3.8 Lateral Leg

Muscular compartment

Contains peroneus longus & brevis + superficial peroneal nerve which supplies them; bounded by anterior & posterior intermuscular septa. 

-            blood from branches of peroneal artery which pierce FHL and post septum

-            veins ¨ mostly small saphenous.

(1) Peroneus longus (486)

Arises: head and upper 2/3 of fibula & intermuscular septum¨ tendon passes to sole

Inserts: base of 1st MT + medial cuneiform  cf tibialis anterior

(2) Peroneus brevis (486)

Arises: lower 2/3 of fibula

-            tendon lies behind (grooving) lateral malleolus

-            tendon of longus lies on it, not contacting the malleolus

-            pass together to peroneal trochlea of lateral calcaneus

Inserts: brevis passes above the trochlea ¨ tubercle at base of 5th MT

-            cf peroneus longus passes below lying against cuboid, with a sesamoid to its insertion.

Tendons of these muscles bound down by superior & inferior peroneal retinacula. 

-            superior at back of malleolus to calcaneus

-            inferior at peroneal trochlea ¨ upper slip to extensor retinaculum

Share a common synovial sheath, from above lat malleolus, splits at peroneal trochlea

Nerve: Superficial peroneal (L5,S1)

Action: Evert, weakly plantarflex; longus also helps maintain longitudinal arch.

 Test: foot everted, tendons palpated below lateral malleolus.

Superficial Peroneal nerve

Begins in longus at division of common peroneal

Passes behind longus, emerges behind anterior intermuscular septum

¨ medial and lateral branches to foot.