4Q6 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



THE LEG. 



Landmarks. — The sharp sinuous anterior border of the tibia, being 

 entirely subcutaneous, can readily be felt, and will guide the finger 

 to the tubercle, which is situated at its upper end, where it gives 

 attachment to the ligamentum patellae. The lower border of the 

 tubercle corresponds with the division of the popliteal artery 

 into anterior and posterior tibial vessels. The head of the fibula 

 forms a prominent landmark on the outer side of the leg, and 

 is situated about i inch below the level of the upper surface of 

 the external tuberosity of the tibia. The shaft of the fibula is 

 for the most part obscured by muscles. It can be felt, however, 

 over its lower fourth. The bone occupies a more posterior plane 

 than the tibia. The prominence along the front of the leg in its 

 upper two- thirds is mainly due to the fleshy belly of the tibialis 

 anticus. 



The internal and external malleoli form bold projections at the 

 lower end of the leg, the internal being formed by the tibia, and the 

 external by the fibula. The malleoli are upon the same plane 

 posteriorly, but the internal malleolus proj ects further forwards than, 

 and does not descend so low as, the external malleolus ; that is to 

 say, the internal malleolus is a little higher up and further forwards 

 than the external, but the two project equally far back. This has 

 to be borne in mind in Syme's amputation at the ankle-joint. It 

 should be carefully noted that, whilst the internal malleolus looks 

 directly inwards, the internal tibial tuberosity has a slight in- 

 clination backwards as well as inwards. The tendons of the tibialis 

 posticus and flexor longus digitorum may be felt behind the internal 

 malleolus, the former being the larger and in close contact with the 

 bone. If the inner border of the foot is raised so as to invert the 

 sole, the tendon of the tibialis posticus will be more readily felt. 

 The tendons of the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis are situated 

 behind the external malleolus, where they lie one upon the other, 

 the brevis tendon being in close contact with the bone. Several 

 tendons can readily be felt in front of the ankle-joint. From 

 within outwards they are as follows : tibialis anticus ; extensor 

 proprius hallucis ; extensor longus digitorum ; and peroneus tertius. 

 All these tendons are best felt in the Uving subject when the foot 

 is flexed upon the leg — that is to say, when the foot is raised. 



The back of the leg is characterized by the prominence 

 of the calf, which is produced by the gastrocnemius and soleus 

 muscles. This prominence gives place inferiorly to the tendo 



