Slideshow: Posterior Leg The Funky Professor videos can be viewed here; http://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/journal/video?videoTaxonomy=FUNK

1. Posterior Leg Compartment

2. The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint

3. The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint
There is a Superficial Posterior Compartment and a
Deep Posterior Compartment

4. The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint
There are 3 muscles in the Superficial Compartment

5. There are 3 muscles in the Superficial Compartment
•Gastrocnemius
•Plantaris
•Soleus
The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint

6. There are 4 muscles in the Deep Compartment
•Popliteus
•Flexor Digitorum Longus
•Flexor Hallucis Longus
•Tibialis Posterior
The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint

7. Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L

8. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L

9. Septum
Septum
Interosseous
membrane
Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L

10. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Anterior Compartment

11. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Anterior Compartment
Lateral
Compartment

12. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Anterior Compartment
Lateral
Compartment

13. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Anterior Compartment
Lateral
Compartment
Deep Posterior
Compartment

14. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Superficial Posterior
Compartment
Deep Posterior
Compartment
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment

15. Muscles of the
Superficial Posterior
Compartment

16. Gastrocnemius
Gastrocnemius Arises as two heads from the posterior
surface of the
Medial and Lateral Femoral Condyles
Posterior view, right leg

17. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
LLateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial HeadMedial Head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
Deep Posterior
Compartment

18. Soleus
Originates from the
•posterior aspect of the fibular head
•Fibular shaft
•Tibial shaft

19. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
LLateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
Deep Posterior
Compartment

20. Soleus and Gastrocnemius
merge to form the Achilles tendon
This tendon inserts onto the posterior
and superior surfaces of the Calcaneum

21. Plantaris
This slender muscle arises from the
Lateral Supracondylar ridge of the Femur
and inserts onto the Calcaneum just
medial to the Achilles Tendon

22. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Deep Posterior
Compartment
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris

23. Muscles of the
Deep Posterior Compartment

24. Popliteus
Originates from the posterior aspect of
the upper Tibia

25. Popliteus
Originates from the posterior aspect of
the upper Tibia
Inserts onto lateral surface of lateral condyle of Femur

26. Popliteus
This muscle contributes to the function of the
knee joint by unlocking the extended leg and
rotating the Femur on the Tibia
Originates from the posterior aspect of
the upper Tibia
Inserts onto lateral surface of lateral condyle of Femur

27. Tibialis Posterior
Originates from the posterior aspects of the
•Interosseous membrane
•Fibular shaft
•Tibial shaft

28. Tibialis Posterior
Inserts onto the Navicular, and sends extensions
to other tarsal bones and metatarsals
Originates from the posterior aspects of the
•interosseous membrane
•fibular shaft
•tibial shaft

29. Tibialis Posterior
This is the principal invertor of the foot
Inserts onto the navicular, and sends extensions
to other tarsal bones and metatarsals
Originates from the posterior aspects of the
•interosseous membrane
•fibular shaft
•tibial shaft

30. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
LLateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior

31. Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Tibial shaft
Flexor Digitorum Longus

32. Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Tibial shaft
Flexor Digitorum Longus
Splits into 4 tendons which insert onto
the distal phalanges of toes 2-5

33. Originates from the posterior aspect of the
tibial shaft
Flexor Digitorum Longus
Flexes the toes
Splits into 4 tendons which insert onto
the distal phalanges of toes 2-5

34. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
LLateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior Flexor DigitorumFlexor Digitorum
LongusLongus

35. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Fibular shaft and Interosseous Membrane

36. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Fibular shaft and Interosseous Membrane
Inserts onto the distal phalanx of the big toe

37. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Fibular shaft and Interosseous Membrane
Inserts onto the distal phalanx of the big toe
Flexes the big toe

38. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
LLateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior Flexor DigitorumFlexor Digitorum
LongusLongus
Flexor Hallucis LongusFlexor Hallucis Longus

39. Nerve Supply

40. All the muscles of the
Posterior Compartment of the Leg
are supplied by the
Tibial Nerve
a terminal branch of the Sciatic Nerve

41. Tibi
a
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
LLateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior Flexor DigitorumFlexor Digitorum
LongusLongus
Flexor Hallucis LongusFlexor Hallucis Longus
Tibial Nerve

42. Summary of Muscles

43. Gastrocnemius
Origin Medial head: posterior surface of
medial femoral condyle
Lateral head: posterior surface of
lateral femoral condyle
Insertion The two heads unite and with
soleus form the Achilles tendon,
which inserts onto the posterior
and upper surface of calcaneum
Action Powerful plantar flexor of ankle
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve ( S1, S2)
Blood Supply Sural branches of the popliteal
artery
Posterior Leg

44. Soleus
Origin Posterior aspect of fibular head,
posterior surface of upper fibular
shaft, soleal line on posterior
tibia and medial border of tibia
Insertion unites with gastrocnemius
aponeurosis to form the Achilles
tendon, inserts onto posterior
and upper surfaces of calcaneum
Action Plantar flexor of ankle
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve (S1, S2)
Blood Supply Posterior tibial, peroneal, and
sural arteries
Posterior Leg

45. Plantaris
Origin Inferior aspect of lateral
supracondylar ridge of distal
femur
Insertion Posterior calcaneal surface,
medial to Achilles tendon
Action Plantar flexor of ankle; also flexes
knee
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve (L5, S1, S2)
Blood Supply Sural arteries
Posterior Leg

46. Popliteus
Origin Posterior surface of tibia,
superior to soleal line
Insertion Lateral surface of lateral condyle
of femur.
The tendon passes into the
capsule of the knee and gives an
extension to posterior part of
lateral meniscus
Action Unlocks the extended knee by
laterally rotating the femur on
the tibia.
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve (L4, L5, S1)
Blood Supply Medial inferior genicular branch
of popliteal artery, posterior
tibial artery
Posterior Leg

47. Tibialis Posterior
Origin Posterior aspect interosseous
membrane, superior half of tibia
and medial posterior surface of
fibula
Insertion Inserts onto navicular tuberosity
and sends extensions to other
tarsal bones and metatarsals
Action Inverts, adducts, supinates foot,
plantar flexes ankle
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve (L4, L5)
Blood Supply sural, peroneal and posterior
tibial arteries
Posterior Leg

48. Flexor Digitorum Longus
Origin Posterior surface of tibia distal to
soleal line
Insertion Splits into four slips, inserts onto
plantar surface of bases of distal
phalanges of 2nd
-5th
toes
Action Flexes toes 2 - 5; also helps in
plantar flexion of ankle
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve (S1, S2)
Blood Supply Muscular branches of posterior
tibial artery
Posterior Leg

49. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Origin Inferior 2/3 of posterior surface
of fibula, lower part of
interosseous membrane
Insertion Plantar surface of base of distal
phalanx of great toe
Action Flexes great toe, supinates ankle,
weak ankle plantar flexor
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve (S2, S3)
Blood Supply Muscular branches of peroneal
and posterior tibial artery
Posterior Leg