Anatomy: Leg, ankle, and Foot

What is the bony composition of the transverse arch?

- Bases of metatarsal bones, cuboid, and three cuneiform bones

What is the bony composition of the lateral longitudinal arch?

- Calcaneus, cuboid, and lateral two metatarsal bones

What is the bony composition of the medial longitudinal arch?

- Calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuneiform bones, and first three metatarsal bones

What is a low (lateral) ankle sprain?

- Injury to the Anterior Talofibular Ligament due to excess inversion. This is the most common type of ankle sprain.

What is a high ankle sprain?

- Injury to the tibiofibular ligaments typically due to excess eversion and superior movement of the talus. May also involve damage to the interosseous membrane between the tibia and fibula.

What is the function of the long plantar ligament?

- It is the strongest ligament that supports the lateral longitudinal arch by resisting its depression.

What is the function of the short plantar ligament?

- It supports the lateral longitudinal arch by assisting in resisting its depression.

What is the function of the lateral longitudinal arch?

- It supports the long plantar and short plantar ligaments as well as the fibularis longus tendon.

What is the function of the plantar aponeurosis?

- It supports the longitudinal arches and protects underlying structures.

What is the function of the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament (spring ligament)?

- It supports the medial longitudinal arch by resisting its depression.

What is the function of the medial longitudinal arch?

- It supports the plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament (at the head of the talus) and the tibialis posterior tendon (during walking).

What is the function of the transverse arch?

- It supports the tibialis anterior and posterior tendons AND fibularis longus tendon.

What are the functions of the tibialis anterior and posterior tendons and the fibularis longus tendon?

- They support the transverse arch.

What are the arches of the foot?

- medial longitudinal arch - lateral longitudinal arch - transverse arch

Describe the intertarsal joints.

- synovial - It is between the `tarsal bones.

Describe the ankle joint.

- synovial - It is found at the body of the talus between the medial malleolus (of the tibia) and lateral malleolus (of the fibula).

Describe the transverse (midtarsal) joints.

- synovial - It is found between the calcaneus and cuboid and between the talus and navicular.

Describe the metatarsophalangeal joints.

- synovial - It is found between the heads of the metatarsal bones and the bases of the proximal phalanges of the digits.

Describe the tarsometatarsal joints.

- synovial - It is found between the metatarsal and tarsal bones.

Describe the interphalangeal joints.

- synovial - It is found between the proximal and middle phalanges and between the middle and distal phalanges of the digits.

What are the contents of the flexor retinaculum?

From anteromedially to posterolaterally: - Tibialis posterior tendon - Flexor digitorum longus tendon - Posterior tibial artery - Posterior tibial vein(s) - Tibial nerve - Flexor hallucis longus tendon Tom Dick And Very Nervous Harry

What is the flexor retinaculum?

overlies the tarsal tunnel