Advanced Abductor Digiti Minimi Quiz

Q1. Which nerve may be compressed near the proximal deep surface of abductor digiti minimi in a recognized cause of plantar heel pain?

• Saphenous nerve
• Common fibular nerve
• First branch of the lateral plantar nerve
• Deep fibular nerve

Q2. Why can denervation of abductor digiti minimi be relevant on imaging in chronic heel pain?

• It indicates femoral nerve injury
• It proves rupture of the Achilles tendon
• Denervation change can indicate involvement of its lateral plantar nerve supply
• It demonstrates an ACL tear

Q3. How does the course of abductor digiti minimi make it relevant to lateral plantar compartment anatomy?

• It forms a longitudinal muscular component of the lateral plantar region
• It crosses the anterior ankle into the leg
• It forms the roof of the tarsal tunnel
• It lies between the tibia and fibula

Q4. Why would isolated paralysis of abductor digiti minimi not eliminate all movement of the fifth toe?

• Several other muscles also act on the fifth toe
• The quadriceps controls all toe movement
• The Achilles tendon directly abducts the fifth toe
• The fifth toe has no other muscles

Q5. How can abductor digiti minimi assist foot stability during stance despite being a small muscle?

• It replaces the plantar ligaments
• Its lateral plantar tension can contribute to dynamic stabilization of the lateral foot
• It directly forms the bony arch
• It is the main ankle dorsiflexor

Q6. Why is the proximal relationship of abductor digiti minimi important during surgical approaches to the lateral plantar heel?

• Important lateral plantar neurovascular structures can lie near its deep surface
• The femoral artery lies inside the muscle
• The popliteal artery ends within the muscle
• The common fibular nerve passes through its tendon

Q7. What anatomical finding would best distinguish an injury to the lateral plantar nerve from an isolated tendon injury of abductor digiti minimi?

• Loss of quadriceps function
• Weakness involving additional lateral plantar nerve supplied muscles
• Absent patellar reflex alone
• Loss of all ankle dorsiflexion

Q8. Why may the apparent size or distal attachment of abductor digiti minimi vary among individuals?

• Normal anatomical variation can alter its slips and insertion pattern
• The muscle always has an identical morphology
• It commonly becomes part of the Achilles tendon
• It normally originates from the femur in some adults

Q9. How does the muscle's insertion support its combined actions at the fifth toe?

• It acts through the extensor retinaculum
• Its insertion lies on the distal tibia
• Its tendon crosses only the ankle joint
• Its position relative to the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint permits both abduction and assisted flexion

Q10. Which statement best integrates the anatomy of abductor digiti minimi?

• It is an extrinsic posterior leg muscle that plantarflexes the ankle
• It is a medial plantar muscle that adducts the great toe
• It is a superficial lateral plantar intrinsic muscle that acts on the fifth toe and receives lateral plantar nerve supply
• It is a dorsal deep-fibular-nerve muscle that extends the great toe