Posterior Aspect of the Leg
Prof. Dr. Selda Önderoğlu
.
Cutaneous Nerves
• Saphenous n. (from femoral n.)
• Posterior femoral cutaneous n.
(from sacral plexus)
• Lateral cutaneous n. of leg
(from common fibular (peroneal) n.)
• Sural n. (from tibial n & common fibular (peroneal) n.)
Superficial veins
• Small saphenous vein
– pierces the roof of the popliteal fossa and
drains into the popliteal vein
Deep fascia of leg(Fascia cruris)
• interosseous membrane and the “crural intermuscular
septa” divide the leg into 3 crural compartments:
1-Anterior comp.
2-Lateral comp.
3-Posterior comp.: contains 2 group of muscles:
– superficial – deep
P
L
A
Flexor Retinaculum
• broad band of deep fascia which passes -from medial
malleolus
-to calcaneus
Muscles
Superficial layer
– Gastrocnemius m.
– Soleus m.
– Plantaris m.
Deep layer
– Popliteus m.
– Flexor digitorum longus m.
– Flexor hallucis longus m.
– Tibialis posterior m.
insert to calcaneus with a common tendon “tendo calcaneus”
(achille’s tendon)
pass deep
to the “flexor retinaculum”
SUPERFICIAL LAYER Gastrocnemius m.
• Most superficial of the muscles in the posterior crural compartment
• O: 2 heads, lat & med condyles of femur, they come together at the inferior margin of the popliteal fossa
• I: Calcaneous, via “tendo calcaneus” (aschilles
tendon)
• N: Tibial n.
• F: Flexion (plantar flexion) of foot & leg
Soleus m.
-Located deep to gastrocnemius
• O: Soleal line, upper part of fibula
• I: calcaneus via “tendo calcaneus”
• N: Tibial nerve
• F: Flexion of foot
Gastrocnemius+soleus mm:
Triceps surae m.
Plantaris m.
---Small muscle; variable in size and extend, it may be absent.
• O: Lat supracondylar area of the femur
• I: Medial part of tendo calcaneus
• N: Tibial n.
• F: assists flexion of leg, plantar flexion of the foot
DEEP LAYER:
Popliteus m.
---Thin, triangular muscle
• O: Lat condyle of femur &
arcuate popliteal lig.
• I: Post surface of tibia
• N: Tibial nerve
• F: Flexion & medial rotation of leg
Flexor digitorum longus m.
• O: Post surface of tibia below soleal line
• I:Bases of distal phalanges of 2-5
• N.:Tibial nerve
• F: Flexion of toes 2-5 &
foot, inversion of foot, helps to maintain the medial longitudinal arch of foot
Flexor hallucis longus m.
--The long, powerful and largest muscle of deep layer
• O: Lower part of post surface of fibula,
interosseos memb.
• I: Base of distal phalanx of hallux (big toe of foot)
• N.: Tibial nerve
• F: Flexion of hallux & foot, also important in holding the leg in the normal
position of foot.
Tibialis
posterior m.
• The deepest m in the posterior crural
compartment
• O: Lateral part of post
surface of tibia below soleal line, post surface of fibula, interosseous membrane
• I: Sustentaculum tali,
tuberosity of navicular b, talus, cuneiform bb, cuboid b, 2-4 metatarsal bb
• N.: Tibial n.
• F: Plantar flexes and inverts foot
cross
Posterior tibial artery
• it begins at the distal border of the popliteus muscle
• it is larger terminal branch of the popliteal artery
• it is accompanied by the tibial nerve
• Branches:
– Fibular ( peroneal) a – Circumflex fibular a – Medial malleolar a – Calcaneal brs
– Nutrient a of tibia – Lat & med plantar aa
Fibular (peroneal) artery
• Muscular branches
• Nutrient a. to fibula
• Perforating br.
• Communicating br.
• Lateral malleolar brr.
• Calcaneal brr.
Tuberosity of tibia
