Wrist, Hand and Foot - LO 8

8. Identify structures entering the foot at the lateral and medial malleoli.

Medial malleolus:

The tendons of the posterior leg, along with the neurovasculature (tibial n. and posterior tibial a.), enter the plantar foot by coursing posterior to the medial malleolus. The tendons are surrounded by synovial sheaths like the tendons in the carpal tunnel and are held down by a retinaculum – a thickened band of the crural fascia that typically holds tendons in place. This location, just posterior to the medial malleolus, is a place to feel the pulse of the posterior tibial a.

Lateral malleolus:

The tendons of the two fibularis (peroneus) muscles travel to the foot from the lateral side of the leg behind or posterior to the lateral malleolus. Like the medial malleolus, there is a retinaculum that holds the tendons down. The tendon of the deeper fibularis muscle (fibularis brevis) travels behind the lateral malleolus and inserts on the base of the fifth metatarsal. In forceful inversion sprains, this tendon can pull on and break the fifth metatarsal bone.