Answers
What is the action of the muscles in the posterior com- superficial action: plantarflexion
partment in the leg? deep action: toe flexion and ankle inversion
What is the vascular supply? vascular supply: posterior tibial and fibular arteries
What is the innervation? innervation: tibial nerve
What type of joint forms the proximal tibiofibular joint? planar joint
What forms it? forms between head of fibula and lateral condyle of tibia
syndesmosis (fibrous joint)
What type of joint forms the distal tibiofibular joint?
forms between distal end of fibula and fibular notch of
What forms it?
tibia
What type of joint forms the talocrural joint? hinge joint
What forms it? forms between medial/lateral malleolus with talus
What is packed between the muscles of the superficial
crural fascia and transverse intermuscular septum
compartment of the posterior leg?
allows for expansion of dense gastrocnemius muscle
What does it allow?
1) medial head of gastrocnemius
2) lateral head of gastrocnemius
What are the triceps surae muscles? 3) soleus
*plantaris up for debate
What is the common action of the superficial compart-
generate >90% of plantar flexion force
ment?
insert on calcaneal tendon
What is the common insertion?
muscular branches off the tibial nerve
What is the innervation?
, What is the vascular supply? posterior tibial artery
What is the strongest tendon in the body? calcaneal tendon (aka Achilles)
What causes an Achilles tendon injury/tear? high mechanical load
What is the most superficial muscle in the posterior leg? gastrocnemius
lateral head: lateral condyle of femur
medial head: medial condyle of femur
Origin of gastrocnemius
powerful plantar flexor
knee flexion when ankle is dorsiflexed
Action of gastrocnemius
a broad aponeurotic tendon that narrows/thickens distally
to form calcaneal tendon
What do the two heads of gastrocnemius form when they
fuse together?
*soleus and plantaris both eventually fuse into calcaneal
tendon
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