Tibial Nerve and Associated Muscles Quiz

Posterior Compartment of Leg & Sole of Foot

• The posterior compartment of the leg contains various muscles, divided into superficial and deep groups by the transverse intermuscular septum.
• The superficial group includes the gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus muscles.
• The gastrocnemius muscle has two heads (medial and lateral).
• The soleus muscle is a larger muscle below the gastrocnemius.
• The plantaris muscle is a small muscle connecting the two.
• The calcaneal tendon attaches the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus (heel bone).
• The deep group of muscles includes the popliteus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior, and flexor hallucis longus.
• The tibial nerve and posterior tibial artery supply the posterior compartment.

Sole of Foot

• The sole of the foot has thick, hairless skin.
• It has creases where the skin moves.
• It has many sweat glands.

Deep Fascia

• The plantar aponeurosis is a triangular thickening of fascia that protects underlying structures (nerves, vessels, and muscles).
• Its apex connects to the tubercles of the calcaneum (heel).
• The base divides into slips to the toes.

Muscles of the Sole

• Sole muscles are in four layers, listed from superficial to deep.
• The first layer includes the abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, and abductor digiti minimi.
• The second layer includes the lumbricals, quadratus plantae, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus.
• The third layer includes the flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, and flexor digiti minimi brevis.
• The fourth layer includes the interossei muscles (3 plantar + 4 dorsal).

Arches of the Foot

• The foot has three arches (medial, lateral longitudinal, and transverse).
• The medial longitudinal arch involves the calcaneum, talus, navicular, and cuneiforms, along with the three medial metatarsals.
• The lateral longitudinal arch involves the calcaneum, cuboid, the fourth and fifth metatarsals.
• The transverse arch is at the level of the tarsometatarsal joints, including the bases of the metatarsals, along with the cuboid and cuneiform bones.

Function of Arches

• The arches support weight bearing, walking, and running.
• They provide space for neurovascular bundles.
• They act as shock absorbers.

Fibrous & Synovial Sheaths

• The inferior surface of each toe, from the metatarsal head to the distal phalanx, has a fibrous sheath connected to the sides of the phalanges.
• The fibrous sheath, along with the interphalanges, forms a tunnel for the flexor tendons.
• The flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus tendons are surrounded by synovial sheaths.

Tibial Nerve

• The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve.
• It enters the posterior compartment of the leg by passing beneath the soleus.

Posterior Tibial Artery

• One of the terminal branches of the popliteal artery.

Objectives

• Students should know the contents of the posterior fascial compartment of the leg.
• Students should know the structures held by retinacula at the ankle.
• Students should know the layers of the sole, including the bones forming the arches of the foot.

Test your knowledge on the muscles innervated by the tibial nerve! This quiz covers crucial topics including the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles, their roles, origins, and insertions. Understand the anatomy related to the tibial nerve and assess your understanding of this important neurological pathway.