Anatomy study note · Lower limb

Retinacula of the ankle

Thickenings of the deep fascia that hold the long tendons around the ankle in place, stop them bowstringing and act as pulleys.

Key points

• Superior extensor: front of distal tibia and fibula. Inferior extensor: Y-shaped.
• Flexor: medial malleolus → calcaneum; TP, FDL, vessels, tibial nerve, FHL.
• Fibular: lateral malleolus → calcaneum; fibularis longus + brevis.
• Connective tissue: from leftover mesenchyme.
• Dense CT: irregular (capsules) or regular (tendons, ligaments).

The full note in the atlas also covers

Features · Histology · Development · Clinical notes

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 11, PDF pp. 1339–1347, 1355, 1363–1364
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 7, PDF pp. 94–95
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 6, PDF p. 110

More from the lower limb

• Saphenous nerve
• Sartorius
• Sciatic nerve
• Semimembranosus
• Semitendinosus
• Short lateral rotators of the hip
• Small saphenous vein
• Sole muscles: first layer
• Sole muscles: second layer
• Sole muscles: third layer
• Soleus
• Superficial fibular nerve

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