Neurovascular Structures Withing The Leg Regions

Front 1

femoral artery

Back 1

- exits the adductor hiatus to become the popliteal artery

Front 2

- popliteal artery

Back 2

- divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries at distal edge of popliteal fossa

Front 3

anterior tibial artery

Back 3

- passes through gap in the intermuscular septum to supply the anterior compartment of the leg

- terminates in ankle as dorsalis pedis artery

Front 4

posterior tibial artery

Back 4

- travels thorugh and supplies the posterior compartment

- terminates in ankle by dividing into lateral and medial plantar arteries

- near its origin it gives rise to large branch called the fibular artery

Front 5

fibular artery

Back 5

- remains in the posterior compartment but supplies the lateral compartment via perforating branches

Front 6

motor innervation to the leg (tibial nerve)

Back 6

- supplied entirely by the tibial and common fibular nerves

- tibial nerve runs vertically in popliteal fossa with popliteal artery and passes between the two head of the gastrocneumius

- travels in posteiror compartment with the posterior tibial artery

- terminates in ankle by dividing into medial and lateral plantar branches

Front 7

common fibular nerve

Back 7

- divides into superficial and deep fibular nerves near the head of the fibula

- superficial fibular nerve travels into lateral compartment to supply the two fibularis muscles

- emerges distally as cutaneous nerve supplying the skin on the distal part of the anterolateral leg and dorsum of the foot

- deep fibular nerve travels with the anterior tibial artery in the anterior compartment

Front 8

So each compartment of the leg...

Back 8

- contains a funtional group of muscles with a specific nerve and arterial supply

- all these muscles act at the talocrural joint (dorsiflextion/plantarflexion) and the subtalar joint

- muscles that extend into the forefoot also function at more distal joints

- some muscles in the posterior group also act to flex the leg at the knee

Front 9

Anterior compartment

Back 9

- arterial supply = anterior tibial arteyr

- innervation = deep fibular nerve

- function = all dorsiflexors of the foot
anterior lateral muscles evert the foot
anterior medial muscles invert the foot

Front 10

posterior compartment

Back 10

- arterial supply = posterior tibial artery

- innervation = tibial nerve

- function = all plantarflex and invert the foot

Front 11

lateral compartment

Back 11

- arterial supply = fibular and anterior tibial artery (perforating branches)

- innervation = superficial fibular nerve

- function = evert foot and plantar flex the foot