1. By Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
Back of the leg By
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

2. Muscles of the back of the leg
It is divided into
2 groups:
Superficial: 3 muscles,
Gastrocnemius.
Plantaris.
Soleus.
Deep: 4 muscles,
Popliteus.
Flexor digitorum longus.
Flexor hallucis longus.
Tibialis posterior.

3. Gastrocnemius Origin: 2 heads
Med: popliteal surface of the femur above medial condyle.
Lat: lateral aspect of lateral condyle of femur.
Insertion: through the tendo calcaneus to post surface of calcaneus.
Nerve: Tibial nerve.
Action:
Flexion of knee joint
Planter flexion of the foot.
Gastrocnemius

4. Plantaris Small fusiform muscle. May be absent or doubled
Homologues to palmaris longus
Origin: lateral supracondylar ridge of the femur.
Insertion: long ribbon- like tendon descends between Gastrocnemius & soleus.
then on medial side of tendo Achillesto t he back of the calcaneus.
Nerve: Tibial nerve.
Action: assists in
Flexion of the knee.
Planter flexion of the foot.

5. Soleus It is a broad flat muscle It forms the main bulk of the calf.
Origin: inverted V-shaped from soleal line of tibia, upper ¼th of back of the fibula & fibrous arch between tibia and fibula.
Insertion: tendo calcaneus
Nerve: Tibial nerve.
Action:
Planter flexion of ankle.
Main forward propulsive force in walking & running with Gastrocnemius & plantaris

6. Deep Group
Popliteus
Origin: lateral surface of lateral condyle of the femur
It is intra capsular, it takes partial origin from the lateral semilunar cartilage.
Insertion: post. surface of the tibia above the soleal line.
Nerve: Tibial nerve.
Action:
Unlocking of the knee joint
Flexion of the knee.
NB. tendon of popliteus separates between lateral meniscus and lateral collateral ligament of the knee

8. Flexor digitorum longus
Origin: medial part of back of the tibia below the soleal line.
Insertion: terminal phalanges of lateral four toes.
Each slip pierces the tendon of flexor digitorum brevis of the sole.
Nerve: Tibial nerve
Action:
Planter flexion of the terminal phalanx of the lateral 4 toes.
Assists in planter flexion of the foot
Flexor digitorum longus

9. Flexor hallucis longus
Origin: lower 2/3rd of the posterior surface of the fibula
Insertion: Base of the distal phalanx of the big toe.
Nerve: Tibial nerve.
Action: Planter flexion of the distal phalanx of big toe
Assists in planter flexion of the foot.
Maintenance of medial longitudinal arch of the foot.

10. TIBIALIS POSTERIOR Origin: Back of interosseous membrane.
Back of tibia lateral to vertical line
Back of fibula medial to medial crest
Insertion:
All tarsus except talus.
The main insertion into tuberosity of the navicular bone.
It is also inserted into the base of 2nd,3rd& 4th metatarsal bones.
Nerve: Tibial nerve
Action:
Planter flexion
Inversion
Maintain the medial longitudinal arch.

11. Posterior tibial artery
One of the two terminal branches of popliteal artery
Begins at level of the distal border of popliteus muscle
Passes downward deep to Gastrocnemius & soleus
It descends on posterior surface of tibialis posterior
Its lower part lies on back of tibia covered by skin & fascia
It passes behind the medial malleolus to the sole

12. Tome: Tibialis posterior Does: Flexor digitorum longus V N H H
Tome: Tibialis posterior
Does: Flexor digitorum longus
A: Posterior tibial artery
V: Posterior tibial vein
N: Posterior tibial nerve
Hat: Flexor hallucis longus

13. Branches of posterior tibial artery (PTA):
1- Peroneal artery:
Arises close to the origin of PTA.
Gives nutrient artery to the fibula & descends behind it.
Gives muscular branches
Shares in anastomosis around the ankle
2- Muscular branches
3- Nutrient artery to tibia
4-Medial planter artery
5- Lateral planter artery

14. Tibial Nerve
Larger of the 2 terminal branches of sciatic nerve in the lower 1/3 of back of thigh
It bisects the popliteal fossa
It passes deep to the Gastrocnemius and soleus
It lies on posterior surface of tibialis posterior
It accompanies the posterior tibial artery.
It passes behind the medial malleolus to reach the sole
Branches:
Muscular branches.
Medial calcaneal branch to
Articular to ankle joint
Medial & lateral planter nerves

15. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

16. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
Sciatic Nerve Injury
The sciatic nerve (L4 and 5 and S1, 2, & 3) curves laterally and downward through the gluteal region.
It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis.
situated at first midway between the post. superior iliac spine and the ischial tuberosity.
Then, it lies midway between the tip of the greater trochanter and the ischial tuberosity.
Then it passes downward in the midline on the posterior aspect of the thigh and divides into the common peroneal and tibial nerves, at a variable site above the popliteal fossa.
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

17. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
Trauma
The sciatic nerve is sometimes injured by:
penetrating wounds,
fractures of the pelvis, or
dislocations of the hip joint.
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

18. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
The sciatic nerve is most frequently injured by…?
- badly placed intramuscular injections in the gluteal region.
To avoid this injury, injections into the gluteus maximus or the gluteus medius should be made…
….well forward on the upper outer quadrant of the buttock.
Most nerve lesions are incomplete, and in 90% of injuries, the common peroneal part of the nerve is the most affected. Why?
- The common peroneal nerve fibers lie most superficial in the sciatic nerve.
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

19. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
The following clinical features are present:
Motor:
The hamstring muscles are paralyzed, but weak flexion of the knee is possible. Why?
- because of the action of the sartorius (femoral nerve) and gracilis (obturator nerve).
All the muscles below the knee are paralyzed, and the weight of the foot causes it to assume the plantar-flexed position, or foot drop.
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

20. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
Sensory:
Sensation is lost below the knee, except for a narrow area down the medial side of the lower part of the leg and along the medial border of the foot as far as the ball of the big toe, which is supplied by the saphenous nerve (femoral nerve).
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

21. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
Sciatica
Sciatica describes the condition in which patients have pain along the sensory distribution of the sciatic nerve.
Thus the pain is experienced in the posterior aspect of the thigh, the posterior and lateral sides of the leg, and the lateral part of the foot.
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem

22. Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem
Sciatica can be caused by:
prolapse of an intervertebral disc, with pressure on one or more roots of the lower lumbar and sacral spinal nerves,
pressure on the sacral plexus or sciatic nerve by an intrapelvic tumor, or
inflammation of the sciatic nerve or its terminal branches.
Prof. Saeed Abuel Makarem