Albany Medical College Virtual Anatomy Lab

Lab 7 - Module 2 - Posterior Compartment of the Leg: Page 2 of 2

Superficial Posterior Compartment

suppostcomp
suppostcomp
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Return to the posterior leg.
The Vessels and Nerves of the Superficial Posterior Compartment. There is no artery or nerve traveling in this portion of the posterior compartment. The blood is via the posterior tibial artery and innervation is from the tibial nerve, both of which travel through the compartment on the transverse intermuscular septum.


Add the Plantaris muscle.


Origin - Inferior end of the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and the oblique popliteal ligament

Insertion - Joins the tendon of the gastrocnemius and soleus to insert on the calcaneous via the Achilles tendon

Innervation - Tibial Nerve

Action - Weakly assists gastrocnemius in plantar flexion and knee flexion


The Triceps Surae Group consists of the two heads of the Gastrocnemius and the Soleus muscles:


Add the Soleus muscle.


Origin - Posterior surface of the head of the fibula and the superior 1/4th of the fibula; medial border of the tibia

Insertion - Joins the tendon of the gastrocnemius to insert via the Achilles tendon

Innervation - Tibial Nerve

Action - Plantar flexes the foot when the knee is bent


Add the Gastrocnemius muscle.


Origin - Superior to medial condyle of the femur (medial head), lateral aspect of lateral condyle of the femur (lateral head)

Insertion - Posterior surface of the calcaneous via the Achilles (calcaneal) tendon

Innervation - Tibial Nerve

Action - Plantar flexion of the foot, assists with knee flexion


Add the Calcaneal Tendon.