as a support for the tendons of the deep layer muscles in the posterior compartment?
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Which muscle is considered the most superficial in the posterior crural compartment?
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What connects the medial malleolus to the calcaneus?
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Which layer of the posterior compartment contains the plantaris muscle?
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Which muscle originates from the lateral condyle of the femur?
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What is the primary function of the flexor hallucis longus muscle?
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What is the innervation of the tibialis posterior muscle?
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Which structure is NOT a branch of the posterior tibial artery?
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Where does the flexor digitorum longus muscle primarily insert?
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Which function is associated with the fibular (peroneal) artery?
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What is the function of the flexor retinaculum in the posterior compartment of the leg?
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Which nerve is responsible for innervating the soleus muscle?
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Which of the following muscles is not part of the deep layer in the posterior compartment?
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Which structure pierces the roof of the popliteal fossa and is involved in venous drainage?
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What muscle group do the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles together form?
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Which statement about the sural nerve is correct?
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Where do the deep group muscles of the posterior compartment primarily insert?
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What role does the interosseous membrane play in the leg?
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Which muscle is responsible for performing flexion of toes 2-5?
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What is the primary function of the tibialis posterior muscle?
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Which artery branches from the posterior tibial artery and supplies the fibula?
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The flexor hallucis longus muscle originates from which of the following?
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Which of the following muscles does NOT assist in plantar flexion of the foot?
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Which nerve is primarily responsible for innervating the muscles in the superficial layer of the posterior compartment of the leg?
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What anatomical structure divides the leg into three compartments?
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What is the primary function of the plantaris muscle?
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Which muscle originates from the soleal line of the fibula?
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What muscle is considered part of the deep layer of the posterior compartment?
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Which structure anchors the tendons of the deep group muscles in the posterior compartment?
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The gastrocnemius muscle inserts into which structure?
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What is the origin of the popliteus muscle?
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Study Notes
Cutaneous Nerves of the Posterior Aspect of the Leg
- Saphenous nerve - branch of the femoral nerve
- Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve - branch of the sacral plexus
- Lateral cutaneous nerve of leg - branch of the common fibular (peroneal) nerve
- Sural nerve - branch of the tibial nerve and the common fibular (peroneal) nerve
Superficial Veins
- Small saphenous vein - pierces the popliteal fossa roof and empties into the popliteal vein
Deep Fascia of the Leg (Fascia Cruris)
- Interosseous membrane and "crural intermuscular septa" divide the leg into three compartments:
- Anterior comparment
- Lateral compartment
- Posterior compartment - consists of two muscle groups:
- Superficial
- Deep
Posterior Compartment Muscles - Superficial Group
- Gastrocnemius muscle
- Soleus muscle
- Plantaris muscle
Posterior Compartment Muscles - Deep Group
- Popliteus muscle
- Flexor digitorum longus muscle
- Flexor hallucis longus muscle
- Tibialis posterior muscle
Flexor Retinaculum
- Broad band of deep fascia
- Extends from the medial malleolus to the calcaneus
- Function: holds deep group muscle tendons in their proper places
Gastrocnemius Muscle
- Most superficial muscle of the posterior crural compartment
- Origin: Two heads - lateral and medial condyles of the femur, join at the inferior margin of the popliteal fossa
- Insertion: Calcaneous through the "tendo calcaneus" (Achilles tendon)
- Nerve: Tibial nerve
- Function: Flexion (plantar flexion) of the foot and leg
Soleus Muscle
- Located deep to the gastrocnemius muscle
- Origin: Soleal line and the upper part of the fibula
- Insertion: Calcaneous through the "tendo calcaneus"
- Nerve: Tibial nerve
- Function: Flexion of the foot
Plantaris Muscle
- Small and variable in size and extend, may be absent
- Origin: Lateral supracondylar area of the femur
- Insertion: Medial part of the tendo calcaneus
- Nerve: Tibial nerve
- Function: Assists flexion of the leg, plantar flexion of the foot
Popliteus Muscle
- Thin and triangular
- Origin: Lateral condyle of the femur and the arcuate popliteal ligament
- Insertion: Posterior surface of the tibia
- Nerve: Tibial nerve
- Function: Flexion and medial rotation of the leg
Flexor Digitorum Longus Muscle
- Origin: Posterior surface of the tibia below the soleal line
- Insertion: Bases of the distal phalanges of digits 2-5
- Nerve: Tibial nerve
- Function: Flexion of digits 2-5, flexion of the foot, inversion of the foot, maintains the medial longitudinal arch of the foot
Flexor Hallucis Longus Muscle
- Long, powerful, and the largest muscle of the deep layer
- Origin: Lower part of posterior surface of the fibula, interosseous membrane
- Insertion: Base of the distal phalanx of the hallux (big toe)
- Nerve: Tibial nerve
- Function: Flexion of the hallux and foot, assisting in maintaining the foot's normal position.
Tibialis Posterior Muscle
- The deepest muscle of the posterior crural compartment
- Origin: Lateral part of the posterior surface of the tibia (below the soleal line), posterior surface of the fibula, interosseous membrane
- Insertion: Navicular bone, talus, cuneiform bones, cuboid bone, 2-4 metatarsal bones
- Nerve: Tibial nerve
- Function: Plantar flexes and inverts the foot
Posterior Tibial Artery
- Begins at the distal border of the popliteus muscle
- Largest terminal branch of the popliteal artery
- Accompanied by the tibial nerve
- Branches:
- Fibular (peroneal) artery
- Circumflex fibular artery
- Medial malleolar artery
- Calcaneal branches
- Nutrient artery for the tibia
- Lateral and medial plantar arteries
Fibular (Peroneal) Artery
- Branch of the posterior tibial artery
- Has: muscular branches, nutrient artery for the fibula, perforating branch, communicating branch, lateral malleolar branches, calcaneal branches.
Posterior Aspect of the Leg
- The saphenous nerve originates from the femoral nerve.
- The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve originates from the sacral plexus.
- The lateral cutaneous nerve of the leg originates from the common fibular (peroneal) nerve.
- The sural nerve originates from the tibial nerve and common fibular (peroneal) nerve.
- The small saphenous vein pierces the roof of the popliteal fossa and drains into the popliteal vein.
Deep Fascia of the Leg
- The deep fascia of the leg (fascia cruris), interosseous membrane, and crural intermuscular septa divide the leg into three crural compartments which are the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartment.
- The posterior compartment contains two groups of muscles which are the superficial group and deep group.
- Superficial muscles are the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles.
- Deep muscles are the popliteus, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, and tibialis posterior muscles.
Flexor Retinaculum
- The flexor retinaculum is a band of deep fascia that passes from the medial malleolus to the calcaneus.
- The flexor retinaculum holds the tendons of the deep group muscles in their proper places.
Muscles
- The superficial muscles of the posterior crural compartment are the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles.
- The gastrocnemius muscle is the most superficial muscle in the posterior crural compartment.
- It originates at the lateral and medial condyles of the femur, and they come together at the inferior margin of the popliteal fossa.
- It inserts into the calcaneus via the tendo calcaneus (Achilles tendon).
- It is innervated by the tibial nerve.
- It is responsible for flexion (plantar flexion) of the foot and leg.
- The soleus muscle is located deep to the gastrocnemius muscle.
- It originates at the soleal line and the upper part of the fibula.
- It inserts into the calcaneus via the tendo calcaneus.
- It is innervated by the tibial nerve.
- It is responsible for flexion of the foot.
- The plantaris muscle is a small muscle that is variable in size and extent, and it may be absent.
- It originates at the lateral supracondylar area of the femur.
- It inserts into the medial part of the tendo calcaneus.
- It is innervated by the tibial nerve.
- It assists with flexion of the leg and plantar flexion of the foot.
- The deep muscles of the posterior crural compartment are the popliteus, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, and tibialis posterior muscles.
- The popliteus muscle is a thin, triangular muscle.
- It originates at the lateral condyle of the femur and arcuate popliteal ligament.
- It inserts into the posterior surface of the tibia.
- It is innervated by the tibial nerve.
- It is responsible for flexion and medial rotation of the leg.
- The flexor digitorum longus muscle originates at the posterior surface of the tibia below the soleal line and inserts into the bases of the distal phalanges of the 2nd-5th toes.
- It is innervated by the tibial nerve.
- It is responsible for flexion of the toes, flexion of the foot, and inversion of the foot, and it also helps maintain the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.
- The flexor hallucis longus muscle is the long, powerful, and largest muscle of the deep layer.
- It originates at the lower part of the posterior surface of the fibula and the interosseous membrane.
- It inserts into the base of the distal phalanx of the hallux (big toe of the foot).
- It is innervated by the tibial nerve.
- It is responsible for flexion of the hallux and the foot, and it is also important in holding the leg in the normal position of the foot.
- The tibialis posterior muscle is the deepest muscle in the posterior crural compartment.
- It originates at the lateral part of the posterior surface of the tibia below the soleal line, the posterior surface of the fibula, and the interosseous membrane.
- It inserts into the navicular bone, talus, cuneiform bones, cuboid bone, and the 2nd-4th metatarsal bones.
- It is innervated by the tibial nerve.
- It is responsible for plantar flexion and inversion of the foot.
Posterior Tibial Artery
- The posterior tibial artery begins at the distal border of the popliteus muscle.
- It is the larger terminal branch of the popliteal artery.
- It is accompanied by the tibial nerve.
- It has the following branches: fibular (peroneal) artery, circumflex fibular artery, medial malleolar artery, calcaneal branches, nutrient artery of the tibia, and lateral and medial plantar arteries.
Fibular (Peroneal) Artery
- The fibular (peroneal) artery is a branch of the posterior tibial artery.
- It has muscular branches, nutrient artery to the fibula, perforating branch, communicating branch, lateral malleolar branches, and calcaneal branches.
Cutaneous Nerves
- Saphenous nerve is a branch of the femoral nerve.
- Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve is a branch of the sacral plexus.
- Lateral cutaneous nerve of leg is a branch of the common fibular nerve.
- Sural nerve is a branch of both the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve.
Superficial Veins
- Small saphenous vein pierces the roof of the popliteal fossa and drains into the popliteal vein.
Crural Compartments
- Deep fascia of the leg divides the leg into three compartments: anterior, lateral, and posterior.
Posterior Compartment Muscles
- Posterior compartment contains two groups of muscles: superficial and deep.
-
Superficial group:
- Gastrocnemius muscle
- Soleus muscle
- Plantaris muscle
-
Deep group:
- Popliteus muscle
- Flexor digitorum longus muscle
- Flexor hallucis longus muscle
- Tibialis posterior muscle
Flexor Retinaculum
- It is a broad band of deep fascia that helps hold the tendons of the deep muscles in place.
Superficial Layer Muscles
-
Gastrocnemius muscle:
- Most superficial muscle in the posterior compartment.
- Originates from the lateral and medial condyles of the femur.
- Inserts onto the calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon (Achilles tendon).
- Innervated by the tibial nerve.
- Function: Flexion of the foot and leg.
-
Soleus muscle:
- Located deep to the gastrocnemius.
- Originates from the soleal line and upper part of the fibula.
- Inserts onto the calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon.
- Innervated by the tibial nerve.
- Function: Flexion of the foot.
-
Plantaris muscle:
- Small, variable muscle.
- Originates from the lateral supracondylar area of the femur.
- Inserts onto the medial part of the calcaneal tendon.
- Innervated by the tibial nerve.
- Function: Assists in flexion of the leg and plantar flexion of the foot.
Deep Layer Muscles
-
Popliteus muscle:
- Thin, triangular muscle.
- Originates from the lateral condyle of the femur and the arcuate popliteal ligament.
- Inserts onto the posterior surface of the tibia.
- Innervated by the tibial nerve.
- Function: Flexion and medial rotation of the leg.
-
Flexor digitorum longus muscle:
- Originates from the posterior surface of the tibia below the soleal line.
- Inserts onto the bases of the distal phalanges of the 2nd to 5th toes.
- Innervated by the tibial nerve.
- Function: Flexion of the toes 2-5 and foot, inversion of the foot, and helps maintain the medial longitudinal arch.
-
Flexor hallucis longus muscle:
- Longest, most powerful muscle in the deep layer.
- Originates from the lower part of the posterior surface of the fibula and the interosseous membrane.
- Inserts onto the base of the distal phalanx of the hallux (big toe).
- Innervated by the tibial nerve.
- Function: Flexion of the hallux and foot, also helps hold the leg in normal foot position.
-
Tibialis posterior muscle:
- Deepest muscle in the posterior compartment.
- Originates from the lateral part of the posterior surface of the tibia below the soleal line, posterior surface of the fibula, and the interosseous membrane.
- Inserts onto the navicular bone, talus, cuneiform bones, cuboid bone, and the 2nd to 4th metatarsal bones.
- Innervated by the tibial nerve.
- Function: Plantar flexes and inverts the foot.
Posterior Tibial Artery
- Begins at the distal border of the popliteus muscle.
- Largest terminal branch of the popliteal artery.
- Accompanied by the tibial nerve.
- Branches:
- Fibular (peroneal) artery
- Circumflex fibular artery
- Medial malleolar artery
- Calcaneal branches
- Nutrient artery of the tibia
- Lateral and medial plantar arteries
Fibular (Peroneal) Artery
- Branch of the posterior tibial artery.
- Branches:
- Muscular branches
- Nutrient artery to the fibula
- Perforating branch
- Communicating branch
- Lateral malleolar branches
- Calcaneal branches
Support to the Foot
- Foot support comes from both the medial and lateral sides of the posterior compartment.
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Description
Explore the fascinating anatomy of the leg, focusing on the cutaneous nerves, superficial veins, and deep fascia structures. This quiz will test your knowledge on the various muscles in the posterior compartment and their functions. Perfect for students studying human anatomy or medical professionals looking to refresh their understanding.
