Tibial Nerve Flashcards

Study tibial nerve anatomy, including its sciatic origin, popliteal course, muscular branches, plantar innervation, and clinical injuries.

Card 1 of 30Question

From which major peripheral nerve does the tibial nerve arise?

The sciatic nerve.

In This Section

1. From which major peripheral nerve does the tibial nerve arise?

The sciatic nerve.

2. Which spinal nerve roots contribute to the tibial nerve?

L4, L5, S1, S2, and S3.

3. From which divisions of the sacral plexus does the tibial component of the sciatic nerve originate?

The anterior divisions of the anterior rami of L4 to S3.

4. Is the tibial nerve a motor, sensory, or mixed nerve?

A mixed nerve containing both motor and sensory fibers.

5. Where does the sciatic nerve usually divide into the tibial and common fibular nerves?

Near the superior angle of the popliteal fossa, although the division level varies.

6. What is the course of the tibial nerve through the popliteal fossa?

It descends centrally through the fossa, superficial to the popliteal vessels.

7. What is the usual arrangement of the tibial nerve, popliteal vein, and popliteal artery from superficial to deep?

Tibial nerve, popliteal vein, then popliteal artery.

8. Which muscle heads does the tibial nerve pass between in the distal popliteal fossa?

The medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius.

9. Which fibrous structure does the tibial nerve pass beneath to enter the deep posterior leg?

The tendinous arch of soleus.

10. Which artery accompanies the tibial nerve through the deep posterior compartment of the leg?

The posterior tibial artery.

11. Which superficial posterior leg muscles receive motor branches from the tibial nerve?

Gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris.

12. Which deep posterior leg muscles are innervated by the tibial nerve?

Popliteus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus.

13. Which ankle movement is primarily controlled by muscles supplied by the tibial nerve?

Plantarflexion of the foot.

14. How does the tibial nerve contribute to foot inversion?

It supplies tibialis posterior and other muscles that assist inversion.

15. Which toe movement depends on tibial nerve innervation of the long flexor muscles?

Flexion of the toes.

16. Which cutaneous nerve commonly arises from the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa?

The medial sural cutaneous nerve.

17. Which sensory nerve is commonly formed by the medial sural cutaneous nerve and a communicating branch from the common fibular nerve?

The sural nerve.

18. Which skin regions are supplied by the sural nerve?

The posterolateral distal leg and lateral border of the foot.

19. Which bony landmark does the tibial nerve pass posterior to at the ankle?

The medial malleolus of the tibia.

20. Which retinaculum forms the roof of the tarsal tunnel containing the tibial nerve?

The flexor retinaculum.

21. What is the relationship of the tibial nerve to the posterior tibial vessels within the tarsal tunnel?

The nerve usually lies posterior to the posterior tibial artery and accompanying veins.

22. What are the two principal terminal branches of the tibial nerve?

The medial plantar nerve and lateral plantar nerve.

23. Which plantar nerve supplies most intrinsic muscles of the foot?

The lateral plantar nerve.

24. Which intrinsic foot muscles are supplied by the medial plantar nerve?

Abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, and the first lumbrical.

25. Which cutaneous branches of the tibial nerve supply the skin over the heel?

The medial calcaneal branches.

26. Which plantar nerve supplies sensation to the medial three and a half toes?

The medial plantar nerve.

27. Which plantar nerve supplies sensation to the lateral one and a half toes?

The lateral plantar nerve.

28. What is tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Compression of the tibial nerve or its branches beneath the flexor retinaculum at the medial ankle.

29. What motor deficit may result from a complete tibial nerve injury in the proximal leg?

Marked weakness of plantarflexion, inversion, and toe flexion.

30. Which deep tendon reflex primarily assesses tibial nerve function at spinal levels S1 and S2?

The Achilles tendon reflex, also called the ankle jerk reflex.